Need some views from managerial types please.

[Matty6]

I nearly left my current job early 2015. I was offered a considerable jump in salary if I followed my old VP to his new company. I sat down with my existing manager and talked through the offer I had received. I mentioned that although the increase in salary was obviously a big draw, the new job would offer increased opportunities and allow me to be develop and gain experience in areas that I'm really interested in. Long story short, they matched the salary offer and increased my scope of responsibilities.

As others have mentioned, the key is how you approach it with your manager. Lay down all the facts of why you feel you deserve a pay rise. Research your true market value and pitch your salary needs inline with what your industry pays.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[Khamelion]

If you threaten to leave, be prepared to follow through with it. I read somewhere recently that something like 80% of people given a pay rise after threatening to leave, leave within 12 months anyway.

This was me, except I didn't threaten to leave, I genuinely handed in my notice, but then a few days later, got a nice pay rise, but I only stayed for another 12 months as I found a better paid job closer to home.

If you are valued, then it could be that A) - Your boss is only paying you lip service to keep you from leaving and has no intention of paying you more, or B) - the company is skint and can't afford to give you a pay rise or C) - they may have forgotten about you and a little chat may help, but threatening won't work.

 

[TheDiablo]

If you look carefully, a lot of the 'research' that is conducted that shows 80% leave in 12 months anyway etc is published by recruitment companies, who obviously only make their money if people change jobs, so should be taken with a few pinches of salt!

With regard to the OP, just have an open and honest conversation (providing you have a good relationship). Don't threaten to leave, but on the otherhand make it clear that you currently feel undervalued. Some will listen, some unfortunately wont.

I had a situation in my first real job where I was passed over for a promotion where I was clearly better than the other candidate, who had just been there 5 years longer than me. I raised my concerns, told them I wasn't happy. They covered themselves with corporate talk, and promised that another opportunity would come up a year down the line (I was already doing the job, but with a lower title and less pay!!) - so I went and got said promotion with a better company. Funnily enough, within 2 days the VP made a trip down from Manchester to London to see me, and offer me what I wanted originally. Too late mate - haven't looked back since.

 

[Beezerk]

Well that went well...not.
I sent him a great email 2 weeks ago pointing out how many nights I'd worked away compared to the other guys (I went through all last years calendar), highlighted potential skills gaps etc, didn't mention money or leaving at all. Finally got an email back essentially saying tough luck, staying 1/3 of the year away from home is acceptable despite none of the other guys having to. He completely disregarded lots of what I said and brought in other subjects to the discussion (as he generally does as it's like speaking to a brick wall) to try and back up his side despite it being utter garbage. The best bit was mentioning one of our other engineers down south who regularly gets home early afternoon and cannot be trusted to open a tin of spaghetti.
Really can't be @rsed to reply at the minute, need a pow wow with the missus and a cold beer to look at my options. Kinda gutted as I've had 10 good years at this company and have become the "go to guy" when the others have failed 😝

 

[Piece]

Well that went well...not.
I sent him a great email 2 weeks ago pointing out how many nights I'd worked away compared to the other guys (I went through all last years calendar), highlighted potential skills gaps etc, didn't mention money or leaving at all. Finally got an email back essentially saying tough luck, staying 1/3 of the year away from home is acceptable despite none of the other guys having to. He completely disregarded lots of what I said and brought in other subjects to the discussion (as he generally does as it's like speaking to a brick wall) to try and back up his side despite it being utter garbage. The best bit was mentioning one of our other engineers down south who regularly gets home early afternoon and cannot be trusted to open a tin of spaghetti.
Really can't be @rsed to reply at the minute, need a pow wow with the missus and a cold beer to look at my options. Kinda gutted as I've had 10 good years at this company and have become the "go to guy" when the others have failed 😝

Sorry to hear that, but well done for doing it in the first place. :thup: You've at least made them aware and a process has started. It may end up with you leaving, with the important bit is that you feel you are getting some control back of your future. Definitely sit on it for a few days before deciding next move. Can you go to someone higher up the food-chain?

 

[delc]

I once threatened to leave a company if they didn't up my pay, and they matched my demands. It was a risk though, because they could have also sacked me or made me redundant.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Time for a deep breath and a ponder. Don't think about replying for a couple of days, ie when you have calmed down. I think you know where this is leading though.......

 

[jdpjamesp]

You can only play the leaving card once, and after you play it, your relationship with the boss changes for ever. There is some research that shows that people who use the threat to leverage a pay rise or promotion don't stay long even if they get it, no matter how valued a member of the team they are.

Absolutely this.
In fact, if you play the leaving card and they raise your pay then they are agreeing that they have undervalued you (the reason you're leaving), which means that you should leave whatever they offer. If they don't offer a raise on this basis then they are just confirming that your approach differs and therefore you want to leave.

 

[woody69]

Well that went well...not.
I sent him a great email 2 weeks ago pointing out how many nights I'd worked away compared to the other guys (I went through all last years calendar), highlighted potential skills gaps etc, didn't mention money or leaving at all. Finally got an email back essentially saying tough luck, staying 1/3 of the year away from home is acceptable despite none of the other guys having to. He completely disregarded lots of what I said and brought in other subjects to the discussion (as he generally does as it's like speaking to a brick wall) to try and back up his side despite it being utter garbage. The best bit was mentioning one of our other engineers down south who regularly gets home early afternoon and cannot be trusted to open a tin of spaghetti.
Really can't be @rsed to reply at the minute, need a pow wow with the missus and a cold beer to look at my options. Kinda gutted as I've had 10 good years at this company and have become the "go to guy" when the others have failed 

I am not sure an email was the best approach to take, although I do not obviously know your circumstances and perhaps an email was all that could be done. The problem with the written word is it can be misconstrued. Personally I would have preferred a face to face.

All that being said, the quality (or lack of) of other staff members should have absolutely zero affect on whether you are entitled to a pay rise or not. If you are able to demonstrate additional responsibility, increased scope of work, improved skills etc. etc then that is what should form the basis of any salary increases.

Ultimately though most people have to move on to somewhere else to get more money. If you are feeling under-valued and or under-paid then vote with your feet. Look for another job and go for it. I suspect you'll soon be wondering why you bothered to wait so long.

 

[Beezerk]

I have had a victory in some ways as he's going to sit down with the service department and make sure jobs are planned better, the Scottish sub contractors we use are always letting us down and apparently he's going to discuss this with them.
Just pashed off he didn't acknowledge any of the other points I made and worded his response so it made my staying away week after week sound acceptable. Oh well, I'll see what happens in April when the pay rises are due, I'll keep my head down until then.