is it the right time to ask for a raise?

[mikeyredk]

Now before everyone says we are in a recession why are you asking a raise. There are some circumstances.

• My company is moving to out of the area and shutting down my facility. I have indicated that I would move but the sense is 30-60% of the people in the facility will not move.
  
• My boss is an expat and has taken a new job in france.
  
• My mentor who i share the desk with has taken his position. (I deal with tactical issues and he deals with strategic issues; Raw material, commercial issues, etc…)
  
• With my mentor taking the position I am going to be in a position to take on more responsibility (with the same title)
  
• Also my mentor the guy who is taking my former bosses position is also an expat and will be going back to Brazil mid 2010 when we are to move out of our facility
  
• Another person in the group has also just got promoted. (her raise was 5%; I know this because she was talking about how much they would give her if she got a raise)
  
• We are understaffed by 2-3 people (now 3-4 with my boss leaving)
  
• I have been working there since May 2008 after being unemployed for 1.5 years
  
• I have a difficult supplier (One that if they get frisky and stops shipment I am getting a phone call from TOP executives 5+ ranks higher then me; but I wouldn't get fired because everyone knows there a tough supplier and they would just send me to siberia )
  
• I have received accolades from my co-workers on how quickly I have come up to speed on my accounts and the processes we have to deal with.
  
• They will not eliminate my position they fought for a year to get the position and it will be difficult for them to get it back

I had planned on asking for an increase after my current boss leaves to france. They have some plans on how to deal with the situation. All of them result in me having more responsibility.

Now back to the question. Would it be the right time to ask for a raise. No one in there right mind would take a job only to know they would have to move in a year and a half. Given the economy people would be hard pressed into moving into a location just for 1.5 years. They cannot hire someone at the new location there is no room for that person period!

I was thinking a raise in the magnitude of 3-4%; they have not said anything about a year over year raise.

Any advise?

 

[BoyBach]

Now is not the time to ask for more money.

 

[Abstract]

No.

 

[TwinCities Dan]

I would think not, be thankful you have a job...

 

[mikeyredk]

I never said I wasn't thankful I had a job… Heck I was thankful back in May when I was given a miracle and they gave me the job. I am in a position where I will be asked a lot. Trust me they won't care if I give them this year without a raise and do exceptional work. They will not compensate me for it with a raise at the end of this year. Its just the way this company runs.

We are understaffed; we have a hiring freeze; travel freeze all types of freezes.

No one here gave any hard reasons just no… If your not going to be helpful then why post.

 

[dukebound85]

I never said I wasn't thankful I had a job… Heck I was thankful back in May when I was given a miracle and they gave me the job. I am in a position where I will be asked a lot. Trust me they won't care if I give them this year without a raise and do exceptional work. They will not compensate me for it with a raise at the end of this year. Its just the way this company runs.

We are understaffed; we have a hiring freeze; travel freeze all types of freezes.

Plus no one here gave any hard reasons just no… If your not going to be helpful then why post.

you asked for their opinion on if you should ask for a raise. if you dont like their answers then tough luck for you.

you seem to be bent on asking for one and from what you write, you feel justified in asking. in that case, why post a thread asking for opinions? best of luck with your request

 

[Abstract]

I am in a position where I will be asked a lot. Trust me they won't care if I give them this year without a raise and do exceptional work. They will not compensate me for it with a raise at the end of this year.

So basically, "I do my job, so I deserve a raise". Boo ****ing hoo. It's a recession, so I said "no".

We are understaffed; we have a hiring freeze; travel freeze all types of freezes.

No one here gave any hard reasons just no…

Look at what you said above. I think you gave yourself a reason not to ask.

If your not going to be helpful then why post.

If you're going to be so ungrate then don't come here and ask any personal questions. Nobody here really cares about your life anyway, so just be grateful that people actually take the time to read your post, and reply.

Replying to you wasn't really worth the wear-and-tear on my keyboard, really.

 

[LethalWolfe]

You've been at the job less than a year so no, don't ask for a raise. Wait until May then ask for a performance review and request a raise then.


Lethal

 

[toolbox]

If you can't make ends meet i would. I am going to ask for one, i am look at getting my first house and with the current pay rate it's not possible

 

[MattG]

So basically, "I do my job, so I deserve a raise". Boo ****ing hoo. It's a recession, so I said "no".




Look at what you said above. I think you gave yourself a reason not to ask.






If you're going to be so ungrate then don't come here and ask any personal questions. Nobody here really cares about your life anyway, so just be grateful that people actually take the time to read your post, and reply.

Replying to you wasn't really worth the wear-and-tear on my keyboard, really.

 

[bruinsrme]

10 jobs 500 applicants paying $14/hr. many BS degree holders

You tell us if its a good time to ask for a raise.

 

[mikeyredk]

You've been at the job less than a year so no, don't ask for a raise. Wait until May then ask for a performance review and request a raise then.


Lethal

Letal thank you for a decent and fair response. I am getting a performance review next week with my mentor and my old boss. They run these at set times during the beginning of the year

Abstract I do appreciate your commen… word

dukebound85 these kind of things get emotional so thats why I asked for a reality check… got more then I bargained for

Any way I will let this slip to the depths and will ask a professional career advisor

 

[LethalWolfe]

Letal thank you for a decent and fair response. I am getting a performance review next week with my mentor and my old boss. They run these at set times during the beginning of the year

Abstract I do appreciate your commen… word

dukebound85 these kind of things get emotional so thats why I asked for a reality check… got more then I bargained for

Any way I will let this slip to the depths and will ask a professional career advisor

If your performance review is coming up definitely present your case for why you think you should get a raise especially since you'll be taking on new tasks that were previously done by your mentor.


Lethal

 

[GoCubsGo]

Letal thank you for a decent and fair response. I am getting a performance review next week with my mentor and my old boss. They run these at set times during the beginning of the year

Abstract I do appreciate your commen… word

dukebound85 these kind of things get emotional so thats why I asked for a reality check… got more then I bargained for

Any way I will let this slip to the depths and will ask a professional career advisor

Actually your reaction to people is my reason behind me saying that you should not ask for a raise. You flew off the handle quite quickly, which makes me wonder how you'd handle things at work if they were to get heated.

You gave only your side of the story and it is most likely skewed in your favor.

You have been with the company less than a year. It is my opinion and in my professional experience that most employees need a good year to get completely embedded in their new jobs. There are exceptions to this rule, but my general rule of thumb is I never give a raise to an employee who has been in the office less than a year. Again, exceptions to the rule but not many.

But if you have access to a "professional career advisor" then go see him/her and don't ask a bunch of random folk on the interwebz.

 

[bruinsrme]

Now before everyone says we are in a recession why are you asking a raise. There are some circumstances.

• My company is moving to out of the area and shutting down my facility. I have indicated that I would move but the sense is 30-60% of the people in the facility will not move. Why are they moving? Is the Salary demands less at the new location?
  
• My boss is an expat and has taken a new job in france.
  
• My mentor who i share the desk with has taken his position. (I deal with tactical issues and he deals with strategic issues; Raw material, commercial issues, etc…) How does this play into you getting more money?
  
• With my mentor taking the position I am going to be in a position to take on more responsibility (with the same title)Yeah? When companies lay off people the lucky ones that stay take on additional responsibilities without additional compensation
  
• Also my mentor the guy who is taking my former bosses position is also an expat and will be going back to Brazil mid 2010 when we are to move out of our facility How does this play into askig for more money.
  
• Another person in the group has also just got promoted. (her raise was 5%; I know this because she was talking about how much they would give her if she got a raise) Did she get promoted without a raise? Why did she get promoted over you?
  
• We are understaffed by 2-3 people (now 3-4 with my boss leaving) Are you really sure, if the company is moving they maybe looking to downsize that segment of their operations. With big bosses moving that may be a sign of lowering responsibility and decision making for that facility.
  
• I have been working there since May 2008 after being unemployed for 1.5 years. What is the pay range of your job? If in the lower quartile, then maybe a bump may be justified. If in the upper quartile you may be pricing yourself out of a position
  
• I have a difficult supplier (One that if they get frisky and stops shipment I am getting a phone call from TOP executives 5+ ranks higher then me; but I wouldn't get fired because everyone knows there a tough supplier and they would just send me to siberia ) so you were the lucky one that the difficult customer was dumped on, welcome new guy
  
• I have received accolades from my co-workers on how quickly I have come up to speed on my accounts and the processes we have to deal with. Then next year the promo should be yours
  
• They will not eliminate my position they fought for a year to get the position and it will be difficult for them to get it back

they may not elimante the position but they surely elimante you for someone asking for less money.

I had planned on asking for an increase after my current boss leaves to france. They have some plans on how to deal with the situation. All of them result in me having more responsibility. Ok more with less

Now back to the question. Would it be the right time to ask for a raise. No one in there right mind would take a job only to know they would have to move in a year and a half. Given the economy people would be hard pressed into moving into a location just for 1.5 years. They cannot hire someone at the new location there is no room for that person period! they may not be able to hire a new person right now but they could lay off an existing employee and hire someone for less money than that laid off employee was making

I was thinking a raise in the magnitude of 3-4%; they have not said anything about a year over year raise. Why not ask for 8% and hope they offer 4%

Any advise?

