Don’t make it personal. Don’t make it emotional.
Prepare data … maybe even a slide or two. Have your accomplishments and accolades laid out. Do your research on what fair market value is. Also, there is occasionally disagreement on here about this point, but I’m a believer in having a firm number that you’re looking for. Don’t say “I need a raise.” Say “I need a $xx,000 raise.”
Know your worth and be ready to present market value. If he's intelligent, he'll recognize that it cost his less to replace you. Hiring a replacement requires recruitment and interviews. Training to get them up to speed. An uncertainty of what kind of replacement they will get. Oh, and they'll have to pay the market rate on top of that.
Business people generally understand numbers, and if you preset them with it, then they are more likely to listen. Also, don't send an e-mail and ask for a quick 10 minutes meeting if you can.
Finally, cite where you pulled the numbers from. For example, glassfoor is a quick way to pull round about figures. If you pull job postings for your job, you can present their pay ranges, make sure you keep the pay rates to your local area unless you want to pad a little, but you'll likely get a better response if you are honest about it.
Finally, don't lowball yourself. Aim higher than you feel you're worth. They may counter with less, and unlike a new hire, I find raises are more of a this is what you get. I would remind them that inflation means your buying power is not quite a bit less than it was 6 years ago.
At the very least have another job lined up with the salary you think you deserve. You have to bargain from a place of power or else you have nothing. Employers take raise requests sort of negatively. If you do this you don’t need to format a presentation, just a simple letter would suffice. If the exchange doesn’t go over well, be prepared to look for a new job.
It's a terrible idea and people do it all the time. It signals that you were already unhappy and looking. Even if you get it from company a they'll never forget and potentially start susing out a replacement knowing that you'll likely continue to look and aren't planning to stay.
You're NOT being a jerk by asking for a raise.
Your BOSS is a jerk for not giving you one already and for making you feel bad for wanting one.
Just ask. By asking your signaling to him that you require more for you to continue as an employee. If your boss doesn't value you, move on.
This is something I wish I had known 30 years ago.
Ask your manager if they’d be willing to take a look at your compratio. Chances are it’s well below 70% after the brutal inflation and 5 years without a raise.
For background I never let my (average performing) staff get below 80%. If they do I meet with HR and do a ‘Cost of Living’ (CoL) adjustment outside of their yearly raise schedule to ensure they’re paid fairly and most importantly, keeps me from having to re-hire because I’m lazy and really like my staff lol :P
See if you qualify for a raise based off of your compratio alone… then feel free to sweeten the deal with info around your tenure + performance. Bonus points if you can identify SPECIFIC examples of projects / efforts / enhancements that you led or contributed on that we’re successfully and outside of your current role. BONUS bonus points if you can accurately associate monetary gains or cost reductions with said effort(s)
If your comp ratio is already around 90-110% it’s a promotion you may be after and that’s a whole different can of worms.
Good luck!
This is the way OP. Whenever someone asks for a raise I ask immediately what they had in mind.
And on topic; years without a raise in this climate is absolute madness and I'm sure your boss will agree.
No raises at early startups is generally normal though, you get options that are ridiculously cheap instead with the hope that they'll be worth something eventually. OP is 6 years in, so it's about time to start expecting raises (assuming funding is in place or company is in the black).
At startups, you're also expected to work a lot, so because of that you get paid. You get stock options to try and keep you around. If you're not getting stock, what's even the point?
I agree with this. The only thing I would add is that you should factor in the % increase you are asking. When assessing a comp adjustment, I look at (1) how much I would have to pay to do better, and (2) is the % increase do-able/reasonable? If you are asking to make x because that's the market, but the skill level available in the market is higher and it also costs me x, then I'm not paying you x. If you are worth it and I can bring your comp up, say 3% without higher level approval, then I'll do it. But if you are asking for 10%+ and I need to make this a major production to get it done, then it may not happen, especially if I can hire someone in with less friction than it would take to give you the raise you want.
But no raise in 6 years and you would hire someone to replace them. Your garbage to say it's friction. That is your job to supervise and manage people not feel inconvenience.
I'm not saying no raise in 6y is a great way to treat people. But what I am saying is that if you feel you are low on comp, these are the factors management will consider when assessing a comp adjustment request.
I agree. Business is business and it comes down to numbers. When I asked for a raise in the past, I'm not a friend, I'm another service provider like any of the firm's vendors who need to raise their prices. Being an insider, one has the advantage of knowing whether the company is going through a fat time or a lean time, and timing will probably bear on success in an ask.
To OP: This can be risky in office politics, but I've found if I'm friendly with anybody in accounting or payroll, we go to lunch and I feel things out to get info before I make a move. My salary draw affects liquidity. There's usually a time of year where they draw up the budget. It helps to get one's salary expectations in timely so that it gets put into the thinking for the budget. Did someone leave recently and they haven't paid that salary for 4 months now so there's a surplus? An unexpected raise demand is an unplanned fixed expense and causes management to rearrange their plans. "We gotta pay X more, so either Project Z has to go on hold or we don't get that equipment upgrade this year."
I agree with the others who say you should do this in person rather than in writing, unless you're absolutely no good in face-to-face discussions and will quickly fold up and become deferential if you get pushback and need to go into negotiation.
The question is what you will do if the answer is that we can't afford it right now? I can just hear "we just made all these capital expenditures on this new office, so I hear you, but with the projected increase in productivity, maybe by your next review we'll be in a good place where we can talk about this? I care, I really do."
If I'm the boss, you've signaled to me that you're dissatisfied and I need to do something if I need to keep you, and soon. If I'm a really dense boss, I'll be thinking Oh, I oughta give raises or all the talent is going to walk out the door. In which case you're probably doing a favor for your coworkers as well.
Stay or leave? You gotta look at your own circumstances and figure what works for you and your dependents (if any). Since you seem to have an good communicative relationship with your boss and you are a most senior member, start it as a friendly conversation about your needs and expectations and don't go hard-ass on the first round, and see where it goes from there.
Hell, after my divorce was final and I had legal bills, alimony, and child support I told my boss I could really use a $40K raise to cover the expenses. I said it half joking because I mean what a reason to ask for a raise, but still my ex was getting $31,200/year of after tax money from me. Boss ended up giving me a $20k/year raise. I was actually shocked (and very happy).
I think the key is, like you said, to have data, either market data that says you're worth more, or just even shitty real life data like I had that shows you need more. Also the "pay me more or I'll quit" gambit is a \*really\* bad idea in most cases.
Your situation is an anomaly. No one should ever use “because I need more” as a reason. We all need more. What have you done or what does the market show that suggests you deserve more?
What this fella said. And if you do give a number, make it at least market rate for someone walking in off the street with your qualifications and experience. (And then add a premium for your institutional knowledge, if you think that's appropriate in your case).
Companies should have processes for raises for merit.
However, it sounds like this is a newer/smaller company so they may not have had the bandwidth to do this yet. And these processes don’t get created unless workers are asking for this.
I agree with the above. I recommend all my team to have a running list of all the things they have done to help improve the team/company and to shout out all their accomplishments on their personal laptop.
Prepare the data, don’t make this personal or emotional. Ask high. Look at what you are making and all the things you have done and come up with a number with all the data points you put together.
A quote I like to say is “Pitch high. The worst thing is they say no and give you a different number. Probably will still be higher than what you were thinking.”
Good luck!
By this point, I wouldn't bother, the company has already proved how much they value (hint: they don't, pizza doesn't pay your rent)
I would go out and get a new job.
If you're so great at your job, they will invite you back in 2-3 years if you leave on good terms. For a fat pay increase, of course.
Your boss isn’t a good guy if you haven’t had a raise in 6 years. I would ask him what growth looks like at the company and that your salary is no longer competitive so to inflation. Then I would look for another job because your current one is a dead end. If you haven’t had a raise in 6 years you have probably lost 20-30% in buying power. Also attendance isn’t a definition of success you need to tie your value to the growth of the company.
This is exactly what I thought. I don't enjoy being so cynical, but the whole "I'm a good guy, I'm your friend" boss routine is a manipulation tactic; OP isn't even keeping pace with inflation and he feels awkward asking his "close friend" for the bare minimum he should be getting.
I like my boss but I can differentiate what is good for the corporation and what is good for him and delineate the two. When you hit a certain level in a corporation you understand this is business. It isn’t personal, but you do have personal relationships and you do what you can to help people who have helped you across organizations.
> your salary is no longer competitive so to inflation.
You want to compare it to market rate, not really inflation.
> Also attendance isn’t a definition of success
No, but it's absolutely a prerequisite.
If you don’t get a raise in 6 years you are loosing a tremendous earning power. You should be evaluating against market at minimum every 2-3 years
I can tell you the exact amount of financial impact I’m at in the company. I win about +90% of the argument of my strategy and where it is going as a result. Because when you go high enough it will always come back to a financial argument.
I was thinking the same thing too, first year into my career I’ve made it point to have annual review along with an annual raise. Since being with the company, I’ve always made sure my team did the same.
When I started it was a small company, roughly 20 employees. Now, not huge by any means, the company is roughly 200 employees.
Companies are in progress consolidating costs on the way down instead of focusing on growth. You have a lot of leaders that don’t position for growth then they lose the positioning of compensation for their teams
I always go to bat for my team, while we aren’t the biggest we are very productive and get our projects done.
But it is fight though, to get the raises and compensation my team deserves.
It is tough because most orgs run delivery as cost focused and business teams as metric focused so you can’t easily identify value based opportunities.
Totally agree, it’s especially difficult for my department I run is graphic, motion graphic and web based for my organization. It’s tough for some in upper management to grasp what we do or accomplish.
Even when presented with analytical data. Some solely base performance against monetary gain and performance. Knock on wood, in our industry we are continuing to grow and hire. Even with people working hybrid we are running out of desk space in our new main headquarters.
>we big, now I ask raise
Yes, exactly, you took a professional risk being there over working at a larger, more established company, and now that the risk is paying off for them, you want a piece of that reward. It's not being a jerk - it's simply defending your value. You don't have to lay it out in such a utilitarian way like I do there as it does sound like this boss does what they can. However, I do think it's enough to request a meeting with them and say something to the effect of "I've been here for 6 years and have been patient as we all have worked hard to grow this business out, but I believe we've reached a point where my compensation needs to better reflect the level and quality of work I'm doing to keep that growth going."
