How to Ask for More Money at Work
“A raise comes when you bring value to an organization,” says Peter Bregman
Dec 07, 2011
Time
By Josh Sanburn
December 7, 2011
Now may not be the right time to ask for a raise. But it’s a good time to lay the groundwork.
The November jobs picture was a mixed one. While unemployment in the U.S. dipped to 8.6%, the lowest rate in more than two years, wages also dropped. In fact, over the past 12 months, hourly wages have only risen 1.8%. (Consumer prices, meanwhile, rose 3.5% over the same period.)
So Americans are wondering how they can make more money and keep up with inflation. The end of the year is a perfect time to set the stage for bringing more home next year.
Before asking for a raise, the first thing to understand is why employers give raises at all. “A raise comes when you bring value to an organization,” says Peter Bregman, author of 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done. So before you can even think about approaching your boss, you need to figure out exactly what skills and benefits you bring to your business.
Given how employers have stretched their employees’ responsibilities in the past few years, you’re likely doing a million things at work. To get yourself in line for a possible boost in income, Bregman recommends something very counterintuitive: Do less.
Read more
Dec 07, 2011
Time
By Josh Sanburn
December 7, 2011
Now may not be the right time to ask for a raise. But it’s a good time to lay the groundwork.
The November jobs picture was a mixed one. While unemployment in the U.S. dipped to 8.6%, the lowest rate in more than two years, wages also dropped. In fact, over the past 12 months, hourly wages have only risen 1.8%. (Consumer prices, meanwhile, rose 3.5% over the same period.)
So Americans are wondering how they can make more money and keep up with inflation. The end of the year is a perfect time to set the stage for bringing more home next year.
Before asking for a raise, the first thing to understand is why employers give raises at all. “A raise comes when you bring value to an organization,” says Peter Bregman, author of 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done. So before you can even think about approaching your boss, you need to figure out exactly what skills and benefits you bring to your business.
Given how employers have stretched their employees’ responsibilities in the past few years, you’re likely doing a million things at work. To get yourself in line for a possible boost in income, Bregman recommends something very counterintuitive: Do less.
Read more