my boss told me I’m “not a good human” when I asked to be paid for my time by Alison Green on March 1, 2021 A reader writes: I work for a professional firm that has a long history of devaluing non-partner contributions. Let’s just say we have problems: • The pay structure for employees is all risk and no reward. Salaries are artificially low, below market, supposedly because of our bonus structure. • If clients don’t pay, that comes […] Read the full article →
I got promoted, but I can’t get a fair salary by Alison Green on February 23, 2021 A reader writes: I was hired as an entry-level, salaried employee five years ago. After less than a year, a new position was created for me – not a promotion or lateral move, but an entirely new position, one with a different expertise. The salary for my original position was average, and my salary adjustment […] Read the full article →
our staff aren’t underpaid but think they are by Alison Green on February 23, 2021 A reader writes: I work at a nonprofit with about 200 staff. Staff constantly bring up how underpaid they are and ask for bonuses, cost-of-living increases, better benefits, everything. They take up a lot of meeting time talking about it, send all-staff emails, badger the board, send nasty emails to any committee that has anything […] Read the full article →
when asked about salary, I say “I’ll start for $X and earn the rest through merit” by Alison Green on February 16, 2021 A reader writes: Here’s what I’ve been doing when it comes to salary negotiation: When asked what I want, I’ll say something like, “I’ll start for $120k/year and earn the rest through merit.” How does that sound to you? First, I don’t care if they secretly budgeted $150k. Their budget doesn’t determine my value. I […] Read the full article →
I negotiated and got more money — why do I feel so weird? by Alison Green on February 10, 2021 A reader writes: An old boss of mine contacted me out of the blue for a position at his growing start-up that sounds perfect for me. I lost my job earlier this year so I have been seeking a position that is the right fit and this just kind of dropped into my lap, and […] Read the full article →
can I refuse more work without a raise? by Alison Green on February 9, 2021 A reader writes: Is there a diplomatic way to tell my manager I won’t be taking on extra responsibilities until I’m given a promotion and raise? I have a good relationship with my management team and truly do like my job, but I also want to draw boundaries and make sure everyone’s expectations are aligned. […] Read the full article →
when I asked for a raise, my boss went through my bills by Alison Green on February 9, 2021 A reader writes: I’ve been in my job for a little over a year. I asked my boss for a raise, and he asked if I really need it. It stumped me, seeing how I am barely getting by. I said yes. He went over my bills, and at the end he said, “You’ll have […] Read the full article →
can I leverage a job offer for a raise at my current job? by Alison Green on November 18, 2020 A reader writes: I know that under normal circumstances, it’s possible and even savvy to use a new job offer to leverage a raise out of a current employer. But is it smart to do that during a pandemic? I work for a large-ish company that has had layoffs and furloughs due to COVID-19. The […] Read the full article →
I’m not getting interviews because employers think they can’t afford me by Alison Green on November 11, 2020 A reader writes: Like many people, I am now unemployed due to the economic impact COVID-19 had on my previous sector. I have been working in this industry for almost eight years in project management/engineering-related positions, and the industry tends to be very well-paying. I live in a part of the U.S. where the industry […] Read the full article →
when you can’t get a raise but might get the whole business by Alison Green on September 14, 2020 A reader writes: I’m writing on behalf of my cousin. She is a college student who works for a couple who owns a small business. She has worked for them for six years, helped transition them from brick-and-mortar to completely online, built their website, designed their logos, and created/managed/grown their social media accounts across various […] Read the full article →