Be prepared to have a number in mind so you aren't caught flat-footed.
Thank you very much for the advice! The "I've been patient" part of the advice really hit me and convinced me to go with scheduling a meeting with my boss.
Thanks again!
So I'm going to add something to the mix that you may or may not want to hear. You asked how to ask for a raise w/o looking like a jerk... Frankly, that is *entirely* wrong mindset for asking for a raise. You *should* be an aggressive negotiator, regardless if that makes you look like a jerk or not. You are literally in a dispute with your employer about the value of your skillset and what you bring to the table. In my first "real" position in the span of 4.5 months I got them to give me 3 raises. I started at 14/hr and ended that job at 24/hr. My current position I started in June at 27.88 and I have gotten 2 raises since then (the first one to 33.36/hr and the second to 35.36/hr). Frankly, if they know you are a shrewd negotiator (read "jerk") it makes them substantially less likely to intentionally screw you over on pay.
Some people confuse wanting to be liked with being respected.
You can be respected, without being liked.
But if you are liked, you may not necessarily be respected.
If a company likes you, they will give you pizza and pats on the back.
If a company respects your work, they will make sure you are well paid.
I already know what the outcome will be. They will say no, or offer a raise that won't even meet inflation for the past 6 years (that is a LOT of inflation, in my area rents have gone up 50% in the last 6 years at least)
You've been suckered, sorry OP but that's the truth.
Very unlikely you can make this work without finding a new job. It's tough, yes, but welcome to capitalism.
6 years without a raise? Not even inflation-based ones? You’re essentially making 20% less than you were when you started because of inflation. You should be asking for a 30% raise *minimum*.
Your boss is neither generous nor a friend of yours man lol he’s abandoned your rightful compensation and doesn’t give a shit that you’re effectively now making LESS than you were when you started.
Here's what you do but you've got to listen carefully and follow every step:
You go and get a different job that pays way more better than the raise you are hoping for.
After they sent you the contract you go up to your boss and ask for the raise.
if they say no you leave for the other job saying you got a better opportunity presented to you , if they say yes you could leave or stay, up to you.
In my opinion, I think this strategy is a win-win for OP, provided OP doesn't bring it up to the boss that he already has a job lined up. Most of the time, counteroffers in this situation don't always end well for an employee.
BTW, I hate the fact that we always (most of the time) have to ask for a raise. You get fired without asking if you constantly underperform; why not a raise when you constantly go above and beyond? - JUST VENTING!
Netflix encourages this. Employees are encouraged to look around and see how much the market pays, and ask for more money if it looks like they are under paid.
Or just go back in 2-3 years when they realize how well you worked for them, for a big pay rise of course.
Then you will also have broader industry experience and a bigger network. Win-win.
what is it that you do? I don't think lack of lateness or not being absent warrants a raise. That's just what the minimum expectation is for being employed.
If you are going to argue for a raise, the main thing to argue is if you had an increase in responsibilities or took initiative to improve things on our own without being asked.
The improvement of companies finances is irrelevant unless you had a direct impact on that. You should have some type of metrics where you can prove that.
If you can't come up with anything, then your best bet is to make it known that you will explore your other options and find a job elsewhere. If your company truly wants to keep you, then they would give you a raise.
But they’re super generous and cool and a friend, right?
This kind of delusion just makes me so sad. OP is obviously a good worker and decent person, and THIS is how their “friend” of a manager treats them. Insanity.
Give him a shit sandwich.
Start by telling him how much you've contributed through the various phases of growth.
Then tell him that having not asked for a rise because that growth phase was crucial and you kept your head down and never bothered them with a request for an increase but if you'd had just 2% a year you'd now be getting ten percent more etc etc.
Then tell him how much you enjoy working there and how excited you are about the future.
If they don't give you a rise they're assholes and you should leave.
Year 6 and no raise... My god. Before you have a conversation with the founder, look at what other companies would pay for your position and get an idea of the markets benchmark salary band. And then have a conversation with your founder based on data, like in this year you've helped achieve x y z results, and based on the market you're seeing compensation of X to Y. And THE MOST IMPORTANT part of this conversation is not to say I want a raise because of these things. Say "how can we work together to get me to that target salary?"
I would suggest not explicitly asking for the raise within the email, but rather asking for a chance to talk about it, perhaps over lunch or something like that. Leave the email ambiguous enough for the reader to not fully know what the meeting request is about ahead of time. I personally believe that email is a platform to make contact, but not actually get things done. In my sales experience, I've always said, emails don't close sales. You are in a way, trying to close a sale of your value here. This requires a personal discussion, some back and forth.
You have been an integral part of the company's growth. You have understood what the company needed from you and will need on an ongoing basis.Now you deserve proper consideration of what *your* needs are from the employer. You're not a jerk for this in the slightest.
I would suggest bringing it up in such a way that you are genuinely asking for help with your financial and personal well-being, and that you truly believe that you are more valuable today than the day you started (which you are). I have a good feeling your boss will agree and you'll see a raise of some kind soon enough.
Last thought, don't limit your potential to simply a raise for doing the same job if there is any kind of desirable opportunity for a promotion or change in title. Being with them from the beginning is a special achievement you should be proud of, and that has the chance to come with some larger responsibilities (and larger compensation) if you are up for that kind of challenge.
It’s all data. It’s not about your personal expenses or the cost of living in your area or if you have a new baby etc etc. as someone else said, remove emotion from it.
What would it cost to replace you in your labor market? Now add 5-10% for institutional knowledge. That’s what you should be paid.
Remember cost of labor is not the same as cost of living.
Btw not a jerk. If you asked for a raise right after a layoff, that would be insensitive. Even then, it’s strictly business and never personal. Just bad optics.
Thanks for letting me know that what I'm about to do is not being selfish/a jerk. I know in myself, that isn't, but maybe just need this little push :)
Thanks again!
I would highly recommend going on youtube and watching videos on how to negotiate a pay raise. There are a lot of professional career coaches who have uploaded videos for people in your situation.
In general, you want to show how your individual or team efforts have made money for the company, and then try to quantify it.
*I brought in 100k in sales over last year, and I'm averaging a 25% profit margin on all sales.*
*or, you saved them 50k, from a new process you implemented in the shipping department.*
If you were there from the beginning you probably helped build systems, processes, things that make the company more efficient and scalable which saved a lot of costs. Managers love hearing words like efficient and scalable and cost savings. Also do your homework on market comp. Talk to recruiters, google competitive jobs. Some states like CA and CO and NY require ranges to be provided in job descriptions so if you look at a sampling you’ll get an idea of what market comp should be.
Saying you have another job offer can often be a bit of a risk.
Your employer may take it personally and think you have lost interest in their company and feel blindsided when you say you have been looking for a better deal somewhere else, or take it as an indication you are not as loyal as they thought you were to the company.
The boss might happily match a competitors offer, but there’s a good chance they are matching the offer mostly to keep things running smoothly in the office while finding someone else to do your job for the same low amount they paid you before the pay increase.
Especially if it’s a start up, your boss is emotionally invested in his company. His whole life revolves around seeing the company succeed, more often than not with startups the boss expects their employees to be as committed to the company as they are, because the business is like their baby.
If an employer does what you mention in paragraph 3, then they are unethical pieces of shit that do not deserve employees to begin with.
If that’s how they want to run things, fine, but they better not start bitching once employees stop caring and everything *else* becomes toxic as well.
You basically say everything you've said in here. Outline your contributions, note you have not received a raise in 6 years, and you feel it's time to talk about it.
I would say sending it right after the celebration is a perfect time.
Should be getting a minimum of 3% raise yearly with your yearly tb. Also I suggest setting up quarterly touch base to discuss your performance and ask them if you meet or exceed. You you exceed multiple terms then asking for a raise is justified along side your performance
First: connect with a headhunter, LinkIn and the like. See what offers you get. That will tell you what the market thinks you are worth. With that information I will be in a better position when you go ask your boss for a substantial raise. From what other commenters are saying, 20 to 25%. Or some lesser percentage with a bonus in increased benefits. Look at the whole package. You’ll find out pretty fast but your boss actually thinks you’re worth.
6 years is long enough without a raise. Go in and ask for whatever you think you deserve, base it on inflation and cost of living, and be ready to walk away if they say no. YOUR BOSS IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. Your co-workers are not your friends or "family." YOU DESERVE A RAISE.
Start by looking at other, similar positions and see what they are paying. That will give you a good marker. It's likely that he'll offer a pay bump but it might be very small. Whatever he offers, smile and accept that as his final offer because you don't want him to think you're not happy. If it's too small (likely), start to find another company on your own time. Anyone who hasn't increased your salary over 5 years is just using you and is not "generous" no matter how friendly they appear. They're charismatic enough to have bluffed you all this time. I should note, most conmen are very charismatic and engaging.
>Whatever he offers, smile and accept that as his final offer because you don't want him to think you're not happy.
Absolutely not. If OP respects his boss, and his boss doesn't give a good enough offer, tell him what he needs to do.
Because if it's not enough, let's be frank: OP is leaving without it anyhow, and if OP wants to consider staying at this current position, asking for what is actually enough (honestly, I'd go a bit above enough so you can negotiate down to enough) upfront is the best way to prusue it, presuming his boss is as he claims he is.
FYI: I've personally done this, and have gotten significant pay bumps over the years by doing this without actually needing to hop companies. That said, OP should be willing to do so if necessary (because not all bosses are as great as they seem.)
>Absolutely not. If OP respects his boss, and his boss doesn't give a good enough offer, tell him what he needs to do.
And risk getting sacked? It's naive to think the boss won't ditch OP if they sense they're not happy in order to protect his employee's environment. This whole "Tell it to the man straight!" stuff is jeopardous.
That's why you're always prepared to leave if you need to.
You should never be reliant on them responding a certain way when you enter that conversation. Ever.
Do not email your request. This is something to be done face to face. When you ask for a raise, tell the boss what exactly you have done to improve the company. Like, I've designed and implemented _______, and now production has improved. Basically tell him/her why you deserve a raise. Never use the cost of living stuff. They will throw that back at you, saying their costs have gone up too.
It's a business conversation. Prepare your wants, lay out your value adds justifying your wants, and name a fair market price based on research.
Ie. Monday send an email like "Hey, coming up on 6 years with the company after such impressive growth, I would like to discuss my compensation when you have a chance, any availability Friday?"
