Asking for a raise

[tvguy]

I don't know a lot, but I do know that some places you are not supposed to discuss what you make with others. If you try to get a raise based upon what others are making... well you can see where that is going.

We might not know what to do, but we know what NOT to do.

It's spelled out in our Corporate Handbook as grounds for termination.

 

[tvguy]

Love my union.

A good union can be a plus, but DW's union, the company is more receptive to the work condition changes and pay increases the workers want than the union.

 

[tvguy]

A good union can be a plus, but DW's union, the company is more receptive to the work condition changes and pay increases the workers want than the union.

For example, the UNION was reluctant to accept an amendment to the existing contract to raise the entry level salaries in the contract. The amendment was legally necessary because the NEGOTIATED entry level wage was now LESS than minimum wage.

 

[footballmouse]

We felt we needed to go in as a group since we aren't discussing the actual pay of each person. We want the pay scale raised for our job description. If there was money in the budget for the starting salary to be increased then there should be enough in there for raises to be given. I'm not about to call another hospital and ask the person what they make, not appropriate. We know for a fact how much the new hires are making because one of them showed another person her paystub. She was just asking what some of the deductions were for, not trying to start anything. Our director knows what happened and is completely aware that we know how much they make.

We are also going to be discussing other problems from the various floors in the hospital that affect our office, not just the raise.

Yes, an agenda has been sent to all people involved.

 

[sam_gordon]

If there was money in the budget for the starting salary to be increased then there should be enough in there for raises to be given.

In my opinion, this is not a valid reason to ask for a raise. Maybe the new employee was a better negotiator than you three. Maybe she brought something else to the table that justified a higher starting salary. Maybe it was hard to find a prospective employee at the time. Asking for a raise should be about what YOU bring to the company. Working extra shifts, learning new skills, teaching others, "saving the day", etc. Just showing up and doing your job might get you an annual raise, but shouldn't (won't) get you anything extra.

 

[anniemae]

All sorts of red flags went up when I read the original post. My inner voice was screaming "danger, danger!"

No way would I do this. I don't think management would look favorably upon this in any setting I have worked with. No way would I go in as a group. It seems a little like you are ganging up on management. Maybe your bosses are different, but anyone I worked for would not appreciate this. I would be afraid that I would be looked down upon if I did this and would have a target on my back, but tend to be a bit paranoid! I think the time to discuss this would be at your yearly review. Alone.

Maybe it will be fine, only you know your workplace and your bosses. Just don't threaten to leave if you don't get a raise. I know someone who did this and was promptly fired. She was bluffing and did not have another job lined up. Just remember in this job climate EVERYONE is replaceable.

Good luck, you never know, you may just walk out with a nice raise. It does sound like you are prepared and have covered all your bases.

 

[sam_gordon]

By any chance, is this an entry level job (having one of the new coworkers ask about deductions on paychecks makes it sound possible)? If so, has your state increased it's minimum wage? That would explain how a new hire would make the same amount as an employee who's been in the job for 5+ years.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Good luck. My wife works with 7 other women doing the same job with different personnel in her company. She found out there is a 30k pay difference among them with no justification for such. She's on the bottom, has more education, more experience, and longer time with the company than all but two of them. She was also told she was hired under the wrong salary pay and after 2 years of hearing that, nothing has changed.

And for those telling you that you could be fired for discussing salary is not true. No company can fire you for discussing your salary with others. That's a scare tactic management uses and is illegal. What you make is your business and you can tell who you want. If you work in the public sector in my state, your salary is publish on the internet every year by the state.

 

[Nancyg56]

We felt we needed to go in as a group since we aren't discussing the actual pay of each person. We want the pay scale raised for our job description. If there was money in the budget for the starting salary to be increased then there should be enough in there for raises to be given. I'm not about to call another hospital and ask the person what they make, not appropriate. We know for a fact how much the new hires are making because one of them showed another person her paystub. She was just asking what some of the deductions were for, not trying to start anything. Our director knows what happened and is completely aware that we know how much they make.

We are also going to be discussing other problems from the various floors in the hospital that affect our office, not just the raise.

Yes, an agenda has been sent to all people involved.

I still believe that this is a very bad idea. You may have good intentions, and you may be trying to make positive changes for your departmant, but you need to prepare yourself in the event your company management does not view your intentions in the same light. A group effort may not look like a group of well meaning employees, out to

I run payroll for a number of businesses and have seen that many times new hires are granted salaries that are pretty close to what existing employees already have. That is not always a reason to request your own salay be increased, as you company may have already run their surveys to determine what is comparable starting pay for whatever role they hire for. That is why folks have suggested that before you go to this meeting, you need to know the starting pay in the area for that job category. You may be not only wasting time, but jeopardizing your standing within the company with the argument you have planned. If they paid new hires based on their own research, and you question it.....well, this is usually not a good strategy.

Honestly, if any one of you feels you deserve a raise, I believe that you need to have a private discussion with your management, outlining how you have grown since you were hired, the new responsibilities you have take on, and how your accomplishments have enhanced the company. A group cannot detail individual growth.

