Asking for a bigger raise

[LittleBirdBlues]

Hi all! I am hoping for some good advise from you experienced and clever people. I have never in my life attempted to negotiate a salary, but my role has recently changed quite drastically and I had expected a more substantial increase. I am thinking of sending the following to my boss. Is this appropriate?? I am quite nervous about sending it, but I don't just want to quietly accept the raise I wad given because I don't think it's fair.

For context, we are quite an informal friendly company. I know that we are doing very well financially too, so no concerns there.

Dear xxx,

Thank you very much for the revised salaried salary .

When you are back from your holiday I would like to discuss these changes with you, and would appreciate if we could find a suitable time in the near future.

While any salary increase is of course appreciated, my role in the last 9 months has changed dramatically, and now carries significantly more responsibility and requires a more qualified and diverse skill set. A salary increase of just over 6% does not, in my opinion, reflect this.

Remove the waffle and step away from opinion, use facts.

"We both agree that my role in the last 9 months has changed dramatically. It now carries significantly more responsibility and requires a more qualified and diverse skill set.
Would time X on Y work to discuss details about how my salary will be amended to reflect that?
You will see from the attached materials that a salary increase of just over 6% does not reflect the market rate if you were to go through the expense and time of hiring someone into my new expanded role -
and since my previous role salary is not comparable, let's look at how the figure was calculated so that we can get a better shared understanding."

That's off the top of my head but communicates that a) you've done research, it's not "i think i'm worth more because of some vague feeling, and b) that you want to understand how 6% came about.

i suspect the latter will be completely arbitrary but it's always interesing to see the justifications that they make up after the fact!

also, send it but discuss this FACE TO FACE

do not discuss this via email alone, you need to talk. approach it from a "here's my data, please help me to understand your viewpoint better"

also:

I have never in my life attempted to negotiate a salary

This is one of the main differences between male and female employees during the hiring process in my experience, it's so awful when our HR team is rubbibg its hands in glee because someone's accepted the first (low) offer, esp when we even have a 2nd offer already approved to come back quickly on the initial rejection! sigh!

You will see from the attached materials that a salary increase of just over 6% does not reflect the market rate if you were to go through the expense and time of hiring someone into my new expanded role

OP nerds to make sure that is the case however. I know someone previously that has come unstuck going down this route.

that's true Piglet - she needs screenshots/a pack of 3 or 4 equivalent jobs skillset and location wise that form the impartial evidence

OP - you also might want to read this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/employment_issues/2966536-How-to-negotiate-an-appropriate-pay-rise-for-this-promotion-please

Thanks very much for responding, this is really helpful! I definitely agree I need to come into this armed with some facts.

How would you go about finding "comparable salaries"? My role is quite a diverse one - it's in consulting in quite a niche industry. How would you approach this?

Great idea to ask how the 6% was calculated.

*kailoer" - I know, it's terrible that a lot of women don't have the confidence/courage to negotiate. I include myself in this.

I have decided to change that, so really appreciate the advise. I know I will be nervous during the negotiation (face to face, definitely). So I want to have some facts up my sleeve in case I stumble.

bold fail, kailoer