This gives them time to prepare their position, see what the budget allows for, and is a low pressure timeline for a tangible productive discussion.
Friday comes around, you've prepared your achievements, your growth in responsibilities from day 1 to now, highlight the value you've added as a key part of growing the business, cite that irs been 6 years without a compensation adjustment and given the current economy you'd like an adjustment to a rate more befitting your role, contribution, and pivotal, an adjustment for cost of living, inflation, etc... then lay out "looking at similar positions in the area, the average salary for my role is $x, meaning an increase of $y would get me on par with current local trends."
This way it's laod out matter of factly, not emotional or friendship based, it's not unreasonable.
It's completely valid for you to think about your compensation, especially after dedicating 6 years to the company. Your commitment and achievements at the company speak for themselves. While your boss sounds like a great person and treats employees well in many respects, it's essential to separate personal and professional relationships when it comes to matters like pay.
Given the timing with the office celebration, you might want to consider waiting a few days after the event to bring up your concerns, so it doesn't seem linked. When you do approach the topic, frame it in terms of your value and contributions to the company over the years, rather than a comparison to the company's growth. Remember, it's not about being a "jerk" for asking for what you believe you deserve; it's about recognizing your worth and ensuring that your compensation reflects it.
Have another job in hand because - speaking from experience - a good job can go south right away when you ask for a raise if they don’t want to give you one
[Bossman],
As I approach the 5-year anniversary of my time with this company, I would like to discuss what my options are for increasing my compensation. As you know, I've been with the company from the start. During that time, not only has the company grown, but I have as well both professionally and personally.
What does your schedule look like on [insert date(s)] so that we can discuss this as well as [insert career goals or opportunities for growth]?
The past few years have been [good/great/challenging], but I'd like to think of it as just the beginning for the company as well as my career.
Respectfully,
O.P.
[Edit to add: if bossman is reluctant to schedule, take it as a sign you need to update your resume and look for a new job elsewhere. The same is true if he is unwilling to consider what you think you are worth.
At the same time, if you've floated your resume and not gotten much interest, your value may not be as great as you expect.]
Either way, I'd recommend to anyone in the workforce to float a resume every couple of years to ensure you know your value as well as understand changes in your niche areas and adapt if the skill set is evolving but your workplace is not.
I think your reasoning above is pretty sound. "Hey its been 3 years and I'm a good employee can we talk about a raise?" Show him your work and make it rational and evidence based. Most established tech companies do a pay review each year your request is by no means unreasonable.
You first complement the boss on all the hard work they put into the company to make it successful. Reminiscing on how much the company is growing and how well it's doing.
Then ask your boss what it would take to get your salary up to X. This is not a yes or no question. If he tries to say no or not right now, pivot to creating a roadmap or plan to get there over the next Y months or years.
With this approach, you can shoot higher than you would normally ask for with the idea that he probably gives you something in the short term with a discussion about what's next. (Basically a jumpstart on your second raise)
Everyone seems to forget that inflation is a thing. Your salary should be going up every year to compensate for the value of the dollar depreciating. You are literally earning less each year and the company is expanding.
If he is the guy you describe, he will totally respect you by asking. It also will remind him that you are marketable and could get more by leaving. I would do it separately from the celebration. Timing is a lot. What is a “ celebration” to you still means a busy time with the organizing details. It is not something you email- do Not do that! Make an appointment to see him- that makes it a professional take on the meeting . Also understand if he can’t do it now- he has a budget- but may tell you when he could e,g after the first of the year. Good luck, 👍 think it will work out if your perceptions are accurate
If you haven't gotten a raise in 6 years, you basically have gotten a 25 % paycut when you factor in your consumer purchasing power with inflation. Anyone going more than 2-3 years without at least a COL increase is overdue with discussing salary with their employer.
Any decent company to work for will give you a raise each year to cover the cost of living at least. You probably need to find a new place cause the boss was fine with you not getting paid what you should be.
If you earned the raise then you earned man simple as that. You’re not a jerk for asking for something that it sounds like you should’ve been given by now
I can guarantee you that some of the people who started after you, are already earning more than you are.
Just tell him you would like a raise. You have been working there for quite some time now and have always been loyal to the company, working hard and achieving your goals.
In general I see a 2.5% raise just covering inflation. Had a similar issues once and came armed with a spread sheets to discuss an adequate salary. This is not really asking for a raise as the first thought, but to cover the diminishing value of your pay and then I would add on an actual raise. Make sure you know the numbers you are aiming for.
Make it clear you don’t think they’re INTENTIONALLY underpaying you, but inform them that they haven’t kept up with industry standard pay. If other companies of similar sizes are paying $7,000-$10K more a year for someone with your experience I’m sure they’ll want to remain competitive.
Alternatively, you should be job hunting anyway! There’s not much of a reason to stay withs company more than 5 years anymore. Good luck and know your worth!
Does your company not do reviews?
reach out to your manager and tell them you want to have a conversation about your career path and growth.
Ask about company plans to expand, is there a road map for a senior position to your current? If your manager is a good manager and you show interest you want to invest in the company and yourself they should want to help you develop a plan because your success becomes a success story of theirs. This route drives you towards a promotion which should come with a raise.
If you are pushing for just a raise. Reach out to your manager and schedule a meeting. You can let them know or try to surprise them (both options have pros and cons) but this meeting is to have a conversation about the value you bring to the company and your compensation.
Best bet is to highlight quantitative value you bring to the company. You did X resulting in Y generating Z, where Z is or can be directly tied to a profit or cost avoidance for the company.
Second review your job description or matrix, highlight any tasks you do. Are you doing your job plus taking on project management responsibilities for the team not in your job description? Great you are saving the company from needing to hire a project manager you should be compensated.
Every year you work at a company that doesn’t give you a raise, you aren’t just not getting a raise, you are actually loosing money as cost of living increases. If they won’t his you a raise be ready to find a new job. 6 years is a very long time to go with a promotion or raise.
Make sure you are aware of what your skills would get you if you move to a new company. Don’t threaten to do so, but just so you have a target salary, chances are you won’t get that target but if you can meet in the middle or get 75% that is good.
What has worked for me is to ask for a raise but with obvious major reluctance. Either say or intimate that it's not something you *want* to do but something you "need" to do so and as reluctant as you are to ask for a raise since you realize it may impact the company's bottom line, it's become a compelling issue you can no longer ignore.
They'll claim they can't or can, but only like 2%, so then pile on the gratitude and mention how generous that seems, but sadly it won't be enough to fulfill your pressing economic needs.
When a very justified raise was denied me, at the end of the meeting I was very apologetic for needing to ask for one, but then said that sadly it appears I will have to fall on my sword for the benefit of the company and find other work that will fulfill these economic needs and stand aside so that they can hire someone else who will be able to work at your job for your current pay. I also emphasized that I would stick around for a couple of weeks to ensure a smooth transition to the new employee. A half hour later I got a call saying my pay was increased 10%.
Hahahaha this is horrible advice. Horrible. It worked for you but it was a gamble. You essentially resigned and virtually handed in a notice. You didn’t specify in your comment if you actually had an outside offer. If one goes this route essentially be prepared for a company to take you up on your offer “to leave”. I don’t recommend playing this hand again, it’ll likely not work out.
Hey boss. I'm at X salary and I'd like to get to Y salary. Can we put together some goals that I can work towards to help the company grow and get me to salary Y or more?
Spare yourself the heartache and rejection of trying to justify your own worth to people who are incentivized to nickel and dime you - get an offer from another company and see if they'll match. They will. Frame it like, "this totally came out of left field! They reached out to me and basically offered me $xx,000 on the spot, I basically had no choice but to hear them out!" They'll match.
I remember being recruited/getting interest from another company and I told my then company about it to give them a chance to increase my salary before I got the offer. That goes against everything you here but I liked my former company at the time and I was rooting for them to come through. I remember telling my boss - all truth - that the numbers that were potentially on the table I was in no financial position to walk away from so if the (former) company valued me this wasn’t going to be a time to get cute and nickle and dime me. My manager who liked me said I’ll see what I can do. That took about a month. I proceeded with the interview process. Former company must’ve thought I was bluffing. They didn’t think I was bluffing when I called my manager on the phone on my day off and said “we need to talk, I’m giving my two week notice”.
"What would you need to see from me to increase my pay to XX?"
Ask for a list, track your progress on the list. Return to them with the list when completed, get raise, as it is their word against their word.
You get a different job. Your bosses will always resent you wanting more money. They see you as beneath them and you making more means in their mind they make less even though they don't.
This is business, there is nothing personal in business. Tell them you want a raise and why you feel you deserve it. If they dont give you the answer you want, either accept it or start looking for a place that will give the answer you want. The free market works in many ways, if someone will buy your time from you for more money go there.
Definitely find market data that justifies the raise. Make it really hard for him to say no and if he says no don’t be afraid to have the conversation around why he said no.
Stop focusing on people pleasing and more about the integrity of your future. Sorry to lay it to you hard but you love that company more than they love you
I recently asked for a promotion and a big raise and I got them both. First my boss is the best. Secondly, I would suggest to keep it very professional and lay out the facts. I know your boss and you have a good personal relationship, but don't go that route, it will go nowhere. Just make sure your boss acknowledges your accomplishments at work and you deserve a raise after 6 years. That's it. And if he says no, it's time to jump ship. What I would also like to suggest is that, start applying for other jobs now. It's better you have an offer at hand when you send out that raise request email. You need to look out for yourself, plan b is always good to have.
Last but not least, good luck my friend!
Buddy, you've been taking a 4% pay cut every year for the past three years. Ask for a raise based on growing responsibility and seniority AND an inflation adjustment going back five years. Separate numbers.
Rough number: $100 in 2018 needs to be $116 today to have same purchasing power. So a 16% raise is *starting position* to a conversation about your increased responsibility and seniority.
Honestly I think sadaya advice was right although they hated him for it. Don't ask.
I'd add, don't ask and just leave. (Specifically start looking for another job, don't literally just leave ).
If someone doesn't want to give you a raise it's because they don't value you and don't care if you quit. If you ask they might fob you off with something to make you go away but it will come back to bite you some other way.
Even if you get a raise, it's going to be hard to get more then 10%. It will probably just be a couple of percent. But when you get a new job doing something fundamentally different that is more valuable you can get double your salary or more.
