“More money please?”
It might sound like a silly thing to ask in the wake of present day news and politics, but feeling like you deserve a raise for working through the modern day plague is a real and valid feeling. We have all watched businesses close and make cutbacks and some of us have lost jobs. Most of us, who aren’t Jeff Bezos, sat in anxiety wondering ‘what’s next?’ and what that means for our financial security. I, myself, had to budget and lay off the unnecessary snacks like Hot Cheetos; we’ve all made our sacrifices.
There’s no question about it: If you worked hard through the pandemic, all while wondering if today is the day you contract a sometimes-deadly disease, girl you deserve a raise.
Asking for a raise can be a scary, intimidating thought, particularly in today’s Covid-ridden landscape. Especially if, like me, you were raised being told to say gracias por todo lo que tengo at every turn. Being thankful is great and all, but women cannot survive on basic AF salary alone.
Here are some tips to help you snatch that well-deserved raise with grace.
State your case
You deserve this raise – you know that, you know how hard you work, and now you need your boss to know that. Get together any documentation that you can, whether it’s past performance reviews, yelp reviews, emails, or data showing quantifiable results. Anything that shows how you’ve made a positive, helpful impact in the workplace the last year or so will be good to know about. Covid-19 has no doubt changed the way your company does business in one aspect or another. It also probably means your job has relied on you more than usual. If you weren’t working from home, maybe it meant you physically worked in potentially infectious areas. Highlight how you’ve tackled new or modified duties during the pandemic, or helped ensure any changes went smoothly.
It’s important to emphasize the unique qualities you bring. I hate to say it, but at most companies you’re technically replaceable. That being said, not everyone can bring what you do to the table, so ask yourself why that is. Ask yourself why your employer should be thanking their lucky stars that you work for them. Do you sometimes contribute to other departments? Did an idea of yours increase growth or numbers? What is it you can do that others may not?
Get ready for the negotiation
Asking your co-workers how much money they make is sometimes an awkward subject, but it’s worth a try, especially if you hold the same position. In the past it was considered taboo to discuss salary with your co-workers, but today, in light of salary gaps between men and women and for people of color, I say it’s perfectly fine to ask around (with people you trust) and find out if you’re being paid fairly. Keep in mind factors such as seniority and performance reviews, as those may have an affect on their salary versus yours.
Have you perhaps taken on the responsibilities of others who were laid off? Or have your duties been extended to cover for personnel loss? These are things to consider when thinking of how much to ask for. Do some research online and find out the average salary for your position. Ask friends who do similar jobs at other companies. If you’re making less than what you should be, it’s good to have that evidence in your head to remind yourself why this is important.
Negotiate
Schedule some one-on-one time with your boss. This isn’t the kind of discussion you want to have while you both wait to use the office microwave. Email your boss and ask if you can arrange a meeting with them at their convenience. Write down what you want to say to your boss and go over those points before your meeting to make sure you remember your message and facts. Give yourself a pep talk and do whatever you need to do to remind yourself that you’re worth this, that you have a lot to offer.
Start off on the right foot. Tell your boss how much you appreciate being employed with them and what the job means to you. Then you can transition into your raise proposal. Be clear, detailed, and confident.
At the end of the day, if your company doesn’t have the means to pay you more, you’ve given your boss something to consider for the future. A “no” doesn’t mean “no forever.” If you value your job and feel generally appreciated then it might be worth it to stick around and revisit the topic at a later date, especially if your company was hit hard financially in the pandemic. If they do have the means to pay you more and they won’t, or they pay your co-workers more, I say it’s never too late for a career change. If a company won’t recognize your worth or match it monetarily, they might never. Life is too short to stay underpaid!