Last week as I waited to see my dentist, I flipped through an old copy of Glamour and came upon an article telling readers how to ask for a pay raise in a tough economy. This got me to thinking, is it really possible – or even appropriate- to ask for a pay raise when businesses are still laying off employees left and right? Sure, there are certainly businesses that haven’t been as affected by the recession as others, but how does one go about asking for a raise, and, more importantly, how likely is it to be granted one?
Before you go knocking on your boss’ door with the intention of asking for a raise, consider a few things. First of all, is there a hiring or salary freeze? Larger companies usually employ such actions when times are tough, but just because you may work for a small company doesn’t mean your request won’t be shot down.
Take a look around you and keep your eyes and ears open before asking. If your company has made layoffs in recent months or is on the verge of doing so, asking for a raise is a definite no-no.
Case in point: the PR company I worked for made it’s first layoffs last November. From that day on, everyone in the office was tense about any further job cuts, so it was a matter of common sense not to ask for – or expect – a raise. If you’re in the same boat at your job, now is the time to count your blessings and to step it up as much as possible to keep your head off the chopping block.
If you are still confident that you may be granted a raise, get your ducks in a row and be prepared to prove why you deserve it and how your work has benefitted the company. Has your work increased revenue or saved the company money? Have you assisted in bringing new business to the company? If you don’t have a strong case, take my advice and don’t ask for one. It’s hard enough to prove you’re worthy of a raise when the economy is good and business is booming, but quite another during a recession-especially if you don’t have the goods with which to back it up.