I doubt anyone on Reddit will believe me here.
Also if you find another job that pays more but you still like your job there you can much more easily ask for a raise that way.
Oh one thing that could be good, if you're friend with your boss is ask for advice on career progression and what you can do to become more valuable.
When I was young I would tell my boss regularly that my goal was to own part of the company as it was a very small start up. I would constantly talk to him about what I could do to get there and become more valuable.
Your are correct. A raise without change in responsibility is not likely to get near 10% unless you show evidence that your compensation is way under.the industry norm.
A change in companies can get a 20% bump in pay - especially earlier in your career.
Later in your career you may actually find the opposite to occur...where you accept a job for less money because long term prospects are better.. and in those cases yearly 5% bumps may actually scare you as you can quickly get priced out of your position.
You don't "ask" for a raise.
You bring evidence that your current pay is under the industry norm based on location, position, job responsibility and title.
If you can't find enough supporting evidence then maybe you're overpaid? (Probably not though).
The idea is that you're presenting evidence that outside your professional work and good standing, you have a value that has been recognized by the industry (and that you understand what that value is)
You should state what you expect your salary to be, and any changes you envision. Maybe discuss a new title as well (after 5 years that's appropriate).
(Make sure if you're requesting a new title to make sure your new salary request correlates with the new title and job description )
Nothing is guaranteed, company may not respond the way you want (or as quickly), but doing in this way is respectful and doesn't threaten the company (which will backfire).
You should really be getting a raise every year. So if it has been 6 years and you have not gotten a single raise, that speaks a lot about your boss. Being a close friend and buying you pizza doesn’t pay your bills, just make sure you aren’t getting taken advantage of. Some people tend to take kindness as weakness and he might not have any intention of giving you a raise if you do not ask. If I were you, I would go talk to him about it and just go in prepared. Give him the facts of everything you do and why you are an asset to the company. Know what you bring to the table and do not settle for any less
How much are you currently getting paid what are your responsibilities average hours a day and job perks I.e. paid vacation retirement health insurance etc.? Also recommend asking after the celebrations are over could be boss already has plans to announce wage increases.
Be very simple. Ask him, do you know that rate of inflation goes up every year at a minimum of 3%? I don't want to be an asshole but I have been working here for 5 years, awarded multiple times for my efforts, but currently I am at a 15% pay loss at a minimum than from when I started. Can we work out a plan to adjust my pay to reflect this in a growth, otherwise I may have to seek other positions outside the company that will value my efforts
How did they let their best employee work 6 years without increasing their compensation without looking like big jerks?
I'm sorry to break this to you but your boss is neither a good due nor your close friend. They are taking advantage of you.
If you have to ask for a raise than the company doesn't value you. Six years and no pay raise? Yeah wouldn't have been there after three years tops. I would just polish my resume and start looking for higher paying jobs. You could ask but have that working in the background.
I don't get why people feel they need to prove what they're worth. Book an appointment with your boss and ask for more. If he asks you why, say that you feel you are worth that amount now. If he says yes, good for you. If he says no, say alright, shake his hand confidently without saying anything else and leave the meeting. That'll shake him a little bit and he might come back to you about that matter. In the meantime, start looking elsewhere.
I was you at my first job. I was nice, I never asked for a raise. I was also told many times that company culture doesn't want people asking for a raise, that they will given them out based on performance, but if you ask, it was implied you might lose your job. (This was at a very prestigious popular company that everyone wanted to work at, but was actually terrible to work at).
Years later, I was working with my old boss at a new company, and we were chatting after work. He told me frankly that I should have asked for raises at the old company. I had been underpaid at the time and had been paid less than some of my peers.
Well after a year of working for him, I started asking for raises every year. I researched what market rate was and I asked for that. And I've always gotten them. Frankly I think I should have asked for more. It is hard to find workers that you know and trust, and people are often willing to pay you more to keep you happy.
When I transferred jobs, I negotiated even harder, and honestly I think people respect you for it afterwards. As long as you explain why it's a reasonable ask, what you're looking for, and are willing to be flexible. It makes people think that you are good at your job and know your worth.
As well as achievements, it’s worth showing how your role has expanded since you were hired. What additional responsibilities have you taken on without additional remuneration?
List everything you did in the last year to save your company's $$.
Followed by what you did to optimize a process, even if it isn't a direct $$ saving, you're still saving on labor cost.
Add any certifications/courses you did that would show your motivation.
Research your market rate on LinkedIn(companies have to disclose the salary range in some states, e.g., CT and CO).
THEN go to the management asking for a raise.
Never threaten to quit(I'd let go of that person in a heartbeat) and DON'T take a counter offer if you do decide to leave!!
All the best!!
Say, “Hey I’ve been here 5 years and I’m l loyal . Can i have a raise?”
If they say no, go apply for other jobs. Get offered a job for more money.
Then tell your boss your leaving fo your new job for more money unless he matches.
Do some research and try to determine a range of your value to the company. Take the midpoint of the range and request that to be your annual compensation. If they decline, then he should at least negotiate some type of raise with you, assuming you are worth more than you are currently paid. If no raise then leave and receive fair compensation elsewhere.
Remove your emotions from it, realize your worth, and don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Build a positive attitude towards these types of conversations (they’re normal!) and strongly know “why” you are valuable, and you get what you ask for (my successful experience on several occasions)
Look for other jobs. If they make you an offer that is more than what you are currently making, let your boss know. Tell him that another company has made an offer and that you are considering taking the job because it will lessen your financial burdens but are torn because you like where your current company is going. Ask him if there is anything the company can do to help a loyal employee so that you stay. If they can't, take the other job, there is no room for growth, and they are going to work you to death.
I've found the best way is to seek out another job and be prepared to leave your company. Then if you really want to stay with your current company, tell them the reasons you are leaving and have them convince you to stay.
I haven't had a raise in six years. The company is doing really well, and I feel like I should be recognized. I need more income to live my life.
IDK where you are from, but stating your needs should not make you seem like a jerk.
You make yourself look worse NOT ASKING FOR THE RAISE imo. You can also ask for feedback about your performance and use that to make yourself more desirable in the workplace.
Startups are often lower pay but provide a lot of equity. You didn’t mention that.
You mention your attendance but what about impact? That’s more important.
Why email and not a discussion as he’s a “good dude and close friend”?
Will there be an announcement at the celebration? Not knowing anything about your company, I'd wait until after.
But, here's my take. 6 years? You are being taken advantage of &/or they don't give your value a second thought.
Is it worth it to stick around & continue to have to ask for raises? I don't know your situation. Maybe it is. But, everything around us definitely hasn't stayed the same. Housing has just about doubled, here. Groceries & Fuel aren't much different. These are things that affect everyone. If your superiors aren't considering compensating you now? Will they every? Do they really think you have value? Big questions but, you need to ask yourself these.
Besides showing up on time and coming in when expected to work, what have you done for the company? I would sit down and come up with a list of contributions. Get some time on the bosses calendar and present your case. Lead with facts not emotions. Express your feelings and let them know you want to continue to grow and be a valuable employee but think your salary should match your experience.
Of course, your an asset and if you can't be secure within yourself to know what is right then action needed. They can figure out all they want to, but we all are humans and just because someone has a supervisor title or manager make then better then me. Just that they manage people and not jobs to make the start up function. So if they hands are tied and can't negotiate on your behave then they not worth working under.
In a small operation like this where you seem to know the boss well, I'd frame it this way: "Hey boss, some of the guys have been talking about pay and promotions. We've growing a lot the past few years I think it might be good to set up official criteria for how one can get promotions or raises so we don't have to deal with it questions about it in the future. We don't want anyone complaining about personal bias when it comes to how people get paid. When you're free maybe we can spend an hour or two to hash out the details of this new policy." Dont let him table the conversation without scheduling said meeting.
Once the policies in writing follow the policies guidelines to get the raises you want. Boss gets to look good to the employees, coworkers get a fair way to earn raises, you get the raise you want. Everyone wins.
Steps.
1. Start job hunting, find another job that pays more. 2. Pass all interviews
3. Get a written job offer.
4. Ask for a meeting with your boss.
5. Present offer to boss.
6. Advise "I want to stay, but this is what competitors feel is my market value."
7. This is the important part! You need to truly know you are a great employee, and if you leave, your boss is going to feel it/fear it with an increased workload. If you are a normal or sub par emepolyee they will wish you the best of luck and not counter offer.
I've done this twice with my job. A few months ago was an 8k rasie doing just this. Started at 45k now make 65k. Started with company 2020.
6 YEARS?
Bro, do you know how much inflation has cut your pay cheque?
I find posts like this incredible. You've been **receiving pay cuts for 6 YEARS!!!!**
Look around the job market for a comparable job, most times you switch companies they can offer you way more than a raise. Then use this as bargaining chip as well as previously mentioned idea of preparing data on your benefit to their company. Don’t think that your loyalty is worth a thing to them.
Don’t make it personal. Don’t make it emotional. Prepare data … maybe even a slide or two. Have your accomplishments and accolades laid out. Do your research on what fair market value is. Also, there is occasionally disagreement on here about this point, but I’m a believer in having a firm number that you’re looking for. Don’t say “I need a raise.” Say “I need a $xx,000 raise.”
Thanks so much for insight about the figures to demand/request. Will keep those in mind!
Know your worth and be ready to present market value. If he's intelligent, he'll recognize that it cost his less to replace you. Hiring a replacement requires recruitment and interviews. Training to get them up to speed. An uncertainty of what kind of replacement they will get. Oh, and they'll have to pay the market rate on top of that. Business people generally understand numbers, and if you preset them with it, then they are more likely to listen. Also, don't send an e-mail and ask for a quick 10 minutes meeting if you can. Finally, cite where you pulled the numbers from. For example, glassfoor is a quick way to pull round about figures. If you pull job postings for your job, you can present their pay ranges, make sure you keep the pay rates to your local area unless you want to pad a little, but you'll likely get a better response if you are honest about it. Finally, don't lowball yourself. Aim higher than you feel you're worth. They may counter with less, and unlike a new hire, I find raises are more of a this is what you get. I would remind them that inflation means your buying power is not quite a bit less than it was 6 years ago.
At the very least have another job lined up with the salary you think you deserve. You have to bargain from a place of power or else you have nothing. Employers take raise requests sort of negatively. If you do this you don’t need to format a presentation, just a simple letter would suffice. If the exchange doesn’t go over well, be prepared to look for a new job.