It doesn't hurt to ask.


If it was me, I would wait and see. Sounds like they are downsizing, shifting assests which ultimately means shifting responsibilties as well. this will in turn reduce the workload of your group and the staffing shortfalls may turn into a staffing surplus.

 

[Sun Baked]

It doesn't hurt to ask.

If it was me, I would wait and see. Sounds like they are downsizing, shifting assests which ultimately means shifting responsibilties as well. this will in turn reduce the workload of your group and the staffing shortfalls may turn into a staffing surplus.

Especially if the cost of living at the new site is comparable to the old one.

However, if they pay for the move and the cost of living is less ... that will make the raise a bit of a stickier issue. Since they may be paying less for the same job at the other end, aka, I demand market rate for my position. OK, here is your wage cut.

That show on TV about asking for a raise, definitely made you look at the rest of the market in the area, your job skills, and your responsibilities.

And if you are paid less and can get a similar job in the area, it's time to ask for a raise. If you are paid a premium, you had better be a stellar employee, and demanding more responsibility with the raise.

---

With a RIF currently ongoing, the best time for the raise is when they start hiring again.

 

[Arcadie]

Why do people assume that because we are in a recession that all business are losing money. Hell the industry i am currently in (although im not high up at all and just working to get through college) has set record sales and profits in the last 2 years and so far this month have made more in net profit and gross sales than any other month in the 25 year history of the company and their is still 11 days left!

Asking for a raise depend on your job and the state of your company. Hirin and travel freezes dont mean a whole lot. my GF's mom is an executive recruiter at a forturne 500 company and they had these same freezes just before they moved into a new head quarters and were expanding.

The ONLY reasons i would say no is because 1 you have not been there a full year and 2 your company appears to be in a transition mode. It would be better to wait after the move and every thing is settled down than right now.

 

[mikeyredk]

Bruins thanks for the questions it gave me a lot of new questions an ideas on how to handle the situation

The company claims a 1 to 1 pay scale. Currently we have two headquarters one for each of our brands in N.A. (Large company 20k+ employees worldwide)

How does this play into you getting more money? My mentor will be taking over quickly so I might be able to bull rush him for an increase
When companies lay off people the lucky ones that stay take on additional responsibilities without additional compensation. There not laying off the white collar workers just the blue collars
How does this play into askig for more money. We have worked closly together and I have previously told him that I felt underpaid (he brought up the topic not me and this was months ago)
Did she get promoted without a raise? Why did she get promoted over you?Actually I just found out that she didn't get a single penny more! she got the raise because her portfolio classification was increased
Are you really sure, if the company is moving they maybe looking to downsize that segment of their operations. With big bosses moving that may be a sign of lowering responsibility and decision making for that facility.It may be that or they want to kill of the brand
If in the lower quartile, then maybe a bump may be justified. If in the upper quartile you may be pricing yourself out of a position Depends on which salary calculator you use I am either on average or just below
so you were the lucky one that the difficult customer was dumped on, welcome new guy I get that all the time
Then next year the promo should be yours I was thinking that then I heard that the co-worker that got the raise didn't get a increase in salary

they may not elimante the position but they surely elimante you for someone asking for less money. Took them a long time to find me and then they where forced to find me because the person that i was replacing retired but this is in the back of my mind

I had planned on asking for an increase after my current boss leaves to france. They have some plans on how to deal with the situation. All of them result in me having more responsibility. Ok more with less

they may not be able to hire a new person right now but they could lay off an existing employee and hire someone for less money than that laid off employee was making in the back of my head too

Why not ask for 8% and hope they offer 4% Because I will get laughed at

Okay this is what I will do wait until they bash me in performance review then ask for the raise mid February; and by ask I mean beg

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

The real questiuon you need to ask yourself is "Do I have any leverage against my employer, that would make it difficult to replace me?"

We are all replaceable. The question becomes, "Does replacing this employee, cost us more in the long run, then giving this person a raise in salery?"

 

[Theophany]

Why do people assume that because we are in a recession that all business are losing money.

Nobody has insinuated as such. Businesses love this part of the economic cycle. Any employee who fails to pull his/her weight or who pushes for a raise can be fired because there are buttloads of people out there willing to take their place for an even lower pay level.

This has **** all to do with losing money, it's about companies being monopsony buyers of labour. Basically, if you don't own the company, are not in a position fairly immune to hiring/firing or are not providing labour highly specialised and thus difficult to replace, prepare to get shafted.