Should you be making more money at your job?
Hold off screaming “Yes! God, yes!” at the above title for a second, and let’s think this one through.
Because, asking a Canadian worker if they should be making more money would be like asking Toronto’s right-wingers if they love Rob Ford right now: it’s kind of a loaded question.
But a more important, more direct follow-up query is this – what are you going to do about it?
Indeed, while everyone may harp about how they’re underpaid, getting that raise is never really as simple as it sounds. The advice of, “Buck up, march into that office and tell Mr. Swanson just how much you’re worth to the company,” I imagine, only pays off if you’re Billy Mays or something. How often can a sell-job like that actually work?
Fortunately, though, you can get that raise in other ways. Penelope Trunk, the noted career blogger, recently offered a few not-so-generic tips on how to do so.
According to PayScale, Trunk says, pay for men tops out at around age 45 while salaries for women peak at age 38. What’s this mean? Two things:
1) For women, go where the men are. We’ve talked ad nauseum about how women make only a fraction of what men do – perhaps because of low-paying industries like social work being traditionally dominated by females – so the path of best pay for women is to chase down a better-paying career before they hit their peak earnings age. “For example, skip human resources and go to supply chain management,” Trunk writes.
2) Make sure your résumé reflects your accomplishments, not your responsibilities. When in line for a new job or promotion, don’t just highlight what your day-to-day job consisted of but play up specific achievements you reached at work. Advertise a certain project that was well-received or an initiative that brought your company an X percentage increase in revenue in lieu of a non-descript résumé line like, “Managed office itinerary and displayed interpersonal skills with clients and colleagues.”
Have you ever negotiated for a raise? If so, what’s the best way to go about it?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: SP | Feb 18, 2022 9:19:12 PM
My most lucrative raises have been when I have had another firm job offer on the table and my employers were short staffed.
Arrange a time mid week, outline what you earn for them, outline what it will cost them to replace you and how long it would take them to bring the new employee up to speed, and then provide them with an opportunity to verify your numbers.
That said the issue is far bigger than just your paycheque:
In the last 10 years alone the average earnings of the top 100 CEO's went from 100x average workers wage to 174x average workers wage and the top 1% of Canadian earners are the main beneficiaries of tax cuts. Which means they are now paying a smaller share of their income in taxes than the bottom 10% of Canadians, meaning that inequality in Canada is now at the highest level since the late 1920s.
So you have a choice of what to do with your energy. Devote it to raising your wage incrementally? Or pushing for a rebalancing of Canadian society before things turn all Egypt on us.
Posted by: Western Guy | Feb 19, 2022 11:18:07 PM
Again your tax knowledge is non-existant.
The bottom 10% of Canadians don't pay tax. In Canada on the graduated tax system the more income you make the higher the % of tax you pay. In Alberta the is 0% tax on the first 14.5 thousand, from 14.5 to 17 is at 10%, from 17 to 27 is at 26% and so on and so forth up to 130ish where the rate ends up at 39%. So the poor (earning under 20 thousand) pay basically no tax. They get child tax benefits etc. and further writeoffs which means they actually get money back. Yes they have to pay GST but in the poor individuals case the GST credit actually offsets the amount. There you go so the bottom 10% pay 0% tax.
Mean while the top 1% you claim aren't paying tax are paying at the 39% level. That hardly seems like less. Name me any tax cut that makes the poor pay more tax than the rich?
Also the whole CEOS used to make 100X an now make 174X has been used repeatedly but it is taken out of scope. First of all the increase has happened over the last 30 years, not 10. Nice try on that. The reasoning is that the corporations have gotten much larger. Ever seen a chart that shows CEO pay to revenue. It has decreased dramatically. Which means these individuals are running much larger entities and are taking home a smaller % of the total. Yes its still larger but so is the responsibility.
Is there really a lot of inequility in Canada. It is relatively easy to be middle class and be comfortable. Have a nice house, a nice vehicle and some nice stuff and nice holidays. No I won't ever have a ferrari or a lear jet but I don't feel upset over others good fortune.
SP I have had staff like you before that wait for a bad moment at the company to strong arm a better deal. Its ok. I wait for a really weak moment in their life to fire them. It evens out. A guy stong armed me 3 years ago (pushed the envelop like you did for a huge wage). A year later when there were no jobs like his available in the industry and he had just closed a divorce 2 days before I turfed him. Its loyalty or replacement.
