Work, private life stuck

Do you have a work or personal life related obstacle, problem that keeps you busy and you want to move on?

The By Your Side program is a confidential consultation opportunity provided by the participant companies for their employees free of charge. The goal of the program is to support the users in solving their problems in their private life or work issues and advise them in various topics such as legal, financial, lifestyle, psichological matters.

Our personal advisors will help you with the following topics
     
Private Life issues:
Internal family problems
Relationship issues, disloyalty
Child raising, school issues
Psychological and mental illnesses (depression, panic disorder, anxiety, behavioral disorders)
Mental issues (grief, loss)
Addictions (alcohol and drog abuse, drog related questions)
Crisis management (death, serious illness, suicide, accident, trauma, abuse)

Work issues:
Job satisfaction
Work-life balance

Work performance, work overload
Harassment
Stress
Burn-out
Exhaustion
Cooperation challenges
Conflict managemetn
Frustration
Anxiety

If you need help, click the enter button.
You can read one of our experts' articles here.

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Why are we afraid to ask for a salary raise?

Because of our personality or possibly our previous bad experiences, many of us find it uncomfortable when we have to ask for anything. And the topic of salary increase often falls into the same “dislike” category. The fact is, however, that without a request, our supervisor is unlikely to make sense of our intention on its own. So it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for how we should handle such a situation. If we know we deserve more for our work, or are just starting to feel unmotivated to see the amount appearing on our account each month, let’s get on with it! Written by psychologist Nikolett Tóth.

Not everyone feels good in the role of a negotiator, and that’s perfectly fine. Probably many of us have never bargained even on a market. However, there are situations where we need to learn to stand up for our own interests. It’s no different when we feel the energy we could invest in our workplace could be rewarded with a nicer amount.

According to a 2012 LinkedIN survey, 39 percent of Americans find it difficult to ask for a pay raise. And comparing the two sexes, it turns out that women are even more anxious about the issue than men, with a total of 26 percent going to visit their boss on the subject, compared to 40 percent of men. And according to salary.com, only 12 percent of Americans dare to stand up to their boss with their request, and 44 percent never even raise the topic with their boss.

It's all about communication.

One thing is very important for us to understand: managers can often be just as nervous as we are when they have to talk about this topic. Let's see what the experts recommend to prepare:

Know how important you are!

Nowadays, most companies in Hungary are struggling with a serious labor shortage, so the time for the bosses of “if you don’t like it you can go” has actually come a long way. Even if they refuse to notice it. It’s good to understand as soon as possible: the greatest value of companies is their employees. Have you ever considered how much it costs to recruit, select and train a new employee? Believe me, most managers will think twice to send you away with your pay raise request, especially if they see your loyalty and the quality of your work. Always keep these in mind when you think about whether you dare to stand there in front of your boss on Monday after meeting your request.

Know how much your value is in the labour market!

Today, there are a lot of websites / forums that specialize in salary issues that you can search for, on average, how much others earn in the same position you work for. This can be a good foundation. You can compare to that. Of course, you also have to answer other important questions here:

How long have I been with the company? Is that enough time for me to say I was able to delve into my work and create added value?

How can I show myself? I know my own value, but does my supervisor also know that I am more than a “graduate”?

How can I best, most effectively represent all this?

If you see that you could look for more than your current experience in your area, don’t hesitate to contact your boss with a request.

At the same time avoid the threat from afar!

Don’t start by saying “the others” but, for example, by saying that “my current salary is no longer motivating enough in the long run, even though I plan for the company in the long run”.

Have a specific amount in your head!

It is best to consciously consider your expenses: how much you spend on housing, meals, entertainment, etc. Of course, it's good to stay on the ground of reality, but you don't have to be satisfied with the fact that at the end of the month you can only manage from the small coins hidden at the bottom of your wallet. The key is self-knowledge, self-criticism, monitoring the outside world if you are aware of your “market value” and, very importantly, your company’s compensation policy - for example, in companies that follow the principle of seniority you will have a hard time asking for higher money if you are in your twenties.At the same time, for example, the situation is different for companies that recognize competencies.              Determine an amount in advance and represent it! Don't let the "flood" bargain below the pre-determined minimum!

Timing is important!

It’s best to time your need for a higher salary when you’re just after a successful project or a high-quality task. Your supervisor will see you and your request in a different light.

In summary, one thing is quite certain:

    a “no” as an answer can only be enveloped if you don’t even try to ask for a raise.

The article was originally published on mindsetpszichologia.hu.

Author: Nikolett Tóth