AIBU to ask for a small pay rise?

[20Tulsa]

I have been working at a small company for nearly 18 months. When I was offered the job my Boss said the hourly rate was £8.90 per hour, but after a 3 month probabtion period he would hope to increase it.

I thought the salary was a bit low, especially as I'm a graduate but took the job assuming I would get a pay rise soon. I had a professional career before having DCs but am now happy to work for less, in a less demanding role because the hours work well with school.

Well, the pay rise has yet to happen. The company was brand new when I joined and it struggled through it's first year but is now doing modestly well. I've never mentioned the pay rise because I knew the company wasn't doing anywhere near as well as my Boss had assumed so I didn't see the point in asking.

But now the company has stablised and is doing better, I'm wondering whether to raise the issue of the pay rise? I'm not going to ask for anything silly just a modest increase to £10 per hour.

My Boss has recently asked me to take on slightly more responsibilities (basically trouble shooting and sweet talking difficult clients) and he has praised my skills in doing this. So I think he's pleased with me and likes what I'm doing.

But, he's quite tight fisted as a rule and I think he's going to object to paying me even a bit more.

Should I even bother asking him? And what would be the best way of doing it?

Maybe request it by letter but explain it to him a little as you hand it over.
I wouldn't say that is a modest pay increase though. It's over 12% pay rise. To put this into perspective I got a 1% pay rise this year and millions didn't get any across the country!

Definitely ask but be prepared for a no or a lesser pay rise as 12% is quite a lot.

If you don't ask, you definitely won't get. * Can you do a bit of research on what rate similar roles are advertised for? I know this can be tricky to work out sometimes as often ads don't give a salary or have such a wide range it's hard to tell.

• Okay, I have actually had a payrise w/o asking for it, which was great. But also unusual.

a 12% payrise is not what i'd describe as modest.

Not unreasonable to ask about some sort of rise though

Asking is fine. But it's the way you do it which will determine your success.

And to maximise your chances you need to prepare. If you go in and say "Hey boss, Can I have a payrise?" And he replies "No." then what do you do?

Your best bet is to write down all the extra stuff you've been asked to do. So the above examples of dealing with difficult customers are good. Have a look online to see what others who would be doing your job are being paid. There's no point in asking for a 12% rise if you are already being paid more than everyone else in the same job. (Unlikely but at least check!). If you are being underpaid, then that's another piece of evidence. If it's going to cost him more to replace you then it's easier for him to give you a rise.

I don't know what job you do but can you determine how much extra money you've made the company? So "since I've joined because I've done xyz, I've helped the company grow by x%."

Lastly it's all about timing. If you have an appraisal soon then that's a good time to talk to your boss. Otherwise you may consider the next time he asks you to do something above & beyond. Then you can casually just say "Sure, I'll do that for you. But once I've done that then I'd also like to talk to you about a fair adjustment in my compensation. Is that OK?"

Who can argue with that? You are not asking for a rise. You are asking for a 'fair adjustment'.

Hope that makes sense

Puzzled by some of the other responses: I don't think 12% from a low base is that unreasonable - it's just over 2K? It's not a cost of living rise, but an adjustment (like that phrase niceguy2, actually big thumbs up from me to the whole post).

Maybe different industries vary, but I wouldn't find that kind of bump for a junior hire now working at a higher level that unreasonable, personally.

I don't think it's that's big of an ask really dh just got a 3k rise along with at lest one other member of staff..

As the company grows it should be expected to reward those who have helped it grow not just pocket all the profit.. If all company's gave a raise as it grew rather than pocketing it people wouldn't need so much help from the state as company's would be paying a living wage

No harm to ask, as long as your expectations are reasonable.

Whether you are a graduate or not isn't really the point, as it's about the type of work you're doing. If you would get a better hourly rate doing the same kind of work in a comparable organisation elsewhere, then gather some evidence and then make your case! Good luck! :)

Ask around to see if anyone has had a 12% rise this year. I'd be surprised if you find a handful (mainly high paid chief execs I'd imagine). I certainly don't know anyone who got that big a rise this year. Infact I know a lot of people (in several industries) who have literally had a pay cut. 12% IS a bit rise in this job climate.

I still think the OP should ask though. Agree with the above poster to be careful about how to ask.

Oh, and definitely point out any areas in which you have taken on additional responsibilities beyond those outlined in your JD!