Is This Right Time to Ask For A Raise of Salary?

Is This Right Time to Ask For A Raise of Salary?

Consuella: Is this any time to ask for a raise?

Sheila: Well, you know, I think there's never been a more important time to be in communication with your boss about your roles, your responsibilities, and your 1)compensation. What happens is, all these layoffs 1 are happening. In the wake, people are taking on other people's jobs. I'm doing 50% of my boss's job because they 2)eliminated that level of management. So it may be that your compensation hasn't kept up with your roles and responsibilities. That's the way to approach the conversation. 

Consuella: OK. So how do you do that? You have several steps that we should take in approaching these negotiations 2. Step one is, know what you're worth. How do you figure that one out?

Sheila: Preparation is essential. OK, and I think the mistake we make is that we come in thinking, "Well, this is what I want. I need $3,000 more a year.? Your boss doesn't care what you want. Your boss cares what you're worth. So what you need to do is go on monster.com -- they have a terrific 3)data base - that will tell you that someone in your role, your responsibilities, your industry, your region; this is what they're making. You can 4)kinda target it that way. 

Consuella: And also know your "5)Walkaway Plan" when you're asking. What's a "Walkaway Plan"?

Sheila: Yeah. Often people think of a walkaway as "This is the least I'll take? But actually a walkaway is "What am I going to do if my boss says 'No'?", OK, so it may be another job; it may be "Well, I need to find out why 'No'", and "I need a plan for how to fix the problems in the next six months."

Consuella: So, and this actually leads beautifully to your step two, which is "Don't ask for a raise, discuss it."

Sheila: Yeah.

Consuella: So, talk about the difference.

Sheila: Asking for a raise is the worst way to go about it.  Easiest thing in the world for your boss to simply say "No". 

Consuella: Right.

Sheila: So, instead, what you should say is, "I'd like to talk about my compensation. Seems to me an adjustment is in order. Here's why I think that's true. I want to get a sense of where you're coming from on this question."

Consuella: So, discuss it without putting him or her on the spot, in other words.

Sheila: You don't want to corner your boss, right? Because they're going to react defensively rather than thoughtfully. 

Consuella: Alright. Step three is "Go beyond No" and what do you mean by that, and how do you do it?

Sheila: Yeah, I think if you get a "No", the first step is to find out why "No". "Is it me?"-- that's something I can control -- tell me, specifically, what is it about my skills that need improving for me to go to the next level, for me to get the raise? Or is it the environment?  And if, you know, they're 6)strapped 3 for cash, get creative. Uhm, I know someone who negotiated two weeks of paid leave so she could 7)freelance on the side.  She worked for a cash-strapped non-profit. Also, flex 4 time, educational benefits, 8)flexible spending, working at home, extra vacation; these are all things that cost your boss little, but are worth a lot to you. 

Consuella: Now if the boss says "No", what's your next move? I mean, you kinda discussed that a little bit, but is there a point when you just decide you gotta leave? 

Sheila: Yeah, absolutely. And I think the question of, you know, "Is there something I'm missing here?" will help you know "Is there something I need to fix?" "Is there something I could help fix?" And I think the last thing you want to find out is, "When do we have this conversation again?" "When should we check in again?" so that you know and your boss knows this is something we'll revisit. 

Consuella: Alright. Really good advice, Sheila Hume. Thank you very much.

Sheila: Thank you. It's a 9)tough topic, a difficult conversation.

Consuella: It is. Something definitely to 10)ponder.

Sheila: It should be real simple.

Consuella: Thanks again.

是要求加薪的时机吗？

康丝韦洛：什么时候要求加薪最好？

希拉∶哦，你知道的，选择一个好时机与老板商量有关职责和待遇的问题最重要不过了。看看现在发生了什么，一些人刚被解雇了不久，又有一些人来接替他们的工作。因中层管理人被裁，你的工作量增加了一半，但是待遇却没有随着你的角色和职责做相应的增加。这时，你就可以要求加薪了。

康丝韦洛：好的，因此你应该怎么做呢？准备讲条件分几个步骤走，第一步是：知道自己的价值。你是怎么做的？

希拉：事前一定要做好准备工作。我们经常想“我要求加薪，我的年薪要加三千多美元。”我认为这个想法是错误的。你的老板才不会管你想要多少呢，他只想知道你的价值所在。因此，你要上一上monster.com网站--上面有很好的薪酬行情数据--你可以查看一下你的工作、你的职责、你的行业、你的领域，他们都有列出。你大可参考一下。

康丝韦洛：在提出加薪时还要小心部署“应变措施”。什么是“应变措施”？

希拉：很多人把应变措施当作“薪酬底线”。但实际上是“如果老板拒绝我的加薪要求的话，我应该怎么办？”所以，你可以考虑跳槽，或找出老板拒绝你的原因所在，然后在后面的六个月内对症下药。

康丝韦洛：这实际上是到第二步的一个漂亮过渡，第二步即：有商有量，而别光说要求加薪。

希拉：是的。

康丝韦洛：说说它们的分别。

希拉：向老板要求加薪是最坏的做法，他大可干脆拒绝你。

康丝韦洛：很对。

希拉：所以，相反的，你应该对老板说∶“我想和你谈谈我的待遇问题。我似乎有必要做些调整。我之所以这么认为是出于某某原因。我想在此问题上听听你的意见。”

康丝韦洛：没错，换句话说，就是要与老板好话好说，千万不要让人难堪。

希拉∶你不想跟老板弄得太僵，对吧？不然他们的反应并不是经过深思熟虑，而是防备性的。

康丝韦洛：是的。第三步是∶不接受拒绝。你这个说法是什么意思？应该怎样去做？

希拉∶我觉得，如果你被拒绝了，首先要立即弄清楚原因是否与自己有关--这是自己可控制的--尤其要明确自己需具备什么样的条件才能升职加薪。或者又是否与世道有关？你知道的，如果公司财政紧张，你就要变通一下。我认识一位非牟利性的、收益不太好的公司的职员，她请了两周带薪假期到别的公司做兼职。又如弹性工作时间、学费津贴、弹性花费、在家工作和更多假期等，这些对你的老板来说花费甚少，而对你自己却大有裨益。

康丝韦洛：如果被老板拒绝，下一步应该怎么办？我知道你刚才提过一些，但何时决定辞职才是最好的呢？

希拉：当然要分清形势再决定辞职。我认为问题是，“我这份工作有没有做得不够好的地方？”这可以帮助你弄清楚∶“我要做什么补救？”“我能帮助解决什么吗？”我觉得最终你应该问清楚：“我们什么时候再做进一步商议？”“什么时候再确认？”好让自己知道老板明白这件事情还要跟进。

康丝韦洛：谢谢。希拉·休姆，你的建议太好了。非常感谢你。

希拉：谢谢。加薪的问题确实是难以启齿。

康丝韦洛：是的。确实要经过深思熟虑。

希拉：但做起来也简单。

康丝韦洛：再次谢谢你！

注释:

1) compensation [kCmpen5seiFEn] n. 补偿，赔偿

2) eliminate [i5limineit] n. 消除，排除

3) data base 储存之资料，资料库

4) kinda [5kaindE] adv. 有一点，有几分（= kind of）

5) walkaway [5wR:kE7weI] n. 轻易得到的胜利，轻易完成的事

6) strapped [strApt] a. 身无分文的

7) freelance [5fri:lB:ns] n. 自由作家，自由记者

8) flexible [5fleksEbl] a. 灵活的

9) tough [tQf] a. 艰难的，强硬的

10) ponder [5pCndE] v. 沉思，考虑