How to Ask for a Raise

[gottimd]

So my wife asked me to help her write a letter to her employers asking for a raise. I am absolutely no good at writing something like that, I'm better at going into my bosses office and asking. Anyways, after I told her that, she said "well can you ask your football buddies on that site, they seem to always give intelligent answers when you ask them", so after such a request I figured I would give it a shot.

Can anyone suggest a place on how to write a letter asking for a raise? The reason she is asking is because she works an extreme amount of hours, but since she is salaried, doesn't get OT. They are already understaffed, and another asst manager is leaving next week, so her hours will increase even more.

Anyone have any suggestions on writing the letter? Her next step is to start looking for a new job.

[Desnudo]

Why does she want to write a letter? I think that type of thing is better handled verbally.

[gottimd]

Why does she want to write a letter? I think that type of thing is better handled verbally.

She was told that is the approach to take when dealing with this employer.

[jeff061]

Get an offer somewhere else.

Heh, sorry, only tactic that's worked for me.

[lordscarlet]

She was told that is the approach to take when dealing with this employer.

"Told"? By?

[gottimd]

A co-worker (the one that is leaving) who has been at the job for a long time. My wife would ask that person, but the soon to be co-worker is apparently not that friendly.

[Desnudo]

She was told that is the approach to take when dealing with this employer.

If that's the case, I would do the good-bad-good approach. Write something good, sandwich the bad (asking for a raise), then finish up with the good. Something like:

1. I really enjoy working at X, the challenges and the people are first rate, etc..

2. But after accomplishing a, b, c (name specific instances where you've done a great job, quantifiably), I believe that I should be compensated in-line with my performance.

3. Again, really like the work and the people, blah, blah.

[st.cronin]

If that's the case, I would do the good-bad-good approach. Write something good, sandwich the bad (asking for a raise), then finish up with the good. Something like:

1. I really enjoy working at X, the challenges and the people are first rate, etc..

2. But after accomplishing a, b, c (name specific instances where you've done a great job, quantifiably), I believe that I should be compensated in-line with my performance.

3. Again, really like the work and the people, blah, blah.

Not bad, but I think you also need to include specifics. "Since my last raise/being hired, I have taken on the following responsibilities:" Or, "since my last raise/being hired, the following problems have been solved." Something like that.

[Desnudo]

Not bad, but I think you also need to include specifics. "Since my last raise/being hired, I have taken on the following responsibilities:" Or, "since my last raise/being hired, the following problems have been solved." Something like that.

You mean like:

"accomplishing a, b, c (name specific instances where you've done a great job, quantifiably), "

[st.cronin]

You mean like:

"accomplishing a, b, c (name specific instances where you've done a great job, quantifiably), "

Exactly. But this does illustrate that perhaps that paragraph should be the FIRST paragraph in the letter.

;)

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Forget the letter. A verbal request is the way to go regardless of what the co-worker said. A letter frankly is a sign of weakness. Also, it likely will get a written response. It is much easier to say no in a letter than face to face. Plus, it gives her a way better opportunity to argue her case.

[hukarez]

Get an offer somewhere else.

Heh, sorry, only tactic that's worked for me.

Whew! You and I both. :D

[Dr. Sak]

Whew! You and I both. :D

Make that three people!

[Lorena]

I think having a face to face conversation has much more of an impact than writing a letter. I'm not sure what kind of relationship your wife has with the girl that's leaving, but maybe the girl might not want your wife to get a raise (?)... dunno, but if I were in that situation, I'd do it face to face. Also, have her ask when she finishes a big project.

[lordscarlet]

Forget the letter. A verbal request is the way to go regardless of what the co-worker said. A letter frankly is a sign of weakness. Also, it likely will get a written response. It is much easier to say no in a letter than face to face. Plus, it gives her a way better opportunity to argue her case.

I couldn't agree more. Just because it worked for this one (headed out the door, unfriendly) person doesn't mean it's what she should do. We obviously don't know the employer, but I would personally take the chance that she was wrong as I've never heard of someone preferring such a thing in a letter and would burn it if I were her boss.

[Desnudo]

Exactly. But this does illustrate that perhaps that paragraph should be the FIRST paragraph in the letter.

;)

Hah. Something like this, I think goes in the middle. Although I still think the letter is an automatic no.

[Brillig]

Hmm. In my experience, if you're dealing with a company of significant size, just focusing on your accomplishments and performance isn't enough. You need to show that someone performing at your level is compensated at X rate in the industry, so you deserve to be brought up to that level.

If you don't walk in with comparables, they can just say "we really appreciate everything you're doing, but you're already being compensated above industry standard."

Or you can just angle for a promotion...

[Joe]

So my wife asked me to help her write a letter to her employers asking for a raise. I am absolutely no good at writing something like that, I'm better at going into my bosses office and asking. Anyways, after I told her that, she said "well can you ask your football buddies on that site, they seem to always give intelligent answers when you ask them", so after such a request I figured I would give it a shot.

