Don't Ask for a Salary Increase in the Recession

Requesting a Raise May Mean Being Downsized

Aug 13, 2009

Employees worry that they won't get salary increases during the recession. Some say they will get downsized if they ask for them. Bosses are paying conservatively.

With food, utility and other costs going through the roof, more and more employees watching their companies become increasingly conservative about salaries, are wondering how to ask for an increase. The advice they are getting is that they are lucky they have jobs and should try to understand how shaky their bosses feel during the current tough times.

Employees Should be Sitting Pat

Joe Kilmartin of Salary.com goes even further. He told Meredith Levinson of cio.com, "If the CFO or CEO says we need to get a list of who we can do without, your name may appear on that list. In over 95 percent of cases, employees should be sitting pat right now and not thinking about asking for a raise."

What is the right thing to do? Take it easily with the boss. Consult the employee handbook or check the intranet, if there is one. It should indicate potential annual performance reviews to determine salaries and whether the latter should advance according to a fixed schedule or rank. Talk to someone in human resources to find out who makes that decision and find out whether it's possible to request a review. Check on the salary range for other people in the area doing the same kind of job. That will indicate marketplace worth.

List All Good Work Done

List all good work done for the company and memorize it but if that's impossible, check for typos and grammatical errors before handing it over to the boss. Paul Smith on bitterwallet.com advises " You need to sell yourself, but not like a two-bit hooker." If business has improved since you've been with the firm, say so.

After all, if the company is holding its own in a bitter market it must have something to do with the quality of its employees all of which they need to keep to survive. The boss doesn't need threats of to find out about any of his or her employees going job hunting. Emphasizing how much one likes working there might.

Unlikely Most Will Get a Raise

Having said all this, it's unlikely most will get a raise because of the current economic climate. After all, it's so bleak that Rick Waggoner of the once mighty General Motors is getting $1 a year plus benefits and is worried that his pension will be chopped. Keep quiet.

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