Pay rise demand! - how to go about it

[pagey]

I was recently training a new colleague and we got to talking about company bonus and salary and I got out of him that he was on 10% more than me and he had just started. He had slightly more experience than me at the time of work commencement (albeit irrelevant experience) and I have been with the company now for two years and am set to receive an award this year for excellent contribution to the company.

Should I wait until appraisal time to demand the (deserved) rise? Should I voice my concerns now? How do I tell my boss without mentioning names? Other colleagues have also said I should have had a 10% raise by now but I have only had one inflationary raise last year. How do you bring up the topic of salary and stand your ground against the boss?

[/Dracula\]

Look for a new job. Thats the best way of getting a pay rise. Companies only value their existing employees when the fear they are going to lose them. They always seem to give more money to new employees.

[sholay]

Pagey, are you female by any chance?

[pagey]

I am male actually. I don't want to 'demand', but if i just 'ask' there is a chance they will not take me as seriously. I want them to know I am the sort of person who will always seek to maximise my earning potential without putting them in the ultimatum situation of pay-rise or I leave. I don't want to leave.

I think there is little chance of me aggravating my employers but I can't be content until I am earning as much as I am capable of.

I agree I can't just go in and say 'pay me as much as him' but I can't be undersold either!

[chucker]

i was in a very similar situation but I was actually more experienced and had a better degree than the newbie. The new person was very cocky and assumed they were paid alot more than me which is why they told me their salary. I was mad to put it mildly,

I made an appointment with my 3 bosses and told them what i knew and how under valued i felt, 2 weeks later i got a pay rise.

[TEAK36]

Hi Pagey,

It is not an easy one, and depends on how approachable your bosses are.As the Manager of a small admin team I understand your dilemma, but please whatever you do, do not demand anything, simply explain your reasons as to why you believe you deserve a raise.There is no harm in asking, but you have to justy your asking.

It is very difficult to get something for nothing these days, and the old 'he earns more than I do for the same job' does not work any more.Age and experience have a lot to do with what people are paid.It is completely fair that a 40 year old with 20 years work experience behind them, earns more than a 20 year old, if they are doing the same/similar job.I know you see your colleagues prevoius work experience as irrelevant to what he does now, but all previous experience is relevant as it gave your employers an insight into the type of individual your colleague is.I am sure your bosses took this into account when they decided to employ your colleague.

I think your boss will work out very quickly why you are asking for a raise, and may even be expecting you to ask, but this should not put you off asking.If you have a decent approachable boss, then you should have nothing to worry about.

Good luck!