How to ask for a pay rise during a pandemic
What you need to know:
- If you are in the hospitality industry, which has taken the worst beating from Covid-19, you might consider shelving your quest.
- Asking for a raise when your employer can barely stay afloat is bound to stir trouble.
- In the event that your employer plans to issue a redundancy notice, you will become an easy target.
Asking for a pay rise, at a time when businesses around the world are struggling to stay afloat as a result of Covid-19, might seem overambitious at best, insensitive at worst. Research findings show that over the last year and a half, 35 per cent of companies recalled their pay rise budgets.
But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask for a pay increment. You just need to do it like a pro, considering the questions below:
Is it the right time?
Former Google executive and author Kim Scott says there is no “absolute best” time to demand for a review. Not even when the company’s fortunes are optimal. Employers will always cleverly thwart quests for a raise, so it is up to you to get creative. Waiting for the pandemic to end before asking is a futile mission because nobody knows when the virus will be contained. If you’re convinced that it is time for a review of your perks, go for it.
How is your company’s financial health?
For instance, if you are in the hospitality industry, which has taken the worst beating from Covid-19, you might consider shelving your quest. Asking for a raise when your employer can barely stay afloat is bound to stir trouble. In the event that your employer plans to issue a redundancy notice, you will become an easy target.
What’s your market value?
To demand for a pay rise, essentially, is to demonstrate that you understand your worth and that you would like to be compensated accordingly. Present your skill-set and unique aptitude to your employer. Show how much the company is likely to lose if you leave, and possibly join a rival business. Indicate how much more you’re asking for. Avoid vagueness.
Have you made a case for future negotiations?
As you push for the raise, stay open to future negotiations. That way, you make the discussion objective, while allowing your employer time to budget for and implement your request. You could also take the opportunity to set targets, and agree with your employer on the modalities of compensation once these are attained.
Do you have a fallback plan?
Your request for a pay rise could be rejected. So, always keep an open mind. This way, you’ll be able to shed the hangover, move on quickly and keep meeting your obligations. Make sure the outcome of the discussion doesn’t affect your morale at work. And don’t threaten to quit.
