What do you do if your employer is resistant to giving you a raise?

When you've put in hard work and feel you deserve a raise, encountering resistance from your employer can be disheartening. It's a delicate situation that requires a strategic approach, blending the finesse of large group facilitation with the assertiveness of personal advocacy. Understanding how to navigate this conversation can make all the difference in achieving your desired outcome.

1 Assess Value

Before approaching your employer about a raise, it's crucial to objectively assess your value to the company. Reflect on your contributions, achievements, and any additional responsibilities you've taken on since your last salary negotiation. This self-assessment will help you build a compelling case that demonstrates why you merit a raise. It's important to be realistic about your expectations and to prepare to articulate your accomplishments in a way that aligns with your employer's values and business goals.

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2 Prepare Case

Once you've assessed your value, prepare your case with clear examples of your contributions and how they've positively impacted the company. This preparation is akin to creating an agenda for a large group meeting, where you must be ready to guide the discussion effectively. Anticipate potential counterarguments and have responses ready. Your goal is to present a well-structured argument that highlights your worth and leaves little room for doubt about the legitimacy of your request.

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3 Timing Matters

Choosing the right time to discuss a raise is as important as the discussion itself. Just as you would with a large group facilitation, identify a moment when your employer is most receptive—perhaps after a successful project completion or during a performance review. Avoid times of high stress or financial constraint for the company. Timing your request appropriately can significantly increase the likelihood of a favorable response.

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4 Communicate Effectively

Effective communication is key in any negotiation. Approach the conversation with confidence, but remain respectful and professional. Use clear, concise language to express your request and the reasons behind it. Make sure to listen actively to your employer's perspective, showing empathy and understanding. This two-way communication mirrors the interactive nature of large group facilitation, where active listening and clear articulation are vital.

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Debbie Lundberg 2X TED Speaker, Author, Performance Coach

“Embracing & encouraging life-long kindness, growth, fun & ROI" as a 2X TEDx Keynote/Speaker, Author, Performance Coach, Facilitator, EQ-i 2.0, 60+Rounds/Year Golfer, Living Kidney Donor & Fully-Recovered Perfectionist!
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Interestingly, when you know your value, your worth, and what is competitive in your field, role and location, it is about communicating your interest in staying a contributor and getting paid what you deem your worth, so stating things such as "Based on the market, my role, and the results of 110% to goal that I produced consistently over the past three quarters, I am asking you to value my position at $XXX,XXX salary, which is comparable to top performers in the field here, locally", and resist saying "I want" or "I need", or "I think". The way you communicate with care and professionalism, confidence and data, will matter!

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5 Consider Alternatives

If a raise isn't feasible, be open to discussing alternative forms of compensation. This could include flexible working arrangements, additional vacation days, or opportunities for professional development. Sometimes, these alternatives can be equally valuable and may serve as a stepping stone towards a future salary increase. Being flexible and creative with compensation can demonstrate your commitment to the company while still advocating for your own professional growth.

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6 Plan Next Steps

Regardless of the outcome, it's important to plan your next steps. If your employer agrees to a raise, ensure that you get the agreement in writing and understand when it will take effect. If the answer is no, ask for feedback and specific goals to work towards for future consideration. This proactive approach is similar to setting action items at the end of a large group session, ensuring that there is a clear path forward.

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Efstathios Iliopoulos
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If you like your job but you also have other alternatives, think about the whole thing from scratch. If you like your job but you don’t have other offers, better stay and gradually build your resume more. If you don’t like your job and you don’t have other alternatives, better stay until you urgently find a way out. If you don’t like your job and have other alternatives, consider these options. It’s usually a waste of time to think you can actually convince a reluctant or negative employer to give you a raise. Unless, of course, you have other weapons in your arsenal that can strengthen your cause.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your employer is resistant to giving you a raise?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Value

2 Prepare Case

3 Timing Matters

4 Communicate Effectively

5 Consider Alternatives

6 Plan Next Steps

7 Here’s what else to consider

Large Group Facilitation

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What do you do if your employer is resistant to giving you a raise?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Value

2 Prepare Case

3 Timing Matters

4 Communicate Effectively

5 Consider Alternatives

6 Plan Next Steps

7 Here’s what else to consider

Large Group Facilitation

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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