Table of Contents
After years of gloomy economic news, we thankfully finally have some positive news when it comes to our wages.
In May, UK workers’ “real” (inflation-adjusted) wages were rising at their fastest pace in more than two years, and last month wage growth was so strong that it could delay a rate cut.
But that’s not much use if you suspect you’re not being paid what you deserve. If you’re unhappy with your current salary, here are some questions to ask yourself and expert advice on how to maximize your chances of getting a raise…
One in five women who ask for a pay rise receive one, compared to almost a third of men
HAVE YOU DONE YOUR HOMEWORK?
You can research average salaries on websites like Glassdoor and Monster, which has a calculator that tells you what your salary should be based on your job title, location, and years of experience.
The Office for National Statistics has a calculator that tells you what your pay rise should be to keep up with inflation and average wage growth.
It’s also worth informally reaching out to others working in similar sectors to yours to ask them to share data, says Sir Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.
“This gives you hard evidence and makes you look very professional rather than someone who is just taking a chance. You may also want to find out if there is anyone in your company who does similar work and charges more.”
The Office for National Statistics has a calculator that tells you what your pay increase should be to keep up with inflation and average pay growth.
ARE WOMEN TREATED HARSHLY?
The gender pay gap remains. Every company with 250 or more employees must report its gender pay gap data, and figures for 2022/23 revealed that 79 per cent of employers had a higher median hourly pay for men than for women.
If you suspect you are receiving less than your male colleagues, you can search the database gov.uk/find-gender-pay-gap-data.
And if you’re unhappy with your salary, you need to take action: research last year found that 68 percent of women wouldn’t seek a pay rise, compared with 54 percent of men.
It may seem like the odds are stacked against you (one in five women who ask for a pay rise get one, according to a 2022 YouGov survey, compared to nearly a third of men), but it’s important to stand your ground.
“For women, getting a pay rise is much more of a challenge than for men,” says Sir Cary. “Women tend to think that their boss, usually a man, will reward them for good performance, but that’s not the case. If you don’t ask, you won’t get it. Men, on the other hand, don’t delude themselves and are much more assertive when seeking a pay rise or promotion.”
WHEN SHOULD YOU APPROACH YOUR BOSS?
The early bird catches the worm, and to give yourself the best chance of success, you should ask your HR department when annual budgets are planned so you can get in before other pay increases are awarded and the money runs out.
When it comes time to make your request, it may be best to do so in the morning, as research shows that bosses suffer from “decision fatigue” later in the day.
Sir Cary says you should also pick a time when your boss is “not harried, anxious or nervous,” so avoid grabbing him or her as he or she heads into a meeting.
But a pay rise doesn’t have to be handed out at the end of the year. Cheney Hamilton, CEO of flexible working network Find Your Flex, says: “There’s nothing wrong with asking for one periodically, especially if you’re consistently giving more than is required of you. Just as companies aim to maximise profits, employees should also ensure they are fairly compensated for their contributions.”
She adds: “Always try to make your request in person, as it’s harder for someone to turn it down face-to-face. Start by scheduling a meeting via email or phone, but raise the issue during the meeting. If your request is rejected, you have the right to ask for written reasons and guidance on what else you need to do to justify a pay rise.”
WHAT ARGUMENTS SHOULD YOU PRESENT?
As for wording, Ms. Hamilton says you should start “on a positive note,” saying how much you enjoy working at the company and with its team. Then, be direct: “As per my email, I would like to discuss my current salary and begin a formal salary review.”
Instead of simply saying that you think you deserve more, specifically defend what you have contributed to the organization.
CEO Cheney Hamilton recommends making your request in person, as it’s harder for your boss to reject it face-to-face (file image)
“If you have consistently gone above and beyond what is required of you in your job or have taken on management roles without adequate compensation, document these contributions,” says Ms. Hamilton. “Explain how your efforts support the company and why it is fair to recognize this with a higher salary.”
She also suggests that if the request is due to an increase in the cost of living, you might consider getting support from colleagues to collectively request a salary review to increase your chances.
Finally, says Sir Cary, let your boss know “that you value his or her support in your career development and that you look forward to the challenge of greater responsibility.”
(tags to translate)dailymail
