Getting a pay rise usually comes hand in hand with hard work, effort and time put into your job. But could it potentially be much simpler than that? On the other hand, moving to another firm may be an option.
On the rise
Pay rises are never far from the minds of the UK workforce. We all want to be paid what we feel we’re worth, but there are so many factors seemingly out of our control. Daily news articles that talk about gender pay gaps, fat cat bonuses and collapsing corporations are rife, leading us to believe that there’s not much we can do about our salaries.
There is, however, a way to put yourself in the best position possible. It just takes a little bit of research and preparation.
If money talks, why don’t we talk about it?
Discussing pay and personal finances is often considered a taboo, but if we’re not talking about it, how can we be expected to know our worth in the industry we’re in and how and when to ask for a pay rise? Money comparison website Money Guru recently carried out survey of 1,500 British workers. Away from the dominating headlines we’ve all come to expect, it looked at how the great pay rise debate really plays out at ground level.
Work hard and prosper
40% of those surveyed don’t believe that performance is the main factor in a pay rise, even though being able to work hard and be suitably rewarded for your efforts is what most of us assume is a fair and honest system. It seems that the pay disparities we know to exist are ones we believe are out of our control.
Get flirty, not shirty
In the Great British Pay Rise Survey, men were found to be three times more likely to have flirted with their boss for a pay rise, with 40% admitting to doing so. Compare this with a paltry 20% of women using flirtation as a tactic and we can see, if it works, why men sometimes get ahead where women don’t. The survey highlighted female confidence as being disappointingly low. 40% of men believed that asking for a pay rise made them look ambitious, while only 25% of women thought the same.
‘Shy bairns get nowt’
35% of women surveyed believe asking for a pay rise makes them ‘pushy’, compared to just 19% of men. Perhaps the phrase, “shy bairns get nowt” rings true here. You could also argue though, that people negotiate better when they feel they have power. If your skills are in high demand and not easily found elsewhere, then you have more power. It’s unrealistic to suggest that, for example, a teenager in a minimum wage, hourly rate job could negotiate a pay rise when their role could be replaced within a day. Perhaps this is partly why 40% of Brits don’t believe performance is the main key to a pay rise.
Company culture
In many industries today, company profits are at a high, yet wage growth is flat. If regular pay increases or pay reviews aren’t part of the company culture, then it can be difficult to know where you stand, legally and professionally, when asking for a pay rise. Nurturing staff and making them feel valued and appreciated fosters loyalty and motivation. Encouraging the progression of staff through their skillset and financially is part of that nurturing, so when you look at it that way, why would a business not want to encourage salary progression?
When do you dump your employer?
With Valentine’s Day past, your key relationships have been under scrutiny. A bad coupling with a manager who doesn’t respect you or value you can be enough to make you call time on your working relationship. Before making such a big decision however, there are some key things to consider and it’s not only about pay.
Do you have their ear?
Big organisations often fall foul of knowing what their staff want, need and value. Unreachable targets, inflexible working hours and clashing of personalities can create an unpleasant office culture. In this situation it can be difficult to voice your opinion and make yourself heard. It’s also important to feel that they trust you. When plans change and goalposts shift, a lack of communication of these things can cause confusion and distrust with staff feeling like they don’t matter.
Variety is the spice of life
Boredom is a killer. The same routine, day in, day out, leaves you feeling like you’re stuck in Groundhog Day. If there’s no opportunity to change your role, such as taking on a new client, additional responsibilities or skills training, then the future will look bleak.
If you’re ready to move on in your career, simply updating your CV can give you a great idea of where your skills and experience lie. It will also highlight any gaps in your knowledge. From there, you can work out your goals and decide whether staying put or changing your job is the best way to go. Find out more about the Great British Pay Rise.