What site is that? Link please.

[Arctus]

I couldn't agree more. Just because it worked for this one (headed out the door, unfriendly) person doesn't mean it's what she should do. We obviously don't know the employer, but I would personally take the chance that she was wrong as I've never heard of someone preferring such a thing in a letter and would burn it if I were her boss.

I also couldn't agree more. If one of my staff did this to me I would either ask them to retract their letter and schedule some time to discuss their concerns (if I liked them); or I would use the opportunity to critique the employee's performance "on the record" as justification to deny the raise request if I didn't like them.

[Ksyrup]

I think having a face to face conversation has much more of an impact than writing a letter. I'm not sure what kind of relationship your wife has with the girl that's leaving, but maybe the girl might not want your wife to get a raise (?)... dunno, but if I were in that situation, I'd do it face to face. Also, have her ask when she finishes a big project.

My first thought is the girl is leaving because she was fired for asking for a raise by letter.

Seriously, that's just bizarre. I can understand if the boss wants some assistance with documenting why you should get a raise, but doing this any way other than verbally (and taking a departing employee's word for it) is the wrong approach, IMO.

[cthomer5000]

I couldn't imagine writing a letter.

[gottimd]

I told her to talk to her as well.

For clarification, the other employee was promoted but moved to a different location.

[stevew]

How much extra does she expect to get? Say she gets a 5-10% raise, unless she's making over 100k a year, that's between 100-200 dollars a week. If she gets stuck working 10 extra hours a week, that's 10-20 bucks an hour. May just be better off getting a new job in this situation, unless she really likes it, or there is a lot more room to grow, or they offer a lot more compensation.

[gottimd]

You are correct, about a 10% raise. She is new to the field, but she likes it much better than the previous job she had or has had. A big plus is that she works about half a mile from our place, so commuting is easy. I think she wants to stay in the field she is in, but it doesn't tend to pay too much unless you get higher up. She understands that, but to be paid a low amount in a typically low compensated field sucks. Basically she is asking to get brought up to par.

She will probably look around for other opportunities.

Thanks for all of your help.

[Crim]

Tell her to wear a little more lipstick, hike up her skirt a little, and... umm... oh, we're giving serious advice today? wtf?

[vex]

How to not ask for a raise:


EAST POINT, Ga. - The owner of a car dealership has been accused of killing two employees because they kept asking for pay raises.
Rolandas Milinavicius has been charged with two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of Inga Contreras, 25, and Martynas Simokaitis, 28.
All three are from the eastern European nation of Lithuania but had been living in Atlanta, authorities said.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20048266/

[Mustang]

How to not ask for a raise:


EAST POINT, Ga. - The owner of a car dealership has been accused of killing two employees because they kept asking for pay raises.
Rolandas Milinavicius has been charged with two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of Inga Contreras, 25, and Martynas Simokaitis, 28.
All three are from the eastern European nation of Lithuania but had been living in Atlanta, authorities said.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20048266/



It always amazes me that people see a news article and remember that there was some thread 9 months ago related to said news article...

[Eaglesfan27]

I agree with everyone else who says a letter is a bad idea. A well planned conversation is definitely the tactic to take and I would recommend having verifiable facts to justify the raise including amounts similar employees make in parallel positions with other companies (if possible) as well as focusing on what she has accomplished to better the company. Good luck.

Edit: Just realized this thread was almost a year old. :o


2nd edit: What happened with this? Is she still at the same job? Did she ever get a raise?

[Pyser]

tell her honestly, simply, kindly but firmly
dont make a big production
dont make up an elaborate story
this will help you avoid a big tear-jerking scene.


that song actually is no help at all here.

[vex]

It never amazes me that people see a news article and remember that there was some thread 9 months ago related to said news article...

You realize that we have a search feature, right?

[Butter]

I agree with everyone else who says a letter is a bad idea. A well planned conversation is definitely the tactic to take and I would recommend having verifiable facts to justify the raise including amounts similar employees make in parallel positions with other companies (if possible) as well as focusing on what she has accomplished to better the company. Good luck.

Edit: Just realized this thread was almost a year old. :o


2nd edit: What happened with this? Is she still at the same job? Did she ever get a raise?

This is pretty much my thought process. Darn thread necromancy.

[Karlifornia]

I personally adore the idea of a raise letter. In fact, I think letters should be used when asking for anything.

At the drive-thru:

To McWhom it may concern,

It has been nearly 5 hours since my previous sustenance intake, so I am requesting a Quarter Pounder meal. We can discuss this further at the second window.

Sincerely,
Karl

[vex]

Nice.

[cthomer5000]

What was the outcome?

We need a couple seperate forums that just bring up threads that were started like 1,2,3 years ago today.

[Mustang]

You realize that we have a search feature, right?

I just realized I put never in there..

Should be - Always. Was trying to give you credit for remembering something.. :)