Career Advice-negotiating a raise...

In My Humble Opinion
1

Hi Everyone,

I’m going to try to make this as short as possibly yet still provide enough detail for you to assess the situation and give appropriate advice…

At my one year anniversary mark I approached my manager for a raise being that I am at a minimum $20k underpaid by local standards and the fact that since I started I took on responsibilities outside of my job description and my immediate role, my team grew from 2 people to 6 in a year’s time, the biggest team in the company. I’ve saved money for the company on more than one occasion, took leadership and allowed my manager to take on a higher profile role…

When I approached my manager he reacted positively saying that no one would dispute giving me a raise given my contribution and track record. He asked me how much I wanted and I told him that I’d like to be paid market value but did not give an actual amount, he countered that market value can be subjective considering close commute and work life balance. I agreed and said that it’s definitely something that should be taken into account. He asked me to give him a few weeks to work it out.

I waited patiently as a month passed. In the meantime I take on more responsibility etc… finally i get called into a meeting and my manager addresses my request, he proceeds to tell me that upper management would not approve a mid year raise at this time at a level that I want and to please wait until end of year (6) more months. That in order for me to get the level of raise that I want it needs to be qualified with additional responsibilities. I was shocked, I was expecting to negotiate not to be flat out denied… my morale plomitted. I walked away only to ask for another meeting that afternoon where I calmly told my manager of my dissapoitment and the fact that it was unfair that I had to take on even more responsibility yet not be compensated fairly for what I already took on. He appreciated the candor and said he’d re approach the subject… 2 more weeks pass with silence and then a promise of a high level upper management meeting with more info about my future.

After the meeting I was told that he can get me to where I want to be if I can move into a higher level role, I responded positively. He told me that he should have more info in September. Well September comes around and I am asked to start my 2018 staff planning with no mention of my future. I bring up my role saying that in order to plan for my team I need to know where my future is . We agreed that I’m moving into the direction of higher role but it’s not set in stone and a financial number is not discussed.

Well as it turns out one of my team members who has been here 6 months, approached my manager saying he has another job offer but that he would like to stay if we can adjust his compensation. I agree and encourage the adjustment being that this person is an integral part to my team. A 20$k raise is approved over night and processed even thought it’s still not the end of the year.

I understand that they could have let him go and had me pick up his work load which they did not do and this is a big deal. However I feel very hurt and slighted despite this recognition. I have devoted so much of myself to this job, emotionally and physically and I feel that if I was truly valued I would not be strung along. I feel like a fool where every month I’m being promised a resolution without a commitment.

How do I get my manager to commit to my future and speed up the approval process short of pulling the same stunt of getting another offer and asking them to match? What is your advice? I’m worried that when the raise wil come about it will not be competitive enough and I don’t want to feel like I’m being taken advantage off. Do I have any power to discuss my salary increase before it is approved, is it futile? Should I just look for a new job to move to? I give way too much of myself and produce positive results not to be compensated fairly but feel that I’m being taken advantage of because I’m being nice.

Appreciate all your advice!
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2

They’re stringing you along because you let them. Talk to recruitment consultants and other potential employers to get a concrete sense of what you’re worth in the market (i.e. a dollar amount) and the go to management and say that this is what you think you’r worth, what do they think? They need to believe that you will leave if not paid a market rate, and of course it’s much easier to get them to believe that if in fact you will leave if not paid a market rate.

3

I’ve successfully negotiated salary increases on multiple occasions. Honestly, you’ll probably get nothing or a small token percentage increase if you don’t at least hint at the threat of seeking employment elsewhere. The best, and by far quickest, result I had was when, like your colleague, the negotiation started with me having an offer letter in my hand from another company. I didn’t want to take it, and I told my employer that. But they needed to match or come damn close to this offer. They did so and retained my services for another two years.

4

Just be aware that many managers, including me, will rarely meet an offer from another employer. Of course, I pay market rates to begin with, so the thought behind that is that either 1. the other employer is desperate and is paying over market rates (and there is usually a reason for that) or 2. the employee is actively looking and will bolt at the first opportunity. Again, we pay fairly, but those reasons have held pretty true over my career.

I suggest that you document all of your additional responsibilities and money saving initiatives. Put it all in one easy to read document. Quantify everything in real dollars - what did the company save through the initiatives you took on and what expenses were reduced by not hiring someone else for the additional roles you took on. Your value to the company (amount of raise asked for) should be about 1/3 of that figure or a bit less. The rule of thumb is that an employee should produce 3.5 times their salary in value to the company.

5

You’re living in vague possibility land and need to move to concrete proposal world:

I want a raise -> My performance warrants a $15,000 raise
I want a higher level role -> I should be regional director of monkey training

6

IMHO, they are stringing you along and you need to look elsewhere.

They have shown they will go up when pressured, but as was mentioned by a previous poster, many companies will not do that, and my general rule is, if they will pay you more in that situation, they knew you were worth it before but were taking advantage of your not knowing you were worth more.

