How to justify a request for a salary increase

How to prepare for a conversation with your boss about increasing your salary. Today is not the right time for a salary increase. However, even staff reductions are not a reason to patiently wait for better times.

Even maintaining the position does not mean that salaries should remain at the same level, writes xrust. Analysts say that even in a turbulent economy, there's nothing wrong with demanding pay commensurate with your professional worth. According to some experts, salary increases are not necessarily ruled out even in organizations where layoffs are taking place.

Which serves as a signal that it’s time to ask
If you've taken on more responsibility at work and received high grades for your work, or learned that you're being paid significantly less than your colleagues or competitors with similar levels of experience, then it may be a good time to ask for a salary adjustment.

Another signal that it's time to ask for a salary adjustment is is a situation where you are working a second job to make ends meet, or if your current financial situation is causing concern. After all, this affects labor productivity in the main job.

Know your worth
Before you start talking about increasing your pay, research current salaries. You can find out how much people with similar experience in your industry earn — explore thematic sites.

Analysts recall that three years ago many people asked for a 20% wage increase due to rising prices and high staff turnover. This was caused by the coronavirus pandemic. True, today such significant increases are not considered. The current state of affairs allows us to talk about a 10% increase.

The reason is a positive assessment of your activities, or you have received additional responsibilities, or the level of your responsibilities has been increased.

Compare your salary with that of your colleagues
Many people consider the topic taboo, but telling coworkers about your salary and asking if they earn more can provide valuable information. Trusted colleagues in similar positions can be potential sources of information.

You can also contact people who have left the company. They will be more willing to share information about their salary.

List of Merits
Having collected the above information, create a file that personnel officers call a “List of Merits.” Once you've worked on your summary text, you'll have a written request that's rich in justification.

Be sure to list any jobs or responsibilities that are not typically part of your job description. Also evaluate the unique skills and personality traits you bring to the team.

When to Ask—Time Matters
Don't ask for a raise when your boss is hungry or at the end of a long day, because the answer is likely to be no. After all, issues are resolved well if the boss is in a good mood and has a rest.

Xrust How to justify a request to increase your salary