How to Deal With Employees Requesting for a Salary Raise
Not all employees are courageous enough to ask for a salary raise. Some people hesitate doing it because they’re not confident about it. Therefore, if an employee comes to you for a raise, you must be careful. You can’t say no without evaluating the reasons for the request. Here are some tips to help you deal with employees wanting a salary raise.
Try to listen
It might come to you as a surprise when an employee walks to your office and asks for a raise. Before you react, try to listen first. There might be a good reason to ask for it. You also don’t want to reveal how closed-minded you are as a leader. The employee might have a valid reason for the raise, and the exchange could be good for your business. Don’t hesitate to ask for more information to help clarify the details.
Acknowledge the courage
Before you say something related to the request, try acknowledging the employee’s courage to walk to your office. Again, not everyone is brave enough to do it. It’s also a sign of good leadership. Leaders know how to take risks. They’re also prepared for the potential consequences. There’s no guarantee that the results will be favorable, but the employee did it anyway. Hence, it deserves an acknowledgment.
Don’t give immediate decisions
You don’t have to say yes or no on the spot. You don’t even have to start negotiating. Wait until you gather more information or speak with other members of your management team. You even have to consult with your accounting department to decide if the business can afford to give raise to employees. Also, remember that if the word got out, other employees might try to do the same. You don’t want to give everyone an idea that asking for a salary bump doesn’t require hard work.
Be open to new responsibilities
The salary raise might come with new responsibilities, and the employee will offer suggestions. Perhaps, you have an employee who recently finished a postgraduate degree or an overseas training. Some employees have also been with the company for several years, and they believe they’re capable of doing something else. If these tasks can contribute to the company’s growth, be open about them. The salary bump might not even be enough to cover the benefits your business will get.
Be careful in saying no
While you want to listen to the suggestions, there’s no guarantee that you will say yes to the request. It’s possible that you will still say no after evaluating all sides. If you do so, be careful. You don’t want to make your employee feel bad about it. You also don’t want to lose this person to other companies. It’s easy for your talented employees to jump ship in a place where they will feel acknowledged. Be willing to lose them if your final decision is to reject the request.
Facing employees asking for a raise can be tough, but it can also help you in making decisions as a leader.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://www.business.com/images/content/5ca/3d3df5a215e8a458b789b/1500-0-
2nd image from https://gusto.com/blog/people-management/employee-asks-raise