Start looking for another job with some other company. If they start paying you more without the other offer fine, if it takes another offer, walk.

But based on what you have said, I would not expect them to ever offer more until you have another offer. They may value your work, but they are fine to cheat you out of proper pay. Is that really the company you want to continue to work for? Stay as long as it takes to get an offer and then write the resignation letter. And personally, no matter what they come back with, walk.

You have told them on more than one occasion why you should make more money, they have failed to honor that or real even considered that, so it means they do not respect you.

7

If you are underpaid by $20K a year by local standards, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a job that pays $15K more. What’s holding you back from looking?

8

I really like the people I work with and my job, the challenge that I’m faced with but at this point, I have started looking.

9

Thank you, that’s what bothers me the most is that I feel disrespected.

10

Have this already, when and how do I present it?

11

Agreed, which is why I did not go the route of getting an offer… if I start looking then I’m going to check out and I’m going to move on. I don’t play games and get offers simply to get a raise, have never done that and as someone said I would not want to work for a company like that but perhaps I’m being idealistic.

12

Just so you guys are aware I’m not unhappy here… I built up my own team and really do not want to leave which is what makes me feel at a loss because I feel that I don’t have much power.

How do you recommend I approach my manager… wait till I have another offer or is another candid one on one warranted?

13

By my count you’ve had three candid one-on-one meetings to no avail while one of your team members (a subordinate?) - who’s been there for half the time you have - got the $20K raise you feel you deserve.

There isn’t much left to discuss. Find a job where they value your work and let your team member justify his raise and pick up your work load.

And one tip for the future. When you tell your manager you want more money, have a definite number in mind.

14

Sure you’re unhappy. You’re underpaid to the tune of $20k and your company just treated you like their bitch.

Other companies have people. I’m sure you’ll like them too.

I think you need to be direct with your manager, but also be prepared for what you want to do if the conversation doesn’t go your way.

Also, your manager might be a total impotent limp dick…from an organizational point of view. He may legitimately like you and want you to get a raise. He just might not have any power. It’s important to understand how the power and budgeting dynamic works in your company.
I had a similar issue in my last company. I got along great with my Director as well as the other management types in my office. He promoted me from Manager to Senior Manager before my 90 day “trial period” even finished and I was his #2 guy in leading our companies largest client. He constantly talked about positioning me for a Director well as well. That was all well and good. But none of that mattered. He wasn’t part of the “inner circle” of dipshits who made the real decisions. So when things when bad at the company, he ended up resigning suddenly (really without telling any of us) and about 15% of the company got laid off. Then they got acquired by some gigantic consulting firm.

15

I get the liking the company and your co-workers.

And I might agree with the idea that the manager has no power/budget, but the manager found the power/budget when the co-worker was going to leave (which again is a crappy way to do business, if you value your people pay them before they are about to head out the door).

I am not sure if they see you as a pushover, somene that does a great job, but will not rock the boat or what, but as was mentioned, you have had 3 in person one on one meetings with your manager and you are still in the same spot with no extra pay.

At this point, it sounds like they have told you what they think you are worth. If they thought you would leave or that it mattered that much, they would have figured it out.

If I were you, I might consider staying if they offered more before I got a new job. But I would be looking and as soon as I found the right job, I would be out the door.

From what you have said, you are either going to leave, or you will stay there in the same spot for the same money for the rest of your career. I do not see advancement or raises that will bring you to your desired pay.

Just my 2 cents.

16

I kind of feel like $20k is a pretty big ask. For most jobs, that’s a pretty big % jump in pay. And if it isn’t a large % of your salary, then I imagine your salary is such that I would expect you to be a senior enough executive to be able to negotiate a pay raise.

You did. Just…badly.:smiley:

17

I was the one who rallied for this person’s raise… I could have said let him go instead of matching and they would have but then I would have had to pick up his slack… it’s not so clear cut… work life balance as well as commute can equate to thousands of dollars.

18

I disagree, I made my position known as well as my disapoitment, sadly there is just no urgency as far as my manager could see so he’s asked me to wait. Several times he approached me to ensure I was happy and to let me know that he’s working on my promotion. I also get a lot of perks, flex time, work from home … which is invaluable.

19

Thank you! Your advice was very helpful.
I made my request clearer.

20

Yes, you negotiated flawlessly, up until the point where you received nothing you wanted from the negotiation.

It costs your boss nothing to ask about your happiness or blow smoke up your ass about your promotion. What does “working on it” even mean? Is he out campaigning with the promotion committee? Holding emergency budget meetings to find the extra $20k?

Are the perks and flex time a standard practice or something special for you?
The problem was you did not create the urgency for your manager.

In negotiations, there is a concept they call “BATNA”, which stands for “Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement”. It’s basically what you will accept if negotiations fail.

In this case, your BATNA is the status quo, so your manager is under no pressure to alter his position.

What would happen in your bosses world if you gave your two weeks notice today? Is it a big enough headache for him to justify the $20k? You aren’t threatening to quit. You are monetizing the $20k headache that your presence there prevents.