Pay rise or lack of.

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milner993

Original Poster:

1,293 posts

161 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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Ok so I'm sure like many of you on here you cant remember when you had your last pay rise (if ever like me), so I’ve now been with the same company for five years in a sales based environment with a basic salary and commission on top, my targets have always been hit, the amount of business I do each year has also gone up year on year, I have consecutively sold the highest amount of add ones out of the whole company and I'm up to date with all training courses.

I like the company I work for, although the last year has been difficult with one incident upsetting the hole sales team, when a new member of staff was employed to do the same job role as me and everyone else, we found out shortly before he left he was being paid £3000 more a year on his basic salary, as you can imagine never having had a pay rise from this company that was a bitