Should I ask for a raise or wait till I am given one?

Question

i am working at the same place for 15 months. She pretends there is no money coming in. I am the only emplyee. Does she have to give me one.

Answer 1

You may absolutely ask for a raise if you can give your boss a good reason to give you one.  Are you helping her make more money?  Have you contributed to the improvement of the business. are you a valuable asset?  

If you ask for a raise, and u don't' get one, will you leave ?  figure that out first.

Answer 2

well asking for a raise can be very tricky. on one hand you can be given one on the second you push the issue you can be fired. but really if your the only employee then its like she needs you unless she has others on stand by. i say go ahead and ask but dont be to persistent just casually bring it up in conversation. say something like all my bills are catching up with me and i think i need more money by the end of the week to get them all paid. and casually as if the question just popped up out of the blue as if you just thought of a joke but be serious when you say it. im thinking it may work. but its the only way to get somethings that you want or need . take it from me a women . and if she values your employment shell ablige but if your just a joke to her maybe find a job that does pay more. youll never know if you dont try to ask.

Answer 3

You have been working for over a year.  You are due for a raise.  Sit down with her and go over everything you have brought to the company.  If she ignores your request, either she wants to keep you working for cheap or the business really isn't doing that good.   You may want to start looking for other job opportunities.  You have 15 months of experience in that field.  You don't owe anything to an employer or a business that won't help you in return.  Remember, you are selling them your time and services for your paycheck.

Answer 4

Nobody ever has to give a raise unless Federal Wage Laws force it.

It is not unreasonable to ask for a raise. Just say my expenses are higher and I need to make a higher wage.

If it is not forth coming do not get mad just start looking around for a job where you can market your experience. Tip: do not talk ill of your former employer to new ones you want.

Edit: Being a one person employee group I would assume you speak to your employer on a regular basis and she knows what you do so why attempt to point out the obvious? Telling her her you need more money is simple and the implication is, and she will know, if she does not provide you more for your living expenses she risks losing you. Good employees are not easy to find.

Answer 5

None of us know the exact details of your job or the business situation. If she says there is no money coming in-well that could either be her trying to be stingy and keep you from getting a raise or then again she could be serious. If there actually is no money coming in-and if you like the job and your employer you should probably hold off a little bit longer before asking for a raise. If you feel like shes pulling your leg just go ahead and ask her now.

Regardless, she does not have to give you a raise. In fact you could go in monday and she could tell you that shes cutting your pay. There really isnt anything you can do about that unless you have some sort of contract.

Answer 6

time to sit down and have a professional conversation with your manager.

Answer 7

I'm going to disagree with a couple of folks here:

DO NOT tell your boss that you "need" more money, or that your bills are piling up.  First off, that's none of her business.  Second, she's your employer, not your mother, so she doesn't care whether you make enough to pay your bills.  She cares about whether THE COMPANY brings in enough money to pay its bills.  Period.

Make a detailed list of the things you have accomplished on behalf of the company.  Did you create a new form that streamlines the business processes?  Are you following up on accounts receivable so that there are fewer past-due accounts?  Think of all you've done and how the company has benefitted.  

Then ask for a meeting with her.  Tell her that you would like to discuss your salary.  Ask her what criteria she uses to give raises.  

If her only complaint is that the company isn't making money, then ask her how much more money does the company need to make in order for you to get a raise.  If you do the bookkeeping, you see the financial statements, so ask her to be specific and to show you on the financial statements what she means.  

If you never see the financial statements, you will never know if she's telling you the truth or lying though her teeth.  This is when you bring out your list.  Go over it point by point and show her how you have increased the company's earnings potential.  Ask her what else you have to do.

The bottom line is, she isn't required to give you a raise.  How long are you willing to work for her at your current salary?  Are there any benefits to you staying there?  If she isn't going to give you a raise, can you negotiate an extra week of paid vacation?  Or maybe she would be willing to pay your tuition, fees, and books so you can go to school (outside of work hours), which increases your value to her and also will help you get a better job later.  Or, see if you can negotiate keeping the same weekly pay, but working fewer hours each week.

It isn't easy to get money out of a boss who wants to keep every penny in their own pocket.  All you can do is be the best employee she's ever had so that she will give you a good reference when you do leave.