Hey manager types...I need your help

[Jessica 0]

Today is my second service anniversary for the company I work for. I was hired to do a very basic job, and my responsibilities increased DRAMATICALY almost immediately after I started. I didn't get any more money, though.

At my one-year review, I got a 3 percent raise. I didn't argue.

Now, though, I think I ought to be paid for the job I'm doing, and have been doing for almost two years, rather than the job I was hired for. The problem is, I think they might have already put in a 3 percent request to the big boys and already gotten it approved.

I'm thinking about handing in a letter with my self-eval that reads something like this:

Dear Boss:

In light of my upcoming annual performance review, I am requesting a salary increase that reflects my hard work and dedication as an editor at the Express-News.

Two years ago, I was hired by XXXXX as a copy editor, doing blah blah blah.

Very shortly after starting, my responsibilities increased dramatically. I now spend most of my workweek on blah blah blah, yet my salary has not increased to reflect this. One year after my start date, I was given a 3 percent raise, which is an accepted cost-of-living standard increase for a job that has remained static.

I have researched the salary range for someone in newspaper journalism with my job responsibilities, and I believe that an appropriate salary would be $XX,XXX.

Sincerely,
Jessicakes

Thoughts? Advice?

Skydiving is for cool people only

[Stacy 0]

i think if you sign it "jessicakes" with a big red lipstick print your chances increase exponentially.

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[Kris 0]

Well, I'd lose the "Jessicakes" part, but other than that it looks damn good.

There's nothing wrong at all for requesting that you be paid for what you are worth, and that includes the worth shown by you with managing the abundance of new responsibilities you have been given.

You definitely need to sit down with your manager and discuss this. Even if your salary change form has already gone to HR, there is no reason why they can't send another for at least another $18K a year.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[Stacy 0]

shuddup kris, you know you'd hike her pay with "jessicakes" and a lip print. dont' lie!

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[yardhippie 0]

I got into a battle w/ my supers at my old job, and Im now unemployed. Not b/c I was fired but I just wasnt going to put up w/ all the crap that was delt and not be paid for it.

I say this, if you belive that you are worth more. Do everything you can to get it, b/c if you dont, it will eat at you and make you miserable. At least IMHO.

Good luck!

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[skybytch 273]

Disclaimer - I know jack about the newspaper or any media type business.

If the people making the decision don't know you well or work with you on a daily basis, sell yourself big time!!! Point out specific things that you've done which show your dedication and ability - awards (didn't you win one recently?), stories that got attention, etc.

Be sure your salary request fits in with the size market you're working in.

Aim high. The worst they can do is say no.

[CrazyIvan 0]

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Aim high. The worst they can do is say no.

And/or lay you off, like in my case (cheap bastards and they have ALL the money in the world)

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[QuickDraw 0]

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Point out specific things that you've done which show your dedication and ability

I was thinking of a blow-job too.

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[Jessica 0]

Did they really lay you off because you asked for more money?

Layoffs aren't a big issue in my industry.

I'm not wanting a huge increase. I'm too scared to ask for that. Just what I consider to be close to fair.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[pds 0]

here's some experience from both sides of that fence.

don't ask for it if you are not willing to walk away.

being turned down for a deserved raise injects some strange dynamics into a working environment.

do not be shy. this is not a BTW situation.

'you are not paying me commensurate to responsibility. ease the load or raise the pay. whether it is intentional or not, i feel as if i am being taken advantage of.'

p.s. i am full of shit - do not take my advice - disclaimer disclaimer disclaimer

namaste, motherfucker.

[Jib 0]

Dear Boss:

As you know, my annual performance review is coming up in the near future and I would like you to take the following information into account when evaluating my contributions to the company and considering my future compensation.

Two years ago, I was hired by XXXXX as a copy editor, doing blah blah blah. Very shortly thereafter, I was able to contribute more to the company than the position for which I was hired demanded. Now, I spend most of my workweek on blah blah blah as a [insert title] would. But, in spite of my successful assumption of substantially more responsibility, my salary increase was three percent last year, reflecting an accepted cost-of-living increase for a job that has remained static.

When evaluating my contributions to the company this year, please take into consideration that others in newspaper journalism with my job responsibilities earn approximately $XX,XXX according to XYZ source.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,
Jessicakes

--------------------------------------------------
the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[pegasus 0]

Sounds good here... I am an office manager/property manager and it makes sense then only thing I might do is suggest a figure....just a thought...good luck

[Perky77 0]

Sounds good, but not knowing your boss' personality, have a backup plan. Like another job oportunity you can take.

Many "Manager Types" one recognize the fact that you are a good employee only when they have too, and many also take that as a slap in the face you looking at them as not knowing what they're doing.
So be carefull by having options.

"Sacrifice is a part of life. It is supposed to be. It's not something you regret . It's something to aspire to." Mitch Albom

[CrazyIvan 0]

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Did they really lay you off because you asked for more money?

