A friend told me he found out he was being significantly underpaid, he went to management and said he'd walk if he didn't get a raise, and he did. Not an insignificant raise, either. He has no reason to lie to me. Now I'm considering doing the same thing, but I'm still scared I might end up without a job instead of with a raise. Are there other folks who tried something like this? How did it go?
9 replies (most recent on top)
Just ask. Quit pawwing the forum like a child. Even in the swamp, just ask. If that fails, go +1. If that fails. Copy the message and go +1 again till someone responds or declines. I had to go +5 before I finally hit someone that would engage.
While you do that be productive and shop the market. Be ready to back your worth with comparable figures or on deck offers.
If you don’t ask — you don’t get.
short answer - "yes, ask" .
slightly less short answer -
I know of at least two tech workers who came to the same realization as your friend. They found out that they were being paid below market. Significantly below market. They raised this issue and received superficial support but their comp issues were not resolved. They both left and immediately began working jobs they are very happy with and being paid market rates. They said they did not believe the people who said how bad it was working in Nike tech until they got out and found out how much more they enjoy their new roles. Their motivation initially was only the compensation.
Ask your colleagues about their compensation! You'll likely come across some happy to share (usually well paid) and some reluctant (VALU Employees and ETW), typically due to being underpaid and vulnerable. In my case, a new FTE employee hired in the same role was asking about band levels as he’d been told he was maxed out at U band and would need an E band role to be where he expected/wanted to be. He let it slip that his salary started at 150k, whereas I was hired in the same position two years earlier at 100k. I hit it straight on with our director and told her I'm not doing equal work for unequal pay. It resulted in a 20% increase and then getting laid off a few months later. It was shared with me a fellow teammate who survived the cuts was making around 80k for the same job and even teaching the guy at 150k about how to succeed in the role and org. My advice is to learn the salary range of your position and stand up for yourself. Nike does not practice equal pay for equal work but will give it up if pressured. Sure, you could end up laid off. In my case, it was a blessing to see where my “worth” stacked up. I realized the people just coming in have the most bargaining power. The folks that have been around and are lower on the pay scale will get no respect in the negotiation process. Nike will try and tell you that you are lucky; well, unless you are getting paid 50% above your peers, you aren't.
I told my manager a few times since I knew I was underpaid, she said she did her best to give me 5% every year. Not enough, somehow this year from her skip manager, I got a 20% raise which seems really good. So my suggestion is: speak for yourself or no one will stand up for you. If they don't, means you are not that valued, maybe time to leave.
Alternatively you do not have to tell them you'll walk - just ask for a raise.
Back up your case with facts:
- rent went up xx%
- food is about xx% more expensive
- gas is about to hit $5
- all services are adding fees and it's more expensive
and then close:
"give the rampant and fast increases in prices accross the most neccessary things i need to live a modest life, it's almost impossible for me to make ends meet on my current salary.
i really like working here and xyz is my passion here, but things are incresingly looking difficult for me.
i am not trying to pressure things as i know that these matters are difficult from the management stand point but at the same time i felt i had to bring this up as it is really important to me."
so, here we do not say you'll jump, but it's implied - it's also stated gently and it's not creating the pressure on manager but still sends a strong message.
If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
just figure out a way to say you will leave if you don't get one...without saying you will leave.
Something like: "I am not sure it is fair to my family to not try and get paid to my fullest potential."
or lets see what others have for ideas to say "I am walking if I don't get a raise" but without saying it.
As they say: Just Do It, you got nothing to lose.