Taking action

Make an appointment. Book a time to speak with your boss. Don't just drop in. If he/she is busy it may be tempting for him/her to say no and carry on working. Here's what you might say to schedule an appointment with your boss:

"I was hoping I might be able to ask you some questions, is there a good time we can sit down for a minute?"

Before doing so, double check you have everything you need in case the boss says: "Now is a good time."

Here's a quick checklist:

1. You have decided whether or not the raise is the laststraw and are prepared to look for other work;
2. You have considered the boss's situation;
3. You have some evidence of your value as an employee how you have lowered COSTS and/or increased INCOME;
4. You have a reasonable idea about what would be a satisfactory raise;
5. You are prepared to negotiate in a calm, straight forward manner.

The Negotiations

So how to start? Well, say things in a way that seems comfortable and think of it initially as a discussion. Consider saying something like:

You: "Thanks for meeting with me. I was hoping that we might discuss a raise."

There are any number of responses you might get but expect:

Boss: "We don't have any money for raises."

To which you might reply (in your own words):

You: "Well, I have been thinking about that and I wanted you to know that I've done some things as of late which have saved/earned the company money. I (list off some of your stuff)."

You might also get the reply:

Boss: "What did you have in mind?"

To which you might say:

You: "Well, with my recent (accomplishment, cost-saving, income increasing stuff) I thought that an increase of (whatever you researched) could be considered."

If you aren't met with agreement, try some of your "Plan B" options.

You: "Perhaps instead of the wage increase would you be willing to consider some days off, increased benefits, etc.?"

If you are still getting a negative response keep calm and ask:

You: "Are there some things I might do to be eligible for a raise?"

Be prepared for what you might find out! You might get some feedback about areas where you could improve. Take notes. If, in time, you decide on trying for another raise you'll know what the boss wants. Whether you get a raise or not, thank your boss for his/her time and get back to work.

As you can see, the waters of seeking a raise can be murky. No two bosses and no two work situations are the same. Seeking a raise may leave you rolling in dough, looking for work elsewhere, staying put or considering a change. There simply is no way to tell beforehand. Even careful planning may not get the result you want. If you are prepared for all possible responses, though, then you can at least be satisfied knowing you've done all you can do. Good luck.