Didn’t Get That Raise? Here’s What to Do

Don’t count your chickens before their hatched is an old saying. But when it comes to getting a raise in today’s bottom line-oriented corporate environment, it still holds true for many full-time workers.

A recent workforce survey showed that 33% of workers were provided with no rationale for why their employer denied them a raise. In addition, 77% of employees didn’t believe the rationale given by their supervisor or HR manager for denying them a raise.

So, whether you’re a worker who received a smaller-than-anticipated raise – or no salary increase at all – asking for more money can be uncomfortable, even if you’re willing to negotiate.  Here are four tips to help prepare yourself and get the raise you want.

1. Start by Talking with your Manager

Instead of quietly seething about not getting the raise you think you deserve, set an appointment with your boss and talk it through. Be sure the meeting is not confrontational, and you come with reasons why you deserve a raise. There may be a logical explanation for the raise delay (yes, management should have mentioned this, but it doesn’t always happen.) Whatever the circumstance, the only way for you to know is to make your case in a professional manner.

2. Get Specifics

If you weren’t offered a specific reason during your meeting, it’s important to follow up and find out why you didn’t get a pay raise. If it turns out your performance is a factor, getting feedback from the horse’s mouth will allow you to work on improving and showing progress for your next performance review. Set realistic goals and schedule check in’s with your boss. Everyone needs to improve at some point in their career – what you do with professional criticism will ultimately help you hone your job skills and improve your worth.

3. Can you Negotiate?

If you’ve talked with your manager and performance isn’t the issue – but it’s clear a raise isn’t imminent – get creative. If you’ve been with the company for a while, or have a few years of experience under your belt, it’s possible to negotiate other things beyond salary. These might include flex time, a new title, extra vacation time, or request to be assigned to high-visibility projects. Before you suggest an alternative, tell your manager that you understand the company’s reasons for halting salary raises. Then inquire if there’s something else the organization might be willing to consider.

4.  Don’t Give Up

As an employee, the best thing you can do after losing out on a raise is to prove your worth to management. That means working hard, pitching new projects, doing great work that no one else can do, and keeping track of your successes. This allows you to approach your manager again in a few months and proactively offer concrete reasons for revisiting your raise.

The Bottom Line

Not feeling fairly compensated can leave you uninspired and under-appreciated. Whether it’s re-negotiating a raise down the line, requesting non-salary perks, or adjusting your expectations, having a plan and staying professional will put you in the best position to get the compensation you’re looking for.

Lanmark Staffing provides over 40 years of combined human resources, recruiting, temporary placement, sales and management, and temp-to-hire services. Our team of experienced professionals will work with you to help land that next great career position.

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