 

[Allison]

Good luck. My wife works with 7 other women doing the same job with different personnel in her company. She found out there is a 30k pay difference among them with no justification for such. She's on the bottom, has more education, more experience, and longer time with the company than all but two of them. She was also told she was hired under the wrong salary pay and after 2 years of hearing that, nothing has changed.

And for those telling you that you could be fired for discussing salary is not true. No company can fire you for discussing your salary with others. That's a scare tactic management uses and is illegal. What you make is your business and you can tell who you want. If you work in the public sector in my state, your salary is publish on the internet every year by the state.

xh

It absolutely is true. Many states are at will employment states. You can be fired for any reason the company wants to let you go and discussing wages can certainly be one of those reasons.

 

[sam_gordon]

No company can fire you for discussing your salary with others. That's a scare tactic management uses and is illegal.

Sure they can. Why do you think it would be illegal to do so?

 

[Nancyg56]

Sure they can. Why do you think it would be illegal to do so?

I think I read that in some states there is a new law that makes termination for discussing wages illegal. For me, that means that until that point it was legal to do so. No way would I jeopardize my job over that. My DH and I just talked about this last week, and because he is Union, he was surpised that discussionof coworkers salary is gneeally forbidden. Sure....all hs coworkers are paid the same as he is....but Holy Canoli! He understood when we talked about bonus..... now that is hush hush.....LOL!

 

[NewRVLady]

I found out after 8 years that a new hire-who had been there 6 months and was quitting-was making what I made-she told me. I was beyond angry....she was untrained, no skills and did minimum basic work
I told my manager and left for the day
I was messaged by my boss and given a raise immediately
However the experience made me realize that the boss takes advantage of his long time reliable employees ( that and many other issues)-I only stayed there a year longer

no way should you do a group meeting-TOTALLY unprofessional-and the fact you all know what each other makes is a BIG NO-NO and puts your boss in a bad situation

 

[NewRVLady]

.

And for those telling you that you could be fired for discussing salary is not true. No company can fire you for discussing your salary with others. That's a scare tactic management uses and is illegal. What you make is your business and you can tell who you want. If you work in the public sector in my state, your salary is publish on the internet every year by the state.

I live in an "at will" state-NO REASON has to be given for being fired
They could view these 3 as "trouble makers"...like the work the new hires are doing and give them the boot.

 

[LilyWDW]

This is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard! So many red flags, so many ways for this to backfire in your face.

 

[Christine]

However the experience made me realize that the boss takes advantage of his long time reliable employees ( that and many other issues)-I only stayed there a year longer

A hiring manager's job is to find the most qualified person for the least amount of money the market will bear. If you are interviewed, are well qualified, and you don't advocate for yourself for a high salary--that's on you. I wouldn't call it "boss taking advantage." It's how the world works.

Some people are much better advocates for themselves than others and this is why you can see wild pay disparities once you get into white collar, corporate type jobs where the wage isn't set. Studies have shown that women are the worst at negotiating salary. I think that's changing a bit with the younger generation.

In the OP's case, entry level workers seem to be getting paid more than they used to. The company/hospital probably determined that they weren't getting quality candidates at their old entry-level rate and they had to increase it just to attract a better pool of applicants.

 

[lsyorke]

"Time Served" doesn't automatically mean more money. Some jobs have limit on what the value of that position is. As one who does the hiring and firing...never go as a group with the argument you are planning on using. Not professional at all.

One to one with your manager and present what you are doing for the company that warrants more money.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think I read that in some states there is a new law that makes termination for discussing wages illegal. For me, that means that until that point it was legal to do so. No way would I jeopardize my job over that. My DH and I just talked about this last week, and because he is Union, he was surpised that discussionof coworkers salary is gneeally forbidden. Sure....all hs coworkers are paid the same as he is....but Holy Canoli! He understood when we talked about bonus..... now that is hush hush.....LOL!

I was wrong above. I did some research and it's apparently illegal everywhere to fire someone for discussing salary.

Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act provides employees the right to make efforts to organize and discuss the terms of their employment, including salary and benefits packages. Section 8 of the NLRA further reinforces employees' rights to discuss payment policies by making it an unfair labor practice to enact policies that prohibit employees from discussing their compensation packages or make any other effort to circumvent the organization and discussion rights.

Source
Now, that doesn't mean they can't find another reason (assuming an "at will" state) to fire you, they just can't directly attribute it to employees discussing salary.

 

[Bec3b1g]

I'm not familiar with the health care industry and it may be handled differently. In other industries, though, this would be a really bad idea. I would cancel your meeting. Nothing good will come of it. If you believe you deserve a raise, go in alone and present facts about your work. Don't make it about anyone else. Very bad idea.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Sorry but I agree with everybody else, this is a TERRIBLE idea. Group negotiations never go well. When you ask for equality among a group that cannot possibly be equal you end up being judged based on the weakest link. Despite what you may think of your co-workers, management could have a different opinion. What if they tell you no because the last thing they want to do is give a raise to somebody else in your group?

Go in by yourself and fight for yourself. You are all different people with all different strengths and weaknesses. You NEVER want to let somebody else's job performance affect your own salary.