I didn't ask for an increse, just to keep my current salary, how fucked up is that? , anyway, that's in the past, I'm just sharing my experiences

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[Jessica 0]

I don't think my work environment is such that they're going to can me for asking for a raise. They'll either say yes, or no, here's your 3 percent.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[Kris 0]

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I don't think my work environment is such that they're going to can me for asking for a raise. They'll either say yes, or no, here's your 3 percent.

For the business that you are in, and knowing what I do as your friend, I think you're in pretty damn safe territory.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[FallRate 0]

You should never deny someone his or her right to say "No." Go ahead and ask.

FallRate

[Snowwhite 0]

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here's some experience from both sides of that fence.

don't ask for it if you are not willing to walk away.

EXACTLY!

being turned down for a deserved raise injects some strange dynamics into a working environment.

do not be shy. this is not a BTW situation.

'you are not paying me commensurate to responsibility. ease the load or raise the pay. whether it is intentional or not, i feel as if i am being taken advantage of.'

One additional VERY IMPORTANT piece of information. RESEARCH the job market. When I have been confronted with this type of situation, I respond by saying, "really? I didn't realize that you were doing a (name the position) job. That would be the equivilant of so and so's position at XYZ company. What is so and so's pay level? Hmm, and so and so from ABC's company? Really? and what about so and so at the next company?" If you don't know the actual facts you will have egg on your face. I ask for print outs of the information that has been accumulated, and god help the employee that doesn't have it/fakes it or wings it. Ya gotta understand that sometimes giving one person a raise means that as a director or manager you have to review all of the pay scales for the entire company, and it can cost a fortune, so facts are imperitive.

skydiveTaylorville.org
freefallbeth@yahoo.com

• Quote

[KerMor 0]

When I read you letter, I feel a kind of menace from you. I read:
"I am not happy with my salary, please increase it or I am out of here."
To which a boss can only react on the defensive.
It very hard to get a agreement when there is an attack against a defense side, there is always one looser (or two ...)
So with that letter, be ready to leave or get that 'look' from your boss...

I have been in a similar situation and here is what I did. I took an appointment with my supervisor. I made sure he knew my achievements for the year as per a review. He then explained me that he could not raised me directly but that he was in favor of it. We then looked at different options and what he did was to write a recommendation letter for a promotion to his manager (our boss). This got agreed and I got the normal pay increase and the promotion.

Situation might be different in your case, but I hope this will help a bit...

btw: some very good advise in previous posts.

Good luck

You can't determine the length of your life
- but you can control its height and depth.

[wmw999 2,545]

I've been on your side of the fence, done what you're thinking of (although I didn't present a figure) and it worked.

I'm on the other side now, and management is far more hamstrung now where I am than they were when I asked.

But if you back it up with facts calmly, without threats (don't say you'll walk away if you don't get it unless you really mean it; I'd have a hard time not taking that as a challenge).

You might want to see if you can find average pay raises in the industry, also. Then use it if it helps, and know it (so you can counter) if it doesn't.

Of course, I've only been a manager for 6 months, so understand that. But that approach would do you no harm to me-the-manager, and it helped me-the-peon.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Jessica 0]

Ah, thank you. I have no intention of walking away because of a few thou, and I have a very good relationship with my managers.

I just think I should be earning more money and want to see if I can get it. If not, OK. It's not going to be the acrimonious thing many of y'all seem to be envisioning.

I've got industry pay stats to back me up, too. No worries y'all, I got my back.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[chaoskitty 0]

My advice is to present it verbally as opposed to a letter that can be ignored.
I'm assuming that during your review, your boss will go over a list of criteria that you have been scored on. You should have access to this list prior to your review. If you dont, then ask for it.
As your boss is discussing the criteria, add stuff to it. Talk about your job, your skills, the progress and accomplishments you've made. Remember to smile and be enthusiastic about your accomplishments.
You may not even have to ask for more money. Raises are normally built in to reviews. However, if you are not offered a raise, you have the perfect opportunity to ask for one. If you dont get what you want on the spot, whip out the letter and put it in front of your manager.
I would add to the letter your starting salary, the added responsibilities, the projects you have worked on, your current salary, and requested salary. Hopefully, you wont even need the letter, but have it as a backup and to let your mgr know youre serious about your request.
Dont be shy.. be proud, be confident, be friendly.. and you'll get it!

[wingnut 0]

jess, best of luck.... and a side note... well if you would stop posting on dz.com at work and chating on im then you could do all your work in 1 hour and go work the corner of main and i-35!!!! that would work out even better because you could be getting paid double for your second job on the corner... just an idea... you probly won't use it but oh well.......lol.....j/k......

______________________________________
"i have no reader's digest version"

[AndyMan 7]

That letter sounds like a great idea. I don't have any issues with the wording, either.

_Am

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You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[jraf 0]

I would not start with global thermonuclear warfare unless you are willing to loose your job.

a) start sending your resume out and interviewing, when you have a few good ones on the scope, then send the letter

b) start out with a conversation regarding your raise. Be persistent but gentle.

jraf

Me Jungleman! Me have large Babalui.
Muff #3275