Asking for more money?

[Upsetatschoolpickup]

I started with my employer as a part time receptionist back in 2006 for £7.50 an hour. I worked 5 days from 9-1. I left for just over a year when I moved away. Came back and was offered another role in one of the other offices which I took.

My role (don't want to out myself) is customer facing front of house and quite stressful. I work myself and the customers I have can become quite frustrated thereby opening me up to abuse despite doing all I can for them.

Thing is, I am still on £7.50 an hour for doing a completely different job which, by the day is getting more stressful.

I could apply for reception/admin jobs with no responsibility and be quite happy at my £7.50 an hour. If I did leave and they recruited someone news the is NO WAY they would get someone to do what I do at that hourly rate. They'd probably need to spend close to double.

I took the role due to moving back and the familiarity of the staff and firm but it is becoming too much.

So how to I ask for more? What's the best way of writing it?

Staff who have been there since 2006 when I first started have not had salary increases. There have been a good few new staff members who will have negotiated new packages however, no one like me who has gone for a reception role to a new stressful, sole role position. Any tips?

Just a note, I was told when I re-joined that they would not increase my hourly rate.

When did you rejoin?

What is the going rate for this type of role elsewhere, do you know?

Is there anyone else doing a similar role there?

I rejoined October 2010 with 14 customers.

Persuaded the company to spend a bit of money on an Internet package and I now have 51 customers.

No one doing a similar role.

Going rate probably £12-£15 an hour but I would need to research that a bit more.

Started 2006. Left 2009. Came back 2010.

Ok. First thing is to find out about the going rate for this job, with actual evidence.

To make your case don't focus on the fact that you are finding the job stressful. Some very low paid jobs are stressful. Competitive salaries are based on skills, experience, qualifications, responsibility level and performance as well as market rate.

So find out what they'd have to pay to recruit someone new. Also focus on your performance - you have good hard evidence there, assuming you can attribute the increase in customers you mention to your work - also any good performance reviews you have had over the last three years.

Also, you ask what would be the best way of 'writing it'. Answer is you don't, not at first. You gather your evidence together and have a conversation with your line manager. Be in a position to give that evidence and a written explanation of why you feel a raise is justified, but it's a conversation rather than a letter or email, which is much easier for them to ignore.

Thanks. This is helpful. I will start my research. My direct manager is the boss so easy enough to talk to him.