wages

[Silas Martinez]

On 10/27/05, Enrique Arredondo <henry at vegena.net> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Silas Martinez" <silasm at gmail.com>
> To: <Filepro-list at lists.celestial.com>
<..snipped..>
>
> What would your employer do if you asked them for a 15-20% raise so you
> reached the median wages in So.Cal (which is about $65K after doing my
> research). Would you consider going for it ? (we're talking Gross pay right
> ? or take home net ?)
>

Truthfully, I suspect that if I were to make such a request, it would
in the worst case create tension, and may ultimately result in my
looking for a new employer. In the best case, it would result in a
lengthy justification of the current wage my employer offers, and
perhaps a note that my concerns should be a) reconsidered, and b)
saved for my review period. That is, of course, completely dependant
on the employer, and I suspect that there are employers out there who
would respond positively if you provided enough objective evidence.
I've not met one, though, and I've tried what you suggest (several
years ago), and found myself looking for new employment as an indirect
result.

If I were genuinely concerned about my current rate of pay, and were I
sure that my employer was convinced of my loyalty to the company (i.e.
I wouldn't be undermining myself by bringing it up), then at most, I
would bring up my concerns in an appropriate forum. Not as a request
for additional pay, but as an observation/concern that the average
rate of pay for my role and responsibilities was between x and y. When
you do this, bring plenty of justification (not just 'market wage is
x, so I'm worth x'). Bring a list of the things you've done within the
company to make the company more profitable, and you more valuable to
the company.

Then again, I'm no expert at wage negotiations. I suspect, if I were,
I'd be making a lot more than I'm currently making.