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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think you shouldn't have to ask for a pay rise.

18 replies

Haisuli · 07/03/2018 14:09

I do an admin job for a small firm - there are the two owners, me and a part-time accounts person.
I will have been there 4 four years in April and haven't had a pay rise. I'm quietly fuming about this...which is part of the issue... I am a quiet person. It's not in my nature to ask. But they should just offer shouldn't they? Before this I worked in public services and for big organisations, and automatic increments and cost of living rises just happened. I know I am being wet and I should just ask, and I will, (someday) - but still - the feckers shouldn't put me through this awkwardness should they??!!!!

OP posts:

EastDulwichWife · 07/03/2018 14:18

Cost of living is usually awarded to all staff each year if you work for a company big enough to have a policy of providing a COL pay rise.

But YABU to think that pay rises are just handed out. They aren't. If you want a pay rise, ask for one. There's nothing shameful about it and you shouldn't be embarrassed.

safariboot · 07/03/2018 14:22

But you do. Remember your employer wants to pay you as little as possible.

Part (not all!) of the pay gap between men and women is because men are more likely to negotiate higher pay.

Flippetydip · 07/03/2018 14:24

I asked for a pay rise last year after three years. Was thanked for not asking before, asked what I wanted and was given £1000 more p/a than I asked for. Definitely, definitely worth asking. I was mortified but determined.

LeighaJ · 07/03/2018 14:29

If your contract was structured to include automatic pay raises then it wouldn't be unreasonable but that doesn't sound like the case and your previous job's automatic raises has no relevance to current job.

You haven't asked for a raise and they aren't mind readers so they probably think you're happy on your current salary.

Do some research on how much most earn in your role in your area and research on strategies for asking and negotiating if they counter with a different amount. Being prepared should make it a lot less awkward for you. Good luck.

Kursk · 07/03/2018 14:31

Small companies are different to large companies.

How is the business doing, can they afford pay rises?

DH works for a small company (70 people) and gets pay rises every 3-4 years. His view is that to either be promoted, or to get a pay rise he needs to works hard and help the company grow.

Roomba · 07/03/2018 15:06

There's no legal obligation to award automatic pay rises, AFAIK. So yes, if your contract doesn't state the pay progression terms, it's up to you to negotiate.

I think a lot of people don't even realise that people do go and ask for pay rises when they feel they are due one. Maybe it depends on the sector you work in, but I've seen many people (mostly women tbh as we're socialised not to make waves at work and be accommodating more than men are) end up earning thousands less than their colleague after several years, just because it hasn't occurred to them that other people have been asking for and getting pay rises. It's more the norm in certain jobs than others, and in other countries more than here, but the worst that can happen is they say no, not now. They should teach how to negotiate starting salary and pay rises at school, or parents should. It wouldn't be so awkward then if people were used to negotiating regularly.

I would make a point of discussing it annually in your case, OP, otherwise you'll never get one! They have zero incentive to proactively decide to give you more money if they don't have to and you've not even asked.

19lottie82 · 07/03/2018 15:09

Of course you need to ask!

It’s a business, they’re there to make a profit and paying you more reduces that profit.

OutyMcOutface · 07/03/2018 15:10

Why would they just offer? If you are willing to work without one then it would only cost them unecessary money to offer you more. If you want more money you need to grow up and ask for it-no one else is obliged to make life easier for you.

k2p2k2tog · 07/03/2018 15:15

OP you have a very public sector attitude where annual rises and increments or payscales give everyone a raise, irrespective of whether or not they're actually any good at their job.

You don't just "get" a pay rise in the real world. If you want a pay rise, approach your boss with reasons why - and "i've been here 4 years and haven't had one" isn't a reason. What savings have you made, what have you do to work smarter, what advantages are there to keeping you happy in the business?

As they say in Newcastle, shy bairns get nowt.

OakIsBetterTho · 07/03/2018 15:18

As others have said, they're never going to want to give you a pay rise! They'd rather get away with paying you the least they can.
I've had 4 pay rises in 3 years, only one of which I didn't ask for. All that tells me is that they were mugging me off when I started!!

JanDough · 07/03/2018 15:22

Why would they offer. They want to pay you as little as possible (within legal limits) so maximise their profit.

Yes you should have to ask and you should be able to tell them why you deserve a pay rise in clear, demonstrable terms.

Automatic payrises are one of the many issues with the public sector.

Time to put on your big girl pants!

swivelchair · 07/03/2018 15:23

OP, morally I agree, and in fact have gone to bat for my staff to get (unasked for) pay rises more often than I have done for myself.

In practice though, at most places, you're going to have to steel yourself and ask. If you have reviews, then that is the time, if you don't have reviews, then it's time to ask for a review!

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 07/03/2018 15:25

No not all employers do give a pay rise. If you don’t ask you don’t get.

Original poster

Haisuli · 07/03/2018 22:32

I think I would want to look after my staff more if I was a manager.
So is the best way to ask for a meeting, or just mention it informally in the office? I don’t have annual reviews. I hate the thought of a fuss and they are tight - recently they’ve been grumbling about having to start paying into a pension scheme for me (like 1%) 👎

OP posts:

Grilledaubergines · 07/03/2018 23:19

Ask OP. I haven’t had a pay rise in 13 years. I’ve asked a few times but there just isn’t the money and so I hope that when the company is in a better financial position I will get an increase.

Ask. They will say yes or they will say no.

AccidentalBumming · 07/03/2018 23:41

I’ve asked and received every pay rise I had.

Be methodical about it. I sent an email
Billeting my achievements and generally wonderful ways and also stuck in Market rate info for benchmarking.

If you present a decent argument they can’t say no!!!

Userplusnumbers · 07/03/2018 23:43

You need to remember that in large organisations and public sector, its not that pay rises are being handed out - they're still being negotiated, just on your behalf, by a union, under collective bargaining.

Basically, you need to ask.

Coastalcommand · 08/03/2018 00:15

In large organisations they are often negotiated by unions, not because owners or senior managers want to pay more.

I’d ask, but I’d do it in writing. Take your time and prepare a report detailing all the things you do which save the company money or help increase revenue. Then ask for that to be rewarded.

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