Should I ask for pay rise?

967stuart

After opinions please.

I’ve worked for the same company for 15 years.
In this time, we’ve had our ups and downs (the recession really pushed us hard).

We (the employees) had a period of time where we didn’t get a pay increase for over 6 years.

Now, the company is doing well (very!) and we’ve been given a small token rise (literally 18p an hour) in april.

Recently (last year or so) I’ve taken on more and more responsibilities.
I’m a printing forms setter by trade. (artwork setting)

I’ve since taken on the responsibility on designing, building and maintaing two e-commerce sites as well as running a small digital press (to produce low run jobs on).

Now, my boss obviously knew I wasn't on a great wage as he called me in the office a few months ago and said that “he can’t give me a rise as he would have to give everyone a rise” so he was increasing my hours from 37.5 hours a week to 42.5 hours to compensate.

I’m currently on less than £11 an hour.
Basic Jobs advertised around the area I live doing forms setting and artwork design (not running a press, websites etc) are around a £25k starting wage.

I’m not really one for asking for things, but I’ve taken on huge amounts of work lately and seem to be the ‘go to guy’ for all the special projects… so… should I ask for a wage that reflects my work?

TBagpuss

Why does your boss think he would have to give everyone a raise if he gives you one? Unless there are some very odd terms in your contracts this sounds ridiculous.

I would ask for a raise but before you do think through what you will do if they don't give you one - e.g. would you then start applying elsewhere.

If you do ask, then go back to them with good, well reasearched reasons.

e.g - to combat the issue about having to give everyone a raise, set out how your job different from the others, and also how the changes differ - i.e. if you are the only person who has taken on significant new responsibility it is much easier to justofy why you should be treated differently.
- provide them with details of comaparable jobs and how they compate (e.g involving less or more responsibility) do bear in mind that there may be other parts of the contract such as sick leave, holiday entitlement or mpension which are better where you are, so you may not be doing an exact like-for-like comparison.,

Suggest a change in job title - again, this reflects the work you actually do, but also makes you distinguishable from others who might otherwise expect a raise.

Finally - why would any one else know what you are paid or if you get a raise?

bugslet

Yep doesn't make sense. If you were one of 25 setters all doing the same thing, then it's more difficult ( though not impossible), but as you have started doing more work, then your job description has changed, so it doesn't affet the other setters.

i believe in paying people fairly for what they do and I'm an employer!

enjoyyourshoes

Hi
one of the 5 reasons we don't have enough money for our retirement is:-

---we don't negotiate our pay very well

Are the additional hours at a rate above £11 ie time and a half (overtime etc?)

Your annual salary for both sets of hours is below the local comparable rate.

The above suggestions provide a great set of argument for you to discuss with your Boss.

Your loyalty has been commendable both in relation to financially supporting your company when their times were difficult and taking on extra jobs/responsibility without a commensurate increase in pay or amendments to your contract & T&C.

The company is dong really well, you are positively contributing to their wealth and as such needs to be reflected in your package.

Your Boss will think more of you if you positively, constructively & professionally renegotiate your T&C.s. You will prove you have influencing & negotiating skills which the employer will value.

967stuart

Thanks for the excellent replies.

I'm 100% going to ask for it.

I've been looking at job sites and there are dozens of vacancies local(ish) to me that all have a basic starting salary of over 3.5k more than I'm on now.

I will do it a bit cheekily and put it all down in an email and fire it off at the end of the day and he can mull it over the weekend.

I think it's a bit of a stock answer - "If we give you a rise, then we have to give everyone a rise" (so they get away without having to payout!)

There is absolutely no reason why anyone else in the company should know what wage I'm on.

I really feel uncomfortable having to ask.... but I just feel I'm one of a small few people in the building that always seem to be the 'go to' person as I always work hard and try to do a good job.... as a 'yes man' I've been given more and more to do which I really think should be reflected in terms of pay.

Hopefully my boss agrees lol

Simon11

I wouldn't put it in an e-mail, I'd ask for a meeting and leave it as that.

If you give him time, then he has that time to prepare arguments for not giving you a pay rise, rather than putting him on the spot.

Takeaway_Addict

Just be aware not everything is black or white.

For example it could have been during the bad times that the boss bank rolled the business, re mortgaged etc and now during the good times is trying to balance the books...hence why the payrises still aren't showing.

bugslet

Thanks takeaway - a lot of people don't realise the money that bosses pump into firms at times.

I'm with Simon - don't do the e-mail. Go in and see him/her with the mindset that what you are doing is fair, which it is and just say that you think your pay needs to reflect the additional work that you are doing.

Good luck.

getmore4less

Make sure you know who has the authority to pay the rises.


If it is the bosses boss ... then they need to see your worth.

967stuart

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Just be aware not everything is black or white.

For example it could have been during the bad times that the boss bank rolled the business, re mortgaged etc and now during the good times is trying to balance the books...hence why the payrises still aren't showing.

Very good point.

I’m certainly aware of how tight things have been for our company which was a big reason I never moaned about the lack of rises during the recession (was just happy to be employed).

I get the impression from the accounts guys that the company is doing very well now.

I’m not looking for a huge rise. Even an extra 50p an hour would be great and really help (we’re only talking about £85 effectively a month).

Will see what he says.

Thanks again guys, I appreciate and respect the different perspectives and opinions.

cavework

Recently (last year or so) I’ve taken on more and more responsibilities.
I’m a printing forms setter by trade. (artwork setting)

I’ve since taken on the responsibility on designing, building and maintaing two e-commerce sites as well as running a small digital press (to produce low run jobs on).


Just out of interest here.. I have never heard of the job description you have given. What is a printing forms setter?
Also what digital press are you running?
Hope you don't mind the questions
( I feel so old when it comes to the printing trade)