The company I work for has a very structured program for promotions in technical fields. There's a whole application process that's then reviewed by other technical employees before it's finally approved. I'm certainly eligible for the next technical level, and a few months ago I finally got around to the administrative hassle of applying. My application has made it through the process and is into the final stages with personnel and management.
This is the "official" way for engineers and technical staff to get a salary increase. I've heard of very few cases where someone successfully negotiated a salary increase outside of this plan, and whenever someone broaches the subject, they're usually just told to go through this process.
However, I've never seen any clear information about what the salary increase should be for each level. At one point I remember personnel saying that a technical promotion "could" include a compensation increase, which implies that it's not a given. I've done this twice before, and both cases resulted in a 10-12% increase, which I was happy with.
This time, I'm a bit worried. I transferred here from another location, and my current salary is much higher than the other people on my team, and I actually make more than my boss (who is underpaid IMO). I'm nervous that they will give me a smaller (or no) salary increase, and I don't know how to negotiate when I'm already paid significantly more. I know that if I was at another location, my salary would be more aligned with my colleagues, and I know that I'm more experienced than the team here. But I'm not very diplomatic, and I don't know how to handle the idea that I'm asking for more, when my boss already makes less.
TL;DR - I applied for a promotion that usually includes a raise, but I make a lot more than my boss and all my colleagues. How do I negotiate a raise with someone who earns less than me?
Post by sunshineluv on Apr 24, 2015 12:22:06 GMT -5
I would focus on the promotion part of the request as to why you would want the raise.
How do you know what your colleages salaries are? Do they know yours?
I would be surprised if they try to talk you into a promotion with more work and more responsibility with no raise at all. It may be a small one though.
I know because my boss has made some comments about it to me in the past. Also, tax returns here are public record. Maybe I should look up my colleagues' this year to see what the difference really is.
Post by redshoejune on Apr 24, 2015 23:31:22 GMT -5
I think it makes sense to ask for something of a raise but it may be a good idea to ask for a lower one. Unless you had an extra great year or something. You wouldn't want to set a precedent that X effort deserves Y raise instead of X raise.
If you deserve a raise due to work or skills or what the market rate is in your area, then you should get one, no matter what others around you make. If you are making market rate (or above) for your new location, I'd imagine it will be harder to get a raise.
I think it makes sense to ask for something of a raise but it may be a good idea to ask for a lower one. Unless you had an extra great year or something. You wouldn't want to set a precedent that X effort deserves Y raise instead of X raise.
What?? Why shouldn't she ask for what she deserves?
GilliC it doesn't matter what anyone else is paid unless you're using that as a reason why you should be paid the same as them. Just because you're making more doesn't mean you don't deserve the standard raise. Ask for what you want if it isn't offered to you. Don't ever ask for less than you deserve.
I'm thinking that the best approach is just to explain my concerns to them. This is the way the technical staff gets raises, and there are only so many levels in the system. If I don't receive the standard raise when my job level changes, I will miss out on that opportunity forever. It's not like I can just go back in a year and ask again.
I really hope that I'm just being paranoid and that they don't really try to screw me over.
jigsy, the geographical location is the same. We acquired another company, and I moved to a new office in the same city as part of the integration. The salaries at that company were significantly lower than the norm for our company, and unfortunately for them, their salaries weren't increased after the acquisition. So I make market rate for our company's other offices in this area, but I make significantly more than the people I'm currently working with.
I know because my boss has made some comments about it to me in the past. Also, tax returns here are public record. Maybe I should look up my colleagues' this year to see what the difference really is.
Just wanted to give you a heads up that if you're in Norway - taxable income is public record, however, last year or the year before they have made it so that any one can look up someone else's income BUT the person you are looking up will know that you looked them up. Just a good thing to be aware of - this didn't use to be the case. Sooo awkward when I saw that I had been looked up by my exbf and some random woman at my office.
I know because my boss has made some comments about it to me in the past. Also, tax returns here are public record. Maybe I should look up my colleagues' this year to see what the difference really is.
Just wanted to give you a heads up that if you're in Norway - taxable income is public record, however, last year or the year before they have made it so that any one can look up someone else's income BUT the person you are looking up will know that you looked them up. Just a good thing to be aware of - this didn't use to be the case. Sooo awkward when I saw that I had been looked up by my exbf and some random woman at my office.
I forgot about that change! Honestly I don't even know where to look it up, so I just refer to the old numbers from when the news used to copy the entire database and publish it online! Unfortunately I was on a different contract then and with paid housing as a mobile employee, my taxable income was ridiculously higher then!
GilliC - you have to log in on www.skatteetaten.no when they publish the lists - same place where you can search for others' income. I think the change has drastically reduced the # of lookups, though - I know I used to lurk when everything was public, but no way am I risking someone seeing that I looked them up specifically .