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I am starting my second year on my job. My question is if it is fair to ask my boss for a raise when I know that the business is struggling?
On the second hand I have a very low salary and I need the raise in order to pay rent, and tuition, and basics – and just like my boss needs to pay all his expenses I can expect him to pay me a regular salary?
mepal – be wary of giving advice that might be a problem of geneivas da’as. I’m not saying that it is, but it sounds like something that could be wrong to do.
Most people don’t realize this, so your boss might also not, but asking for a raise is akin to saying, “I’m worth more than you are paying me. I’m finished working for you at these rates”. You are telling him that if he continues to pay you the same rate for the same work, you are going to leave. You will go work for someone who values your work more appropriately. It is usually expected that a resignation follows if the answer is no. So, my advice is don’t make the move unless you know the answer will be yes, or unless you are prepared to back up your words with action (quitting).
If the boss says no and you go back to your desk, you have made a statement that says “I’m not worth any more than you’re paying me, and I couldn’t get more by leaving, which is why I’m still here”. In that case, would any boss ever give you a raise?
I’m a bit old fashioned, so I expect to get a few jeers. That’s OK. But I will say something else that you can’t argue with.
When you ask for a raise, it should be because you are worth it. Not because you want it. Not because your salary isn’t enough to pay your rent. That is not your boss’ problem. It’s yours for accepting a low paying job. If you want to command a high salary, you have to be in command of precious skills. If you don’t have valuable skills, why are you worth more?
In the old days, we asked for a raise when a new baby was born, and that was considered the norm. It was an exception to the rule, because really the company has no interest in what you do with your salary – they pay you for your work, not your life. However, it was considered a “gift” of sorts and believe me, no one was having babies simply to get the small raise 🙂 This quaint custom is long buried by the wayside. Try this today and you’ll be laughed out of the office. Frum businessmen might feel differently, but not because they have to for any reason. A job is not chessed project and its not tzedaka, though a business owner may make it so if he wishes.
The fact that the business is struggling has nothing to do with the discussion. If you are worth more, explain how retaining you as an employee will help the business recover and survive. The amount of your raise is not going to make or break the business.
And that’s the crux of it. Explain why you deserve a raise, and you should get it. Compare your job and salary to the general market (easily available information on the web). This is not effortless, so give yourself time to come up with a “can I have a raise” speech. Don’t ask for a raise based on your household expenses. Good luck.
Says,
When you go in to ask for a raise, bring with you a list of accomplishments that you have accomplished during the year. In particular, bring *quantifiable* accomplishments that can show that you’ve added to the company’s bottom line directly (if that’s applicable to your job) or indirectly (and try to find some way to quantify it). You’ll make a much stronger case that way.
The Wolf
squeak, in no way was that meant to be geneivas da’as. Its actually not even my own advice, rather that of someone elses to me. Either way, you’re older, wiser and more experienced and your advice seems to make sense too…
So now you’re just as guilty as someone else 🙂 Plus, you’re a snitch 😉 😉 😉
Whatever you do don’t offer an ultimatum UNLESS you are prepared to act on it.
Professionally it is best to use your seichel, if you know the company is struggling don’t ask for that raise. Often bosses of struggling companies offer liberal praise for a job done (well or poorly) to keep their employees. When you confront them with a demand (no matter how you phrase it, the boss understands your demand) they might tell you to be thankful you have a job in this economy.
Eitzah Tovah, know your boss well, know the finances of the company well, and know if you can truly afford to find a job in September 2009 with the health of the economy.
EDITED
squeak: Not true. We’re all entitled to our opinions.
As a small business owner son of a small business owner (not to be confused with da’as torah!), I don’t think that asking for more than you expect is g’neivas da’as at all.
Your manager is not going to offer anything that he doesn’t believe is a good deal on his side as well.
Zealot, I tend to agree with what you said, but I have a concern that geneivas da’as might apply in spite of that fact.
mepal, I don’t recall ever entitling you to an opinion. What makes you think you are?
squeak, is it alzheimers? Are you really THAT old? Its not my opinion! Its my advice-givers.
And thanks for the timely reminder anyways, in the event that I do decide to give my own opinion for a change.
LOL
squeak, I REALLY doubt if it is geneavas das at all.
it might be, lifnim yeshurus ha din, for a Chasid (Chasidus in the sense of Msilus Yesharim).
“and just like my boss needs to pay all his expenses I can expect him to pay me a regular salary?”
says who,
What do you mean by a regular salary? Was the beginning pay low for the market? If so, you seem to have taken the job anyways. If this is what the owner could afford, and for reasons of your own, you needed to take the job, there seems to be rationale for a normal annual raise, if you’ve done a good job, but not a major salary overhaul, unless you’ve been the cause of a significant turnaround in the company’s finances. It doesn’t seem like that though, based on your description of the business.
Hatzlacha!
If he said he’ll raise you, then whats the question? Its not your fault the business is not doing well.
says who, I hear both sides clearly. Best I could do is give you a bracha that Hashem send an alternate form of income to supplement what you’re already getting from this job.
Asking for a raise when the business is struggling…… even if u are one hundred percent qualified who says the have the money for it
I am actually in such a situation myself. I work in a yeshiva office and when i was interveiwed (in March) my boss said it will probably be x amount per hour. when i called up to accept it he said that its actually 2 dollars less… but in 3 months we could talk about moving it up. i know the yeshiva is not doing that great now- i see their books and i have been working since the end of april – which is more then 3 months… I want to ask him if he can consider raising it up- but i feel terrible about it. while i am making ends meet i am barely doing so- even an extra 50 cents to a dollar would be benificial right now. Also i feel like there are some times when the office is slow (like right now) and all i ma doing is going on line- tho if he needs me to do something i am there and doing it. and then there are times (like the last couple weeks have mostly been) that i am working very hard adn even making calls at night on my own time at home because that is when people are available. Should i ask or maybe wait till a time that i feel like i am doing more? my husband thinks i should ask and it cant hurt. i am not going to leave if he cant give it but it would be extremely helpful.
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