How can I respectfully express displeasment with my raise?

Question

I worked my BUTT off for months at a thankless, dirty job where I had twice as much stuff to do as I had time, and finially, after all that time of tidying up after my slacker coworkers and slob customers, I got a promotion. I now make $8.00/hr instead of $7.90. 10 cents, wtf!? Woohoo, I can buy a Clif bar at the end of the day and have a penny left over!

Seriously though, I would like to let my boss know that I would like more money, but I don't want him to think I am ungrateful for giving me a better job. (My new coworkers make more than I do)

Answer 1

Tell your supervisor how you feel about the raise.

Don't be surprised if he says something like, "Don't let the door hit you on your a s s on the way out." The translation is something like, "If you don't like what we are paying, you are free to leave our employment."

I have had the same experience myself. Stay with the job, but start looking for another.

Answer 2

How well I understand. I work short order at a small 24 hour restaurant and am constantly having to pick up the slack from the shift prior and make sure that the shift after is stocked enough to get going. What ticks me off is that the shift prior has two "#1 cooks" plus a dishwasher. I'm considered a #2 cook and have a single helper with an IQ in the single digits - Yet, my shift does nearly as much $$ business - and gets more prep-work done than the shift prior. Shesh. Yes, the shift prior makes more $$ than I do.

Basically, we have a 3-person staff producing $1500 per shift. But we have a 2-person staff producing $1200 per shift. Plus the 2-person staff is doing more prepwork than the 3-person staff.

So, I've begun documenting everything my shift does - that's both my shift's responsibility (portioning frozen foods - fries, o-rings, etc.) and that which is really the shift prior's responsibility (chopping veggies, baking, slicing bulk perishables etc.)

I am also documenting how much business my shift does relative to the size of the staff.

When I have enough of this documentation, I will present it to the restaurant owner with a request for a raise - at least equal to what the shift prior makes.

See, what I need to do is to show her how much my shift contributes to the overall success of the business. This will show her that 1. her #2 cook is not second-string any more - and deserves more money - and 2. her #1 cooks aren't doing their jobs as they should.

But it has to be in writing and it has to be presented in such a way that I show her that X percent of business is generated by 2 people - while Y percent of business is generated by 3 people - and proportionately, the 2 person staff is generating more business than the 3 person staff.

Do I care that the shift prior may get into trouble for my reporting the figures? No. They've been told not to take so many breaks and such before. This time, however, I have figures and dates to back me up.

Me? I just want a decent raise.

Answer 3

You need to tell your boss the truth. But telling the truth does not have to be painful. Think it through and decide how you are going to say it and the points that you wish to make. Tell him also that you are not ungrateful..
Over a couple of weeks, write down all the things that you do in your job. Be consistent. Document. Then go and see your boss and let him see what you do for the company. Your argument for a better raise then can be made with some proof. Include what you did and what they did not do. If your job differs from your co-workers then you need to make your case!
The raise sounds like a standard increment that one receives just by being an employee for a short time.
The boss may have absolutely no idea the amount of time and extra energy that you have put into your job.

Answer 4

HOLY CRAP - I just read Barbara B's response and had to edit this entry to say, "Excellent advice!"

Here's mine, food for thought and whatnot...
To address your boss, the approach here will be everything. Be calm, be sincere, and be professional. And say exactly what you just said already, "I am grateful for the promotion, but I was hoping for a raise that reflects my level of contribution."

Whatever your boss's reaction, be it sympathetic or shock, give a good pause before continuing, "I was expecting something in the region of a 15% raise, effectively raising my pay from $7.90 to $9.08 (or something just a bit higher than what you were expecting to give yourself negotiating room)." Then wait for your boss's response. Be prepared with concrete examples (dates and times) where you covered for slackers in your company. Remember that he has a boss too and he has to justify increases in operating expense, like pay.

Personally, I wouldn't fuss over the ten cent raise. Nor would I bug my boss about it because I'd be too busy looking for a better job where I'd work for a better boss who recognized my contributions and had the ability and desire to compensate me properly.

When you look for the new job, be sure to let people know that you aren't leaving your current job because it sucks. Quite the contrary, you're a star employee who has recently been promoted! Do not ever mention bad pay - nobody wants to hire a whiner. However, you've decided that as much as you like your boss and your job, you're looking for ____ (then give a specific reason why the job you're applying for is what you want!).

Good luck!

Answer 5

You are entitled to put this forward.
Browse the net about 'how to ask for a raise'.
It comes down to good arguments and not a lot of angry emotions.
Also: Be prepared to look for another job (doesn't mean you have to do that. Just keep that option open to yourself).

Then ask for a talk with your boss, put your arguments forward... and say you think you deserve 11.50 or something (a little more than you actually aim for).

Basically your boss is NOT going to give you what you are worth, he gives you what he thinks he can get away with.
If you shut up it means he got away with it.

It's a game - with big stakes.

Answer 6

You need to stop being bashful and speak honestly. Say to him exactly what you've written here.

We've all been conditioned to not speak the truth, especially to authority, by the dumb school system.

The more you like and need your job, though, the less you'll say.