January 4, 2007A Raise in Limbo
I asked my boss for a raise to cover cost of living back in March, and he asked me to write my job description down, which I did. It’s January and I haven’t heard anything. I see him every day, but he doesn’t bring it up. Can you help me with how to ask?
Meryl Responds
If your boss said it would take a few weeks and it has been many months, you need to speak up. He dropped the ball, but the fact is; it’s your raise, your life and your responsibility to look out for yourself. Say,
It’s been nine months since we first discussed my raise and I’m starting to think it’s been forgotten. When can I expect a response?
Get him to give you an exact date. Then say,
If I haven’t heard about it by then, I’ll ask again.
You can also say,
I provided the job description you asked for – is there anything else you need from me that could help this process?
Meryl Responds
There is no objective reason for you to refrain from asking about this. My guess is he’s forgotten, and needs to be reminded.
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Sounds good Meryl, but let me share my delimma:
My boss asked me to remind her when my next annual review time came up because she is very bad about reviews. (Even though she does have an HR person.) (Did so, via email, so it would be a written reminder.) No response.
Then not long after that, I jokingly reminder her…she laugh and said, “yeah I really need to do that.” And then went onto explain that they were in the midst of a salary review because there was a complaint from an employee who left our company that our company underpaid staff…
Then, several months later, after losing my cool with a co-worker for overstepping her boundaries (which I never do–I apoligized to the coworker) and when talking with my boss (the Owner and President) about it, she was very understanding…and took it as an HR situation for her HR person to get involved in to handle. I took that time to have a serious discussion about my lack of review or raise with her. (one of her responses when she apologized, etc. was to tell me how ‘people don’t leave jobs for money issues, they leave jobs due to being unappreciated, or unhappy, etc.)
A month or two after that I decided to go to the HR person to share my thoughts with her, and ask her if she can remind my boss as she helped me when she was long overdue in my review last time (my review was approximately two years overdue that time). She was quite understanding and that afternoon advised my boss (her aunt) about it.
My boss discussed it with me that very day, saying, I know I’m behind (etc etc) and THAT was about 2 months ago…I won’t forget you, etc etc.
I work outside of the office and come into the office once a week to meet with my boss and can’t help but wonder if this will be the day.
My review is three or four years overdue!
I’ve DONE everything you’ve suggested above… i like my job, but WOULD like a raise… but frankly feel like a FOOL to continue working at a place where seem to be so taken for granted. My family and close friends suggest that I give my notice…
I’ve done ALL that was asked of me, a) providing job descriptions not once but twice, b) reminded her in writing, jokingly, seriously, through HR and my request always get acknolwedged, but it never seems to happen.
Any suggestions?
Comment by Jacquie — March 8, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Jacquie, If you’re ready to leave over this, let them know. It’ll give leverage. Some people only respond to the squeakiest wheel. Say,
* I like my job but cannot continue without receiving the review that has been promised me literally for years. I need a commitment for when that will happen and I need that commitment to be honored. Please set a date and a time for me now.
If that doesn’t work, tell them,
* If I do not receive my review by (date) I will be providing notice. I seriously hope it doesn’t come to that.
My guess is the review will happen and it won’t come to that, but if you say it, you must be prepared to act.
Comment by merylrunion — March 14, 2007 @ 8:34 am