Dad and my grandfather owned an electronics business while we were growing up and Dad tried very early to provide us with an opportunity to experience working for someone. I remember working on Saturdays for about 50¢ per day when I was about 10 years old. The work wasn’t hard, we weren’t expected to do a lot, and we usually got a free soda while we were there.
Later, when I was 13, I would ride the bus home from school and work the afternoons at the store, emptying trash, sweeping and generally getting in the way. For my efforts, I was paid well (probably more than I was worth), 40¢ per hour. Working two hours each afternoon and four hours on Saturday, I could earn a full $5.60 per week. I knew I’d be rich soon.
One day, after emptying an extra amount of trash, I went to Dad’s office to ask for a raise. He handled it rather well, as I recall, asking me why I thought I needed one and why he should give me one. When I had trouble answering the questions, he explained that a person could be paid more when they were worth more to the company. Further explaining, he pointed out that when I had a list of reasons that I could provide to him, including skills I had learned or increased productivity, he would consider giving me a raise. So, here’s the wizbit: “Never ask for a raise until you are worth more to the company.”
Leaving his office somewhat disgruntled, but determined, I set out to make the list. Just what I put down on the list, I can’t recall, but I did return to his office later in the week to present my case. After hearing the evidence, I was awarded a full 10¢ per hour raise. It doesn’t sound like much now, (nor did it then) but a 25% increase in pay is nothing to sneeze at!
Dad didn’t always pay me 50¢ an hour. I went to work for him after I finished college and eventually made very good money in commissioned sales. But I never asked for a raise unless I had some reason to back it up. And sometimes I even asked for a cut in pay when I changed positions to something that I knew would be less productive.
Now that I work for a large corporation, I still see the relevance of this rule. I’ve had an opportunity to ask for a raise since I’ve been here, but not without my manager seeing the reasons that backed up my request. Having been an employer, I advise managers to look for the added value that employees offer and give occasional small raises to those who show increased productivity and learn additional skills. It means a lot more to an employee to be recognized for increased value than for them to have to ask for the raise and feel that they have gotten it without merit.
To employees, I recommend that you look around you for things that are not getting done, then do them. Your manager will notice, you can include your manager in your enthusiasm and it will pay off. Do not lose faith. You’re much better off doing work that is not appreciated than not doing anything more than is expected of you.