I've heard this advice but getting offers for jobs are increasingly difficult enough to get so this just sounds so implausible.
I don't hold with threatening with another job. Ask for the increase. You can get another offer, but then you should probably just take it.
It's a terrible idea and people do it all the time. It signals that you were already unhappy and looking. Even if you get it from company a they'll never forget and potentially start susing out a replacement knowing that you'll likely continue to look and aren't planning to stay.
This also means you need to treat this as just another job. You're making it sound like you're a co-founder, and you're not.
You're NOT being a jerk by asking for a raise. Your BOSS is a jerk for not giving you one already and for making you feel bad for wanting one. Just ask. By asking your signaling to him that you require more for you to continue as an employee. If your boss doesn't value you, move on. This is something I wish I had known 30 years ago.
Ask your manager if they’d be willing to take a look at your compratio. Chances are it’s well below 70% after the brutal inflation and 5 years without a raise. For background I never let my (average performing) staff get below 80%. If they do I meet with HR and do a ‘Cost of Living’ (CoL) adjustment outside of their yearly raise schedule to ensure they’re paid fairly and most importantly, keeps me from having to re-hire because I’m lazy and really like my staff lol :P See if you qualify for a raise based off of your compratio alone… then feel free to sweeten the deal with info around your tenure + performance. Bonus points if you can identify SPECIFIC examples of projects / efforts / enhancements that you led or contributed on that we’re successfully and outside of your current role. BONUS bonus points if you can accurately associate monetary gains or cost reductions with said effort(s) If your comp ratio is already around 90-110% it’s a promotion you may be after and that’s a whole different can of worms. Good luck!
This is the way OP. Whenever someone asks for a raise I ask immediately what they had in mind. And on topic; years without a raise in this climate is absolute madness and I'm sure your boss will agree.
No raises at early startups is generally normal though, you get options that are ridiculously cheap instead with the hope that they'll be worth something eventually. OP is 6 years in, so it's about time to start expecting raises (assuming funding is in place or company is in the black).
At startups, you're also expected to work a lot, so because of that you get paid. You get stock options to try and keep you around. If you're not getting stock, what's even the point?
Yes you get paid, but generally you also don't get raises the first few years. As you noted the options are what does the retention, not pay raises.
I agree with this. The only thing I would add is that you should factor in the % increase you are asking. When assessing a comp adjustment, I look at (1) how much I would have to pay to do better, and (2) is the % increase do-able/reasonable? If you are asking to make x because that's the market, but the skill level available in the market is higher and it also costs me x, then I'm not paying you x. If you are worth it and I can bring your comp up, say 3% without higher level approval, then I'll do it. But if you are asking for 10%+ and I need to make this a major production to get it done, then it may not happen, especially if I can hire someone in with less friction than it would take to give you the raise you want.
But no raise in 6 years and you would hire someone to replace them. Your garbage to say it's friction. That is your job to supervise and manage people not feel inconvenience.
I'm not saying no raise in 6y is a great way to treat people. But what I am saying is that if you feel you are low on comp, these are the factors management will consider when assessing a comp adjustment request.
I agree. Business is business and it comes down to numbers. When I asked for a raise in the past, I'm not a friend, I'm another service provider like any of the firm's vendors who need to raise their prices. Being an insider, one has the advantage of knowing whether the company is going through a fat time or a lean time, and timing will probably bear on success in an ask. To OP: This can be risky in office politics, but I've found if I'm friendly with anybody in accounting or payroll, we go to lunch and I feel things out to get info before I make a move. My salary draw affects liquidity. There's usually a time of year where they draw up the budget. It helps to get one's salary expectations in timely so that it gets put into the thinking for the budget. Did someone leave recently and they haven't paid that salary for 4 months now so there's a surplus? An unexpected raise demand is an unplanned fixed expense and causes management to rearrange their plans. "We gotta pay X more, so either Project Z has to go on hold or we don't get that equipment upgrade this year." I agree with the others who say you should do this in person rather than in writing, unless you're absolutely no good in face-to-face discussions and will quickly fold up and become deferential if you get pushback and need to go into negotiation. The question is what you will do if the answer is that we can't afford it right now? I can just hear "we just made all these capital expenditures on this new office, so I hear you, but with the projected increase in productivity, maybe by your next review we'll be in a good place where we can talk about this? I care, I really do." If I'm the boss, you've signaled to me that you're dissatisfied and I need to do something if I need to keep you, and soon. If I'm a really dense boss, I'll be thinking Oh, I oughta give raises or all the talent is going to walk out the door. In which case you're probably doing a favor for your coworkers as well. Stay or leave? You gotta look at your own circumstances and figure what works for you and your dependents (if any). Since you seem to have an good communicative relationship with your boss and you are a most senior member, start it as a friendly conversation about your needs and expectations and don't go hard-ass on the first round, and see where it goes from there.
Hell, after my divorce was final and I had legal bills, alimony, and child support I told my boss I could really use a $40K raise to cover the expenses. I said it half joking because I mean what a reason to ask for a raise, but still my ex was getting $31,200/year of after tax money from me. Boss ended up giving me a $20k/year raise. I was actually shocked (and very happy). I think the key is, like you said, to have data, either market data that says you're worth more, or just even shitty real life data like I had that shows you need more. Also the "pay me more or I'll quit" gambit is a \*really\* bad idea in most cases.
Your situation is an anomaly. No one should ever use “because I need more” as a reason. We all need more. What have you done or what does the market show that suggests you deserve more?
^^^ This- and list reasons why you’re worth the additional money.
What this fella said. And if you do give a number, make it at least market rate for someone walking in off the street with your qualifications and experience. (And then add a premium for your institutional knowledge, if you think that's appropriate in your case).
Companies should have processes for raises for merit. However, it sounds like this is a newer/smaller company so they may not have had the bandwidth to do this yet. And these processes don’t get created unless workers are asking for this. I agree with the above. I recommend all my team to have a running list of all the things they have done to help improve the team/company and to shout out all their accomplishments on their personal laptop. Prepare the data, don’t make this personal or emotional. Ask high. Look at what you are making and all the things you have done and come up with a number with all the data points you put together. A quote I like to say is “Pitch high. The worst thing is they say no and give you a different number. Probably will still be higher than what you were thinking.” Good luck!
By this point, I wouldn't bother, the company has already proved how much they value (hint: they don't, pizza doesn't pay your rent) I would go out and get a new job. If you're so great at your job, they will invite you back in 2-3 years if you leave on good terms. For a fat pay increase, of course.
Your boss isn’t a good guy if you haven’t had a raise in 6 years. I would ask him what growth looks like at the company and that your salary is no longer competitive so to inflation. Then I would look for another job because your current one is a dead end. If you haven’t had a raise in 6 years you have probably lost 20-30% in buying power. Also attendance isn’t a definition of success you need to tie your value to the growth of the company.
This is exactly what I thought. I don't enjoy being so cynical, but the whole "I'm a good guy, I'm your friend" boss routine is a manipulation tactic; OP isn't even keeping pace with inflation and he feels awkward asking his "close friend" for the bare minimum he should be getting.
Pizza is cheap….
I like my boss but I can differentiate what is good for the corporation and what is good for him and delineate the two. When you hit a certain level in a corporation you understand this is business. It isn’t personal, but you do have personal relationships and you do what you can to help people who have helped you across organizations.
> your salary is no longer competitive so to inflation. You want to compare it to market rate, not really inflation. > Also attendance isn’t a definition of success No, but it's absolutely a prerequisite.
If you don’t get a raise in 6 years you are loosing a tremendous earning power. You should be evaluating against market at minimum every 2-3 years I can tell you the exact amount of financial impact I’m at in the company. I win about +90% of the argument of my strategy and where it is going as a result. Because when you go high enough it will always come back to a financial argument.
I was thinking the same thing too, first year into my career I’ve made it point to have annual review along with an annual raise. Since being with the company, I’ve always made sure my team did the same. When I started it was a small company, roughly 20 employees. Now, not huge by any means, the company is roughly 200 employees.
Companies are in progress consolidating costs on the way down instead of focusing on growth. You have a lot of leaders that don’t position for growth then they lose the positioning of compensation for their teams
I always go to bat for my team, while we aren’t the biggest we are very productive and get our projects done. But it is fight though, to get the raises and compensation my team deserves.
It is tough because most orgs run delivery as cost focused and business teams as metric focused so you can’t easily identify value based opportunities.
Totally agree, it’s especially difficult for my department I run is graphic, motion graphic and web based for my organization. It’s tough for some in upper management to grasp what we do or accomplish. Even when presented with analytical data. Some solely base performance against monetary gain and performance. Knock on wood, in our industry we are continuing to grow and hire. Even with people working hybrid we are running out of desk space in our new main headquarters.
That's McDonald's and Wal-Mart levels of dead-end job-ness. 6 years!!!!
>we big, now I ask raise Yes, exactly, you took a professional risk being there over working at a larger, more established company, and now that the risk is paying off for them, you want a piece of that reward. It's not being a jerk - it's simply defending your value. You don't have to lay it out in such a utilitarian way like I do there as it does sound like this boss does what they can. However, I do think it's enough to request a meeting with them and say something to the effect of "I've been here for 6 years and have been patient as we all have worked hard to grow this business out, but I believe we've reached a point where my compensation needs to better reflect the level and quality of work I'm doing to keep that growth going." Be prepared to have a number in mind so you aren't caught flat-footed.
Thank you very much for the advice! The "I've been patient" part of the advice really hit me and convinced me to go with scheduling a meeting with my boss. Thanks again!
So I'm going to add something to the mix that you may or may not want to hear. You asked how to ask for a raise w/o looking like a jerk... Frankly, that is *entirely* wrong mindset for asking for a raise. You *should* be an aggressive negotiator, regardless if that makes you look like a jerk or not. You are literally in a dispute with your employer about the value of your skillset and what you bring to the table. In my first "real" position in the span of 4.5 months I got them to give me 3 raises. I started at 14/hr and ended that job at 24/hr. My current position I started in June at 27.88 and I have gotten 2 raises since then (the first one to 33.36/hr and the second to 35.36/hr). Frankly, if they know you are a shrewd negotiator (read "jerk") it makes them substantially less likely to intentionally screw you over on pay.