Posted by: SP | Feb 20, 2022 2:52:40 PM
Here ya go Western Guy an intro into the world you think you understand.
"neo-con-economics-and-canadian-well-being"
or
the alternet .org article "9 Pictures That Expose This Country's Obscene Division of Wealth"
or
Even the CIA World Factbook which is pretty good (Also included because Penelope Trunk is American)
PS I seriously doubt that you would have EVER had an employee (or even colleague) like me, and yes the bottom 10% of Canadians do pay tax, to think otherwise is just naive
Posted by: don | Feb 22, 2022 1:48:43 PM
I can understand why someone would use leverage for a wage increase such as SP did. Lets face it comanies make more and more and dont share the wealth and increase wages accordingly. If that was the case the inequity between rich and poor would not be growing as it is. Get what you can. Isnt that what this country is all about? I havent seen many companies that practice loyalty to their employees and they should not expect it in return. Its all about $$ and it is a dog eat dog world. Waiting for someone to reach a low point in their life life to enact "revenge" says it all. Cant see how that is good business. If they were valuable enough to use the leverage and be successful what is waiting for a "low point and then turfing them ?....it sure doesnt seem to have much to do with good busniess practice. It seems to have more to do with keeping certain people "in their place
but our businesses would never do that.......right?
Posted by: john | Feb 22, 2022 2:31:26 PM
Today the rich get richer and the poor get poorer! The CEO's earn more because they can. It's just like the pro players, they ask for huge contracts because they can. If you need a raise, first look around and see if you are being paid fairly, if so don't compalin, if not, talk to your supervisor and simply ask for a raise and tell them why you think you deserve one. I have been the v.p. of a company for over 20 years and I give raises and I try to get a raise. You should always know what you are worth in the market. Do not ask for 50 if the market is only paying 40. I find that when companies have good years it is much easiers to justify raises...so time your effort. So my advice is, be upfront in asking for a raise and make sure you do not ask when you see that the company is not doing well. Strong arming a company will only get you fired later....so it is not a good practice.
Posted by: Brian | Feb 22, 2022 2:43:29 PM
Western guy must be dyslexic......
There's by far more tax cuts and benefits for the wealthy in this country than for the poor, the system actually works opposite to what you have stated there.
Yeah the lower percent of earners get rebates, I can't imagine why though....... How odd that those who would need it, get it.......
Posted by: Christian Guy | Feb 22, 2022 6:22:05 PM
I have to partially support western guy...
Working for a tyrant is something I'm too familiar with to read this post without commenting. I was the 1st employee of a successful start-up earning millions for the owner during my tenure with this firm. I asked for a raise and didn't get it. Sure I was pissed but I continued while keeping my mouth shut for the sake of the customers and the team. I resigned while working harder than ever lasting two more months. I loved that job and was rewarded with accomplishments and good relations with our customers. However, the public bullying never ceased because, after all, they only whip the horses that can pull the weight.
My point is the when you quit a job you quit a team. You abandon all the customers and suppliers who believed in you and your relationships. Despite all that we say and do your reputation is damaged. Sure its our duty to our profession and the public to act ethically but strong arming an employer in a selfish act. Your customers only know the firm through their dealings with frontline employees like you.
Guess what! I returned to that firm after two years of unemployment. All new staff and poisonous relations with customers/suppliers greeted me. The owner was worse than ever...
Posted by: Rory | Feb 22, 2022 7:58:58 PM
I've found that great way to convince Mr. Swanson to give you a raise is to prepare for your raise meeting. Bring them a list of the things that were hired on to do for the company, and another list of the things you're responsible for now. Provide them with examples of great feedback you've received and praise from clients etc. Anything and everything that you can bring to the table. Print out emails that you received praising your work. It almost gives your boss no possible way of saying no. You should also have a dollar amount that you're gunning for before you go into the office. Just my two cents. Interesting post... thanks!
Posted by: Richard | Feb 23, 2022 2:51:57 AM
Methinks SP and Western Guy should get together in a hotel room somewhere and discuss their financial acumen for about a week... with the loser having to pay the bill.
Posted by: Crystal | Feb 24, 2022 1:05:05 AM
This artical is dumb. Ur bos is gonna pay u what ur wurth. If she didnt than u wuld go some differnet place. If u wait ur boss will give you a raise when all the hatrz leave. LOL xx