How do you ask for a raise?

[Rick Lee]

I have my performance review talk with my boss in a few hours. I just read the review on our Intranet and my numeric score doesn't make a strong case for a raise (though my boss's comments do).....and that was all done before my horrible December numbers came out last Friday. Our scoring is very tough and you have to be a rock star to get anything above "meets expectations." I got a "meets expectations" once when I was at 103% of goal and I protested that above 100% was, by definition "exceeds expectations." Boss agreed to change it, but later said it was too late. I have never gotten a raise at this company in the four years I've been there, yet I've improved on every metric year after year. I'm not prepared to walk, so I can't demand a raise. How to tread here?

[porsche4life]

Timely thread Rick.... I'm in a similar boat

[vash]

tell him he owes you 3%, from last time.

good luck! i have no advice.

[stomachmonkey]

103% would not be enough to warrant anything more than the standard increase regardless of whether or not it met the definition of exceeds expectations.

Meaning if you worked for me at 100% you'd be getting an increase. Somewhere around 5-6% of current base. 103% would be the same.

[JR Indy]

Be prepared, list your accomplishments for the year and how they met or exceeded your objectives. Show how your accomplishments contributed to the company or department goals and how much they resulted in earnings/savings/cost avoidance/etc. You've got to show the bottom line value add of your work. That's my .02.

[Rick Lee]

I don't want to start the call off on a bad note, but I am below my revenue goal by exactly the amount of money I was forced to give away. Our company, in a PR stunt, comp'ed work on the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes. They didn't adjust our goals and we were still held responsible for that revenue which they either billed and later credited or just didn't bother to bill. And one other huge account I inherited had left us six mos. prior to it becoming mine, but the previous account manage hid the loss, so I got stuck with the goal AND the loss. My boss knows about this, but tells me to stop whining and deal with it. In fairness, at the time he completed my review, I was on track to finish at 100% of goal. But I had a terrible December. Had I gotten that revenue or reduced goal from what I had to give away, I'd have been far enough ahead to have a bad December and still finish the year at 100% of goal.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

103% would not be enough to warrant anything more than the standard increase regardless of whether or not it met the definition of exceeds expectations.

Meaning if you worked for me at 100% you'd be getting an increase. Somewhere around 5-6% of current base. 103% would be the same.

Yes, but there is no standard increase. Never gotten a raise here. I don't want a raise in base. I want a raise in commission cut or a cut in goal.

[Superman]

Sounds like your company carefully orchestrates things to deliberately achieve the goal of avoiding raises.

[wdfifteen]

This is a tough economic environment in which to grant raises.

[Rick Lee]

Last week he told our team that, if 80% of the sales force make their goals, then the goals were set too low. Ok. But what are they going to say next year when the goals are raised and 80% don't meet them? Too low? I doubt it. Things are set up here such that very few sales people have two consecutive good years.

[sammyg2]

I've done this in the past a few times:

Let them know that you have a better job offer with more pay from a competitor. That usually works getting a raise but it's no guaranty.

BTW, don't ever try that unless you really do have a better job offer

[BK911]

It sounds like your company has raises down to quantifiable expectations. Either you meet the numbers or you dont.

You can always try, “Minimum wage, inflation, gas, etc... is all increasing, but my pay stays the same, so it’s like I am getting a pay cut.” But good luck with that one.

Zero froze my pay for 2 years. But at least I still have a job. For now…

[Por_sha911]

I would start shopping around for another job. Sounds like they are content to give you unrealistic goals and then penalize you for it. Its a scam but in these times employers know they can get away with it if you don't have other options. Not a great way for a company to treat people they value (or plan on keeping for the long term).
As far as how to ask goes: always negotiate from a position of strength. Build a case and print it out. Show facts and figures that are favorable. If it isn't going to happen this time then, every time you are asked to do extra or you get a compliment remind them that you expect this to be reflected with your next review and make a log.

[drcoastline]

You approach it one way.

YOU ASK.

Is he going to fire you for asking? Doubt it. If he says yes great. If he says no you are right where you started.

You could make a case for a raise to accompany asking. I have been here X years. my numbers are acceptable, I'm on time, blah, blah, blah!

You will get a yes or a no.

[Rick Lee]

Ok, just got off the hour-long call with boss. Didn't ask yet because the comp plan for 2011 is still being worked out and there will be changes with some increased incentives. I didn't want a raise in base salary anyway and it looks like the incentives I would have asked for might be coming automatically. And my boss wouldn't be able to approve anything yet unless I really was threatening to walk. I've done that with him before at our previous company and it got me a near 50% raise on the spot retroactive to the first of that month. But then I really did have a better offer in hand and was ready to walk. I'm not in that position today. I get the feeling we'll have incentives for 2011 that end up paying more for selling certain products and services than being at or above 100% of overall revenue goal would pay anyway.

[azasadny]

Very timely thread...

[chocolatelab]

We just got our plan for this year last Friday. I am still scratching my head. They are usually super fair and give us a great opportunity to succeed.

This years is a 180. Literally double last years number with no new product innovations, products, marketing, or service or support.

where's my resume......

How do you call BS let alone raise?

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I've done this in the past a few times:

Let them know that you have a better job offer with more pay from a competitor. That usually works getting a raise but it's no guaranty.

BTW, don't ever try that unless you really do have a better job offer

I have three job offers right now, with the smallest one offering me a 80% pay raise. Yes it would entail more work and flying out of my home area but jeez this is a hard one.

Have a meeting with the boss later on this week to discuss things. I do not want to leave, but on the other hand do not want to screw myself either...

[cgarr]

If your good you don't have to ask.

[chocolatelab]

Joeaksa

Thats difficult to walk away from. Traveling can be brutal on not just you but the whole family.