While many experts recommend waiting for the right moment to ask for a raise, what do you do when tough times feel endless? Here’s a guide on how to request a salary increase even amidst challenging circumstances.
At Career Contessa, we strive to provide guidance that caters to various situations. The year 2020 reshaped our work landscape dramatically, transitioning countless office dynamics to remote settings due to the pandemic, leaving many to grapple with its long-lasting effects.
If you’re among those who have avoided layoffs or furloughs, you might find yourself in a unique situation—feeling undervalued, overworked, and underpaid. While some businesses had to make tough decisions, others have thrived in the face of adversity.
As we shared our career advancements on LinkedIn, rising gas prices and soaring inflation hit us hard, prompting discussions of yet another economic downturn.
Typically, we advise gauging your organization’s atmosphere before approaching a raise request. Yet, if you’re facing a prolonged stagnation in salary discussions, it may be time to reconsider that approach.
Preparing to Ask for a Salary Increase
Prior to your raise request, it’s crucial to assess the current situation of your job and your organization. If your company is struggling financially, this may not be the best time for a salary negotiation.
When to Consider Asking for a Raise:
Evaluate the following criteria:
- You have taken on additional responsibilities.
- You’ve acquired new skills that merit higher pay.
- You’ve achieved or surpassed your set goals.
- Your compensation has been consistently below market value.
- You were promised a salary increase or promotion under certain conditions that have now been met.
- Your contributions significantly benefit the company’s success.
When You Might Reconsider Asking for a Raise:
Be cautious if:
- Your request is solely based on tenure, rather than performance or contributions.
- You lack evidence of your value within the company.
- You know the organization is experiencing financial difficulties.
- You are unable to provide quantifiable data on your contributions.
- You’ve recently received a poor performance review or corrective action plan.
- Your manager has explicitly stated that raises are not feasible at this time. However, you can inquire about discussing this in the future.
Industry experts like Kate Dixon, author of Pay UP!, suggest that if you’ve made notable impacts and taken on extra responsibilities, you owe it to yourself to ask for what you deserve.
Asking for a raise during difficult times requires a delicate approach. Acknowledging your worth while being sensitive to the current climate demonstrates professionalism and foresight.
Is It Possible to Request a Raise During a Salary Freeze?
A salary freeze occurs when a company halts wage increases due to financial struggles. It’s wise to wait until the freeze is lifted before approaching for a raise.
During a salary freeze, consider using this time to enhance your skills and gather information regarding your market value. This preparation will put you in a solid position once the freeze is over.
How to Effectively Request a Meeting About Your Salary
Initiating a conversation about your raise starts with scheduling a meeting with your manager. Clearly inform them that you wish to discuss your compensation so they can prepare adequately.
Whenever possible, choose to meet in person or via video call to foster clearer communication and understanding.
Here’s a simple email template to help you set up your salary discussion:
Subject Line: Meeting to Discuss Compensation
Hello [NAME],
I hope this message finds you well.
During my time at [COMPANY], I have greatly enjoyed my growth as a [JOB TITLE]. With recent accomplishments such as [ACCOMPLISHMENT] and [ACCOMPLISHMENT], I would like to discuss my compensation moving forward.
I have gathered supporting data that I believe will be valuable during our conversation. I noticed that you are available on [DATE and TIME] and [DATE and TIME] and hope that one of these time slots works for you.
Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to our discussion.
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
Strategies for Requesting a Raise in Difficult Times
1. Highlight Your Positive Contributions
It's essential to present tangible outcomes rather than just mentioning long hours worked. Show how your specific actions have added value to the company, especially in difficult times.
2. Discuss Your Additional Responsibilities and Their Benefits
If you’ve taken on new tasks or have enhanced your skillset, ensure you correlate this to improved outcomes for your company.
3. Utilize Data to Strengthen Your Case
Present clear data that showcases the impact of your work, including any contributions to revenue or client acquisition.
4. Bring Proposals for Future Contributions
Share your insights into future projects and how your role can evolve, which serves to demonstrate your commitment to the company’s success.
5. Prepare for the Unexpected
Address challenging topics directly and maintain a balanced approach—avoid coming across as entitled while also asserting your value.
What to Do If Your Salary Increase Request Is Refused
If your request is declined, keep the conversation constructive. Ask for feedback on what you can achieve to revisit the discussion and consider negotiating other benefits or perks.
- Additional paid leave days
- Flexible working arrangements
- Opportunities for continuing education reimbursement
- A title promotion
If your raise is not possible, here's an email template for discussing alternative benefits:
Greetings [NAME],
Thank you for our recent discussion regarding my raise request.
I understand the current challenges facing the company. In light of this, could we schedule another time to explore other potential benefits I could pursue?
Additionally, I would appreciate insights on what performance benchmarks would be helpful to achieve in the future as we revisit this discussion.
Thank you for your time.
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
Remember, being turned down doesn’t diminish your worth or contributions. By presenting your case eloquently, you foster recognition of your skills and negotiation abilities for future considerations.
SEO Tags:
salary negotiation, asking for a raise, career advice, salary increase, workplace communication, economic downturn, salary freeze, employee value, negotiation strategies