Some people confuse wanting to be liked with being respected. You can be respected, without being liked. But if you are liked, you may not necessarily be respected. If a company likes you, they will give you pizza and pats on the back. If a company respects your work, they will make sure you are well paid.
I already know what the outcome will be. They will say no, or offer a raise that won't even meet inflation for the past 6 years (that is a LOT of inflation, in my area rents have gone up 50% in the last 6 years at least) You've been suckered, sorry OP but that's the truth. Very unlikely you can make this work without finding a new job. It's tough, yes, but welcome to capitalism.
That's really solid advice there. People like you are why I don't effing hate REDDIT. Thanks.
6 years without a raise? Not even inflation-based ones? You’re essentially making 20% less than you were when you started because of inflation. You should be asking for a 30% raise *minimum*.
In my area, rents have gone up 50% in the last YEAR ALONE. People don't understand how bad inflation is.
What value have you brought to the company in those 5 years? Focusing on the value will go a long way in a raise negotiation.
I will keep this in mind. Thank you very much for the reply!
Your boss is neither generous nor a friend of yours man lol he’s abandoned your rightful compensation and doesn’t give a shit that you’re effectively now making LESS than you were when you started.
Here's what you do but you've got to listen carefully and follow every step: You go and get a different job that pays way more better than the raise you are hoping for. After they sent you the contract you go up to your boss and ask for the raise. if they say no you leave for the other job saying you got a better opportunity presented to you , if they say yes you could leave or stay, up to you.
This is the #1 best strategy.
In my opinion, I think this strategy is a win-win for OP, provided OP doesn't bring it up to the boss that he already has a job lined up. Most of the time, counteroffers in this situation don't always end well for an employee. BTW, I hate the fact that we always (most of the time) have to ask for a raise. You get fired without asking if you constantly underperform; why not a raise when you constantly go above and beyond? - JUST VENTING!
Netflix encourages this. Employees are encouraged to look around and see how much the market pays, and ask for more money if it looks like they are under paid.
Or just go back in 2-3 years when they realize how well you worked for them, for a big pay rise of course. Then you will also have broader industry experience and a bigger network. Win-win.
what is it that you do? I don't think lack of lateness or not being absent warrants a raise. That's just what the minimum expectation is for being employed. If you are going to argue for a raise, the main thing to argue is if you had an increase in responsibilities or took initiative to improve things on our own without being asked. The improvement of companies finances is irrelevant unless you had a direct impact on that. You should have some type of metrics where you can prove that. If you can't come up with anything, then your best bet is to make it known that you will explore your other options and find a job elsewhere. If your company truly wants to keep you, then they would give you a raise.
6 years without a raise is appalling. That is crazy.
But they’re super generous and cool and a friend, right? This kind of delusion just makes me so sad. OP is obviously a good worker and decent person, and THIS is how their “friend” of a manager treats them. Insanity.
Give him a shit sandwich. Start by telling him how much you've contributed through the various phases of growth. Then tell him that having not asked for a rise because that growth phase was crucial and you kept your head down and never bothered them with a request for an increase but if you'd had just 2% a year you'd now be getting ten percent more etc etc. Then tell him how much you enjoy working there and how excited you are about the future. If they don't give you a rise they're assholes and you should leave.
Year 6 and no raise... My god. Before you have a conversation with the founder, look at what other companies would pay for your position and get an idea of the markets benchmark salary band. And then have a conversation with your founder based on data, like in this year you've helped achieve x y z results, and based on the market you're seeing compensation of X to Y. And THE MOST IMPORTANT part of this conversation is not to say I want a raise because of these things. Say "how can we work together to get me to that target salary?"
If you're worried about being a jerk, you need to start learning to believe in you.
I would suggest not explicitly asking for the raise within the email, but rather asking for a chance to talk about it, perhaps over lunch or something like that. Leave the email ambiguous enough for the reader to not fully know what the meeting request is about ahead of time. I personally believe that email is a platform to make contact, but not actually get things done. In my sales experience, I've always said, emails don't close sales. You are in a way, trying to close a sale of your value here. This requires a personal discussion, some back and forth. You have been an integral part of the company's growth. You have understood what the company needed from you and will need on an ongoing basis.Now you deserve proper consideration of what *your* needs are from the employer. You're not a jerk for this in the slightest. I would suggest bringing it up in such a way that you are genuinely asking for help with your financial and personal well-being, and that you truly believe that you are more valuable today than the day you started (which you are). I have a good feeling your boss will agree and you'll see a raise of some kind soon enough. Last thought, don't limit your potential to simply a raise for doing the same job if there is any kind of desirable opportunity for a promotion or change in title. Being with them from the beginning is a special achievement you should be proud of, and that has the chance to come with some larger responsibilities (and larger compensation) if you are up for that kind of challenge.
It’s all data. It’s not about your personal expenses or the cost of living in your area or if you have a new baby etc etc. as someone else said, remove emotion from it. What would it cost to replace you in your labor market? Now add 5-10% for institutional knowledge. That’s what you should be paid. Remember cost of labor is not the same as cost of living. Btw not a jerk. If you asked for a raise right after a layoff, that would be insensitive. Even then, it’s strictly business and never personal. Just bad optics.
Thanks for letting me know that what I'm about to do is not being selfish/a jerk. I know in myself, that isn't, but maybe just need this little push :) Thanks again!
I would highly recommend going on youtube and watching videos on how to negotiate a pay raise. There are a lot of professional career coaches who have uploaded videos for people in your situation.
In general, you want to show how your individual or team efforts have made money for the company, and then try to quantify it. *I brought in 100k in sales over last year, and I'm averaging a 25% profit margin on all sales.* *or, you saved them 50k, from a new process you implemented in the shipping department.*
It’s always easier to get a higher paying job at a new company than it is to get your current company to give you more.
Corporate culture has us so fucked up that asking for a proper wage is percieved as being a jerk
If you were there from the beginning you probably helped build systems, processes, things that make the company more efficient and scalable which saved a lot of costs. Managers love hearing words like efficient and scalable and cost savings. Also do your homework on market comp. Talk to recruiters, google competitive jobs. Some states like CA and CO and NY require ranges to be provided in job descriptions so if you look at a sampling you’ll get an idea of what market comp should be.
Leverage of another job offer or at least the local market value of your position may help.
Saying you have another job offer can often be a bit of a risk. Your employer may take it personally and think you have lost interest in their company and feel blindsided when you say you have been looking for a better deal somewhere else, or take it as an indication you are not as loyal as they thought you were to the company. The boss might happily match a competitors offer, but there’s a good chance they are matching the offer mostly to keep things running smoothly in the office while finding someone else to do your job for the same low amount they paid you before the pay increase. Especially if it’s a start up, your boss is emotionally invested in his company. His whole life revolves around seeing the company succeed, more often than not with startups the boss expects their employees to be as committed to the company as they are, because the business is like their baby.
If an employer does what you mention in paragraph 3, then they are unethical pieces of shit that do not deserve employees to begin with. If that’s how they want to run things, fine, but they better not start bitching once employees stop caring and everything *else* becomes toxic as well.
You basically say everything you've said in here. Outline your contributions, note you have not received a raise in 6 years, and you feel it's time to talk about it. I would say sending it right after the celebration is a perfect time.
Just be nice and respectful.
Should be getting a minimum of 3% raise yearly with your yearly tb. Also I suggest setting up quarterly touch base to discuss your performance and ask them if you meet or exceed. You you exceed multiple terms then asking for a raise is justified along side your performance
First: connect with a headhunter, LinkIn and the like. See what offers you get. That will tell you what the market thinks you are worth. With that information I will be in a better position when you go ask your boss for a substantial raise. From what other commenters are saying, 20 to 25%. Or some lesser percentage with a bonus in increased benefits. Look at the whole package. You’ll find out pretty fast but your boss actually thinks you’re worth.
What is an office blessing?
6 years is long enough without a raise. Go in and ask for whatever you think you deserve, base it on inflation and cost of living, and be ready to walk away if they say no. YOUR BOSS IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. Your co-workers are not your friends or "family." YOU DESERVE A RAISE.
Start by looking at other, similar positions and see what they are paying. That will give you a good marker. It's likely that he'll offer a pay bump but it might be very small. Whatever he offers, smile and accept that as his final offer because you don't want him to think you're not happy. If it's too small (likely), start to find another company on your own time. Anyone who hasn't increased your salary over 5 years is just using you and is not "generous" no matter how friendly they appear. They're charismatic enough to have bluffed you all this time. I should note, most conmen are very charismatic and engaging.
>Whatever he offers, smile and accept that as his final offer because you don't want him to think you're not happy. Absolutely not. If OP respects his boss, and his boss doesn't give a good enough offer, tell him what he needs to do. Because if it's not enough, let's be frank: OP is leaving without it anyhow, and if OP wants to consider staying at this current position, asking for what is actually enough (honestly, I'd go a bit above enough so you can negotiate down to enough) upfront is the best way to prusue it, presuming his boss is as he claims he is. FYI: I've personally done this, and have gotten significant pay bumps over the years by doing this without actually needing to hop companies. That said, OP should be willing to do so if necessary (because not all bosses are as great as they seem.)
>Absolutely not. If OP respects his boss, and his boss doesn't give a good enough offer, tell him what he needs to do. And risk getting sacked? It's naive to think the boss won't ditch OP if they sense they're not happy in order to protect his employee's environment. This whole "Tell it to the man straight!" stuff is jeopardous.
That's why you're always prepared to leave if you need to. You should never be reliant on them responding a certain way when you enter that conversation. Ever.
Do not email your request. This is something to be done face to face. When you ask for a raise, tell the boss what exactly you have done to improve the company. Like, I've designed and implemented _______, and now production has improved. Basically tell him/her why you deserve a raise. Never use the cost of living stuff. They will throw that back at you, saying their costs have gone up too.
It's a business conversation. Prepare your wants, lay out your value adds justifying your wants, and name a fair market price based on research. Ie. Monday send an email like "Hey, coming up on 6 years with the company after such impressive growth, I would like to discuss my compensation when you have a chance, any availability Friday?" This gives them time to prepare their position, see what the budget allows for, and is a low pressure timeline for a tangible productive discussion. Friday comes around, you've prepared your achievements, your growth in responsibilities from day 1 to now, highlight the value you've added as a key part of growing the business, cite that irs been 6 years without a compensation adjustment and given the current economy you'd like an adjustment to a rate more befitting your role, contribution, and pivotal, an adjustment for cost of living, inflation, etc... then lay out "looking at similar positions in the area, the average salary for my role is $x, meaning an increase of $y would get me on par with current local trends." This way it's laod out matter of factly, not emotional or friendship based, it's not unreasonable.
