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Asking your supervisor for a pay raise can be a stressful situation, especially if you don’t know when you should ask your boss for a pay raise at work and how to ask your boss for a pay increase.
In fact, it feels so daunting for some people that they avoid it and just don’t do it altogether. They feel like they’re boss should be aware of their accomplishments and just offer a raise or promotion without provocation.
Unfortunately, this happens infrequently. Most bosses are very busy and have very little time to reflect on the accomplishments of their direct reports. They’re too busy worrying about the next goal, client, milestone, etc. that needs to be completed.
With this in mind, you need to be proactive and advocate for yourself at work. Learn when you should ask your boss for a pay raise at work to have a better chance of achieving the pay increase you covet and deserve.
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How Often Should You Ask for a Raise at Work? How Often Should You Get a Raise?
Many companies offer an across-the-board cost of living raise to keep their salaries competitive annually (or other frequency as determined by the health of the economy). These raises will most likely be outside of your control.
In addition to cost of living raises, many companies also offer a way to receive merit raises. These are raises tied to your performance, achievement, accomplishments, etc.
I’ve worked at a company where you were only eligible for a merit raise every two years (from the date of your last raise), but I’ve also worked at companies that had mid-year (especially after the end of probation periods) and annual opportunities for raises.
As a general rule of thumb, many companies provide eligibility for a raise at least annually. With this in mind, I wouldn’t ask for a raise any more often than policy dictates. If you do, it will make you seem like you are out of touch with corporate policy and ignorant to how the company is run.
Can You Ask for a Raise After 6 Months?
Learn what your company’s policy is on pay increase. If they do allow it and you have justification for a raise, you certainly can ask for a raise.
In fact, you probably should if for nothing else than to let your boss know you’re interested in progressing. If you don’t get the raise, you’ll at least have the opportunity to ask what you need to do to receive a pay increase.
When is the Best Time to Ask for a Raise?
The best time to ask for a pay raise is just prior to creating/adjusting the budget for the coming fiscal year. This gives your boss time to think about the request, add it to the budget, and receive all necessary approvals for the budget increase.
For best timing in the day, try to schedule your meeting with you supervisor for beginning of the work day. If you work day shift, ask to meet early to mid-morning. If you work night shift, ask to meet an hour or two after start of shift.
Be cognizant of your boss’s routine. If they spend the first 2 hours getting everyone going and checking on everything, acknowledge this and ask to meet shortly after he completes this. If your boss only accepts meetings during certain times of the day, ask to meet in the earliest time slot available. It’s been proven that people typically make their best decisions early in their work day.
Ask for a Pay Raise After a Big Accomplishment
A great time to ask for a pay increase is after achieving a big accomplishment.
This could be completing a major goal or milestone for the department or company, landing a large client or contract that’s going to increase revenue, taking care of a major problem or task that your boss assigned to you, etc.
Ask for a Pay Increase After Accepting More Responsibility
Another great time to ask for a pay increase is after accepting more responsibility. You’ll most likely need to work in the role for a period of time to show that you can handle the new responsibilities, however, don’t wait to talk to your boss about the pay increase.
Go ahead and talk to him openly and honestly when you first accept the responsibilities to set expectations (i.e. you expect a raise or promotion if successful since you will be performing additional duties). This will let your boss know what you expect, let you know how your boss views the situation (he may have no intention of considering you for a raise), and allows you to know what your boss requires for a future pay increase. Also, best case scenario, they offer you a pay raise!
Ask for a Raise Just Prior to Budget Season
Many companies (especially larger companies) have a policy regarding when pay raises should be processed. This time normally corresponds to when your company performs its fiscal budget planning, so that any planned raises can be incorporated into the budget for the coming fiscal year.
Policies regarding raises, promotions, etc. should be public information and readily accessible to employees. In fact, most companies have some kind of standard form that also has the general guidelines listed on them as well to ensure supervisors don’t waste time asking for something that isn’t appropriate or possible.
If you can’t locate the policies or forms, reach out to a colleague or your human resources representative for more information.
If you ask shortly after the new fiscal year’s budget has been approved, you may have to wait a year for the raise.
Companies and bosses vary in their flexibility in asking for budget increases, but in general, no boss wants to ask for more money if they can help it (especially after the budget has been set). It makes them look like they can’t plan accordingly for the coming year.
Avoid Asking When Your Boss is Overworked, Under a Lot of Stress, or in a Bad Mood
When asking for a raise, try to catch your boss when he’s in a good mood or is having a good day. Like most people, he’ll be more likely to entertain your request and seriously consider it.
Conclusion
For the most part, knowing when to ask you boss for a pay raise is common sense. Know your corporate policy and don’t ask more frequently than outlined. Ask before the budget is set for the new fiscal year and when your boss is in a good mood. Only ask when you have justification for the pay increase, preferably after a major accomplishment or increase in responsibilities. These few tips will greatly increase your chance of success in achieving the pay increase you deserve.
Knowing when to ask your boss for pay increase is only part of the battle. If you’re serious about giving yourself the best chance to receive a raise, you also need to know how to ask your boss for a pay raise.
When do you think is the best time to ask your boss for a pay raise?