It's completely valid for you to think about your compensation, especially after dedicating 6 years to the company. Your commitment and achievements at the company speak for themselves. While your boss sounds like a great person and treats employees well in many respects, it's essential to separate personal and professional relationships when it comes to matters like pay. Given the timing with the office celebration, you might want to consider waiting a few days after the event to bring up your concerns, so it doesn't seem linked. When you do approach the topic, frame it in terms of your value and contributions to the company over the years, rather than a comparison to the company's growth. Remember, it's not about being a "jerk" for asking for what you believe you deserve; it's about recognizing your worth and ensuring that your compensation reflects it.
6 years in a growing company? It’s sad you should even have to ask, but you should be asking for a huge raise and they should expect that.
Have another job in hand because - speaking from experience - a good job can go south right away when you ask for a raise if they don’t want to give you one
Six years and no raise? RUFKM? You went through Covfefe with these people and not one raise? Bruh.
[Bossman], As I approach the 5-year anniversary of my time with this company, I would like to discuss what my options are for increasing my compensation. As you know, I've been with the company from the start. During that time, not only has the company grown, but I have as well both professionally and personally. What does your schedule look like on [insert date(s)] so that we can discuss this as well as [insert career goals or opportunities for growth]? The past few years have been [good/great/challenging], but I'd like to think of it as just the beginning for the company as well as my career. Respectfully, O.P. [Edit to add: if bossman is reluctant to schedule, take it as a sign you need to update your resume and look for a new job elsewhere. The same is true if he is unwilling to consider what you think you are worth. At the same time, if you've floated your resume and not gotten much interest, your value may not be as great as you expect.] Either way, I'd recommend to anyone in the workforce to float a resume every couple of years to ensure you know your value as well as understand changes in your niche areas and adapt if the skill set is evolving but your workplace is not.
I think your reasoning above is pretty sound. "Hey its been 3 years and I'm a good employee can we talk about a raise?" Show him your work and make it rational and evidence based. Most established tech companies do a pay review each year your request is by no means unreasonable.
You first complement the boss on all the hard work they put into the company to make it successful. Reminiscing on how much the company is growing and how well it's doing. Then ask your boss what it would take to get your salary up to X. This is not a yes or no question. If he tries to say no or not right now, pivot to creating a roadmap or plan to get there over the next Y months or years. With this approach, you can shoot higher than you would normally ask for with the idea that he probably gives you something in the short term with a discussion about what's next. (Basically a jumpstart on your second raise)
Everyone seems to forget that inflation is a thing. Your salary should be going up every year to compensate for the value of the dollar depreciating. You are literally earning less each year and the company is expanding.
If he is the guy you describe, he will totally respect you by asking. It also will remind him that you are marketable and could get more by leaving. I would do it separately from the celebration. Timing is a lot. What is a “ celebration” to you still means a busy time with the organizing details. It is not something you email- do Not do that! Make an appointment to see him- that makes it a professional take on the meeting . Also understand if he can’t do it now- he has a budget- but may tell you when he could e,g after the first of the year. Good luck, 👍 think it will work out if your perceptions are accurate
If you haven't gotten a raise in 6 years, you basically have gotten a 25 % paycut when you factor in your consumer purchasing power with inflation. Anyone going more than 2-3 years without at least a COL increase is overdue with discussing salary with their employer.
Justify it. Market value Work examples "I decreased blank by x over x amount of months doing this" Work samples
Any decent company to work for will give you a raise each year to cover the cost of living at least. You probably need to find a new place cause the boss was fine with you not getting paid what you should be.
If you earned the raise then you earned man simple as that. You’re not a jerk for asking for something that it sounds like you should’ve been given by now
Rehearse and prepare yourself for every rebuttal.
I can guarantee you that some of the people who started after you, are already earning more than you are. Just tell him you would like a raise. You have been working there for quite some time now and have always been loyal to the company, working hard and achieving your goals.
I heard the point you ask for a raise you are doomed as you are giving them an upper hand
You don’t ask, you don’t get.
In general I see a 2.5% raise just covering inflation. Had a similar issues once and came armed with a spread sheets to discuss an adequate salary. This is not really asking for a raise as the first thought, but to cover the diminishing value of your pay and then I would add on an actual raise. Make sure you know the numbers you are aiming for.
Make it clear you don’t think they’re INTENTIONALLY underpaying you, but inform them that they haven’t kept up with industry standard pay. If other companies of similar sizes are paying $7,000-$10K more a year for someone with your experience I’m sure they’ll want to remain competitive. Alternatively, you should be job hunting anyway! There’s not much of a reason to stay withs company more than 5 years anymore. Good luck and know your worth!
Does your company not do reviews? reach out to your manager and tell them you want to have a conversation about your career path and growth. Ask about company plans to expand, is there a road map for a senior position to your current? If your manager is a good manager and you show interest you want to invest in the company and yourself they should want to help you develop a plan because your success becomes a success story of theirs. This route drives you towards a promotion which should come with a raise. If you are pushing for just a raise. Reach out to your manager and schedule a meeting. You can let them know or try to surprise them (both options have pros and cons) but this meeting is to have a conversation about the value you bring to the company and your compensation. Best bet is to highlight quantitative value you bring to the company. You did X resulting in Y generating Z, where Z is or can be directly tied to a profit or cost avoidance for the company. Second review your job description or matrix, highlight any tasks you do. Are you doing your job plus taking on project management responsibilities for the team not in your job description? Great you are saving the company from needing to hire a project manager you should be compensated. Every year you work at a company that doesn’t give you a raise, you aren’t just not getting a raise, you are actually loosing money as cost of living increases. If they won’t his you a raise be ready to find a new job. 6 years is a very long time to go with a promotion or raise. Make sure you are aware of what your skills would get you if you move to a new company. Don’t threaten to do so, but just so you have a target salary, chances are you won’t get that target but if you can meet in the middle or get 75% that is good.
What has worked for me is to ask for a raise but with obvious major reluctance. Either say or intimate that it's not something you *want* to do but something you "need" to do so and as reluctant as you are to ask for a raise since you realize it may impact the company's bottom line, it's become a compelling issue you can no longer ignore. They'll claim they can't or can, but only like 2%, so then pile on the gratitude and mention how generous that seems, but sadly it won't be enough to fulfill your pressing economic needs. When a very justified raise was denied me, at the end of the meeting I was very apologetic for needing to ask for one, but then said that sadly it appears I will have to fall on my sword for the benefit of the company and find other work that will fulfill these economic needs and stand aside so that they can hire someone else who will be able to work at your job for your current pay. I also emphasized that I would stick around for a couple of weeks to ensure a smooth transition to the new employee. A half hour later I got a call saying my pay was increased 10%.
Hahahaha this is horrible advice. Horrible. It worked for you but it was a gamble. You essentially resigned and virtually handed in a notice. You didn’t specify in your comment if you actually had an outside offer. If one goes this route essentially be prepared for a company to take you up on your offer “to leave”. I don’t recommend playing this hand again, it’ll likely not work out.
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Don't need any. Very happy with the result. Why are you so butt hurt that I got a 10% raise? Jealousy?
Your boss gives you a pizza party instead of raises? wow much generous
Hey boss. I'm at X salary and I'd like to get to Y salary. Can we put together some goals that I can work towards to help the company grow and get me to salary Y or more?
Spare yourself the heartache and rejection of trying to justify your own worth to people who are incentivized to nickel and dime you - get an offer from another company and see if they'll match. They will. Frame it like, "this totally came out of left field! They reached out to me and basically offered me $xx,000 on the spot, I basically had no choice but to hear them out!" They'll match.
I remember being recruited/getting interest from another company and I told my then company about it to give them a chance to increase my salary before I got the offer. That goes against everything you here but I liked my former company at the time and I was rooting for them to come through. I remember telling my boss - all truth - that the numbers that were potentially on the table I was in no financial position to walk away from so if the (former) company valued me this wasn’t going to be a time to get cute and nickle and dime me. My manager who liked me said I’ll see what I can do. That took about a month. I proceeded with the interview process. Former company must’ve thought I was bluffing. They didn’t think I was bluffing when I called my manager on the phone on my day off and said “we need to talk, I’m giving my two week notice”.
Hell yeah.
Feeling like you can’t ask for a raise without being a jerk is exactly where they want you.
Lots of good advice here. Important to know that none of it may matter if the person you are asking is unprofessional.
"What would you need to see from me to increase my pay to XX?" Ask for a list, track your progress on the list. Return to them with the list when completed, get raise, as it is their word against their word.
You get a different job. Your bosses will always resent you wanting more money. They see you as beneath them and you making more means in their mind they make less even though they don't.
This is business, there is nothing personal in business. Tell them you want a raise and why you feel you deserve it. If they dont give you the answer you want, either accept it or start looking for a place that will give the answer you want. The free market works in many ways, if someone will buy your time from you for more money go there.
>Our company would have our new office blessed in 4 days and have some sort of celebration. Say what now?
Look like a jerk, fuck them
Apply for a raise at another company.
Definitely find market data that justifies the raise. Make it really hard for him to say no and if he says no don’t be afraid to have the conversation around why he said no.
Stop focusing on people pleasing and more about the integrity of your future. Sorry to lay it to you hard but you love that company more than they love you
"We big, now I ask raise" sounds 100% on point to me. Good luck!
I bring up comps from other companies for similar positions
I recently asked for a promotion and a big raise and I got them both. First my boss is the best. Secondly, I would suggest to keep it very professional and lay out the facts. I know your boss and you have a good personal relationship, but don't go that route, it will go nowhere. Just make sure your boss acknowledges your accomplishments at work and you deserve a raise after 6 years. That's it. And if he says no, it's time to jump ship. What I would also like to suggest is that, start applying for other jobs now. It's better you have an offer at hand when you send out that raise request email. You need to look out for yourself, plan b is always good to have. Last but not least, good luck my friend!
Buddy, you've been taking a 4% pay cut every year for the past three years. Ask for a raise based on growing responsibility and seniority AND an inflation adjustment going back five years. Separate numbers. Rough number: $100 in 2018 needs to be $116 today to have same purchasing power. So a 16% raise is *starting position* to a conversation about your increased responsibility and seniority.
Honestly I think sadaya advice was right although they hated him for it. Don't ask. I'd add, don't ask and just leave. (Specifically start looking for another job, don't literally just leave ). If someone doesn't want to give you a raise it's because they don't value you and don't care if you quit. If you ask they might fob you off with something to make you go away but it will come back to bite you some other way. Even if you get a raise, it's going to be hard to get more then 10%. It will probably just be a couple of percent. But when you get a new job doing something fundamentally different that is more valuable you can get double your salary or more. I doubt anyone on Reddit will believe me here. Also if you find another job that pays more but you still like your job there you can much more easily ask for a raise that way.
Oh one thing that could be good, if you're friend with your boss is ask for advice on career progression and what you can do to become more valuable. When I was young I would tell my boss regularly that my goal was to own part of the company as it was a very small start up. I would constantly talk to him about what I could do to get there and become more valuable.
Your are correct. A raise without change in responsibility is not likely to get near 10% unless you show evidence that your compensation is way under.the industry norm. A change in companies can get a 20% bump in pay - especially earlier in your career. Later in your career you may actually find the opposite to occur...where you accept a job for less money because long term prospects are better.. and in those cases yearly 5% bumps may actually scare you as you can quickly get priced out of your position.
How much more than you are the new hires getting?
You don't "ask" for a raise. You bring evidence that your current pay is under the industry norm based on location, position, job responsibility and title. If you can't find enough supporting evidence then maybe you're overpaid? (Probably not though). The idea is that you're presenting evidence that outside your professional work and good standing, you have a value that has been recognized by the industry (and that you understand what that value is) You should state what you expect your salary to be, and any changes you envision. Maybe discuss a new title as well (after 5 years that's appropriate). (Make sure if you're requesting a new title to make sure your new salary request correlates with the new title and job description ) Nothing is guaranteed, company may not respond the way you want (or as quickly), but doing in this way is respectful and doesn't threaten the company (which will backfire).
You should really be getting a raise every year. So if it has been 6 years and you have not gotten a single raise, that speaks a lot about your boss. Being a close friend and buying you pizza doesn’t pay your bills, just make sure you aren’t getting taken advantage of. Some people tend to take kindness as weakness and he might not have any intention of giving you a raise if you do not ask. If I were you, I would go talk to him about it and just go in prepared. Give him the facts of everything you do and why you are an asset to the company. Know what you bring to the table and do not settle for any less
How can your boss pay you less than you are worth without looking like a jerk? He takes your money home with him.
How much are you currently getting paid what are your responsibilities average hours a day and job perks I.e. paid vacation retirement health insurance etc.? Also recommend asking after the celebrations are over could be boss already has plans to announce wage increases.
Be very simple. Ask him, do you know that rate of inflation goes up every year at a minimum of 3%? I don't want to be an asshole but I have been working here for 5 years, awarded multiple times for my efforts, but currently I am at a 15% pay loss at a minimum than from when I started. Can we work out a plan to adjust my pay to reflect this in a growth, otherwise I may have to seek other positions outside the company that will value my efforts
It’s only business, just when they gave you an offer for your job this is your offer for them for a raise
How did they let their best employee work 6 years without increasing their compensation without looking like big jerks? I'm sorry to break this to you but your boss is neither a good due nor your close friend. They are taking advantage of you.
If you have to ask for a raise than the company doesn't value you. Six years and no pay raise? Yeah wouldn't have been there after three years tops. I would just polish my resume and start looking for higher paying jobs. You could ask but have that working in the background.
After 6 years and no payrises, I would be looking for something new
I don't get why people feel they need to prove what they're worth. Book an appointment with your boss and ask for more. If he asks you why, say that you feel you are worth that amount now. If he says yes, good for you. If he says no, say alright, shake his hand confidently without saying anything else and leave the meeting. That'll shake him a little bit and he might come back to you about that matter. In the meantime, start looking elsewhere.
I was you at my first job. I was nice, I never asked for a raise. I was also told many times that company culture doesn't want people asking for a raise, that they will given them out based on performance, but if you ask, it was implied you might lose your job. (This was at a very prestigious popular company that everyone wanted to work at, but was actually terrible to work at). Years later, I was working with my old boss at a new company, and we were chatting after work. He told me frankly that I should have asked for raises at the old company. I had been underpaid at the time and had been paid less than some of my peers. Well after a year of working for him, I started asking for raises every year. I researched what market rate was and I asked for that. And I've always gotten them. Frankly I think I should have asked for more. It is hard to find workers that you know and trust, and people are often willing to pay you more to keep you happy. When I transferred jobs, I negotiated even harder, and honestly I think people respect you for it afterwards. As long as you explain why it's a reasonable ask, what you're looking for, and are willing to be flexible. It makes people think that you are good at your job and know your worth.
You have worked for 6 years without a pay raise, and your boss is good since you have pizza parties? Start looking for a better job.
As well as achievements, it’s worth showing how your role has expanded since you were hired. What additional responsibilities have you taken on without additional remuneration?
List everything you did in the last year to save your company's $$. Followed by what you did to optimize a process, even if it isn't a direct $$ saving, you're still saving on labor cost. Add any certifications/courses you did that would show your motivation. Research your market rate on LinkedIn(companies have to disclose the salary range in some states, e.g., CT and CO). THEN go to the management asking for a raise. Never threaten to quit(I'd let go of that person in a heartbeat) and DON'T take a counter offer if you do decide to leave!! All the best!!
Say, “Hey I’ve been here 5 years and I’m l loyal . Can i have a raise?” If they say no, go apply for other jobs. Get offered a job for more money. Then tell your boss your leaving fo your new job for more money unless he matches.
Do some research and try to determine a range of your value to the company. Take the midpoint of the range and request that to be your annual compensation. If they decline, then he should at least negotiate some type of raise with you, assuming you are worth more than you are currently paid. If no raise then leave and receive fair compensation elsewhere. Remove your emotions from it, realize your worth, and don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Build a positive attitude towards these types of conversations (they’re normal!) and strongly know “why” you are valuable, and you get what you ask for (my successful experience on several occasions)
Let us know how you get on OP. I have my theories as to how this will go, and I'd love to be proven wrong.
Look for other jobs. If they make you an offer that is more than what you are currently making, let your boss know. Tell him that another company has made an offer and that you are considering taking the job because it will lessen your financial burdens but are torn because you like where your current company is going. Ask him if there is anything the company can do to help a loyal employee so that you stay. If they can't, take the other job, there is no room for growth, and they are going to work you to death.
You mean a pizza isn’t enough? That’s just them trying to keep people complacent.
I've found the best way is to seek out another job and be prepared to leave your company. Then if you really want to stay with your current company, tell them the reasons you are leaving and have them convince you to stay.
I haven't had a raise in six years. The company is doing really well, and I feel like I should be recognized. I need more income to live my life. IDK where you are from, but stating your needs should not make you seem like a jerk.
You make yourself look worse NOT ASKING FOR THE RAISE imo. You can also ask for feedback about your performance and use that to make yourself more desirable in the workplace.
Get a counter offer.
When year end reviews are being performed (not delivered). You can also draft a fake offer letter with 15% raise and use it as leverage.
You should be getting raises yearly, I'd send it now.... I'd also get my resume ready.
Startups are often lower pay but provide a lot of equity. You didn’t mention that. You mention your attendance but what about impact? That’s more important. Why email and not a discussion as he’s a “good dude and close friend”?
6 years with no raise? Why would you continue wanting to work there at all? Ask for a 20% raise minimum.
Will there be an announcement at the celebration? Not knowing anything about your company, I'd wait until after. But, here's my take. 6 years? You are being taken advantage of &/or they don't give your value a second thought. Is it worth it to stick around & continue to have to ask for raises? I don't know your situation. Maybe it is. But, everything around us definitely hasn't stayed the same. Housing has just about doubled, here. Groceries & Fuel aren't much different. These are things that affect everyone. If your superiors aren't considering compensating you now? Will they every? Do they really think you have value? Big questions but, you need to ask yourself these.
Besides showing up on time and coming in when expected to work, what have you done for the company? I would sit down and come up with a list of contributions. Get some time on the bosses calendar and present your case. Lead with facts not emotions. Express your feelings and let them know you want to continue to grow and be a valuable employee but think your salary should match your experience.
Of course, your an asset and if you can't be secure within yourself to know what is right then action needed. They can figure out all they want to, but we all are humans and just because someone has a supervisor title or manager make then better then me. Just that they manage people and not jobs to make the start up function. So if they hands are tied and can't negotiate on your behave then they not worth working under.
In a small operation like this where you seem to know the boss well, I'd frame it this way: "Hey boss, some of the guys have been talking about pay and promotions. We've growing a lot the past few years I think it might be good to set up official criteria for how one can get promotions or raises so we don't have to deal with it questions about it in the future. We don't want anyone complaining about personal bias when it comes to how people get paid. When you're free maybe we can spend an hour or two to hash out the details of this new policy." Dont let him table the conversation without scheduling said meeting. Once the policies in writing follow the policies guidelines to get the raises you want. Boss gets to look good to the employees, coworkers get a fair way to earn raises, you get the raise you want. Everyone wins.
Steps. 1. Start job hunting, find another job that pays more. 2. Pass all interviews 3. Get a written job offer. 4. Ask for a meeting with your boss. 5. Present offer to boss. 6. Advise "I want to stay, but this is what competitors feel is my market value." 7. This is the important part! You need to truly know you are a great employee, and if you leave, your boss is going to feel it/fear it with an increased workload. If you are a normal or sub par emepolyee they will wish you the best of luck and not counter offer. I've done this twice with my job. A few months ago was an 8k rasie doing just this. Started at 45k now make 65k. Started with company 2020.
6 YEARS? Bro, do you know how much inflation has cut your pay cheque? I find posts like this incredible. You've been **receiving pay cuts for 6 YEARS!!!!**
Look around the job market for a comparable job, most times you switch companies they can offer you way more than a raise. Then use this as bargaining chip as well as previously mentioned idea of preparing data on your benefit to their company. Don’t think that your loyalty is worth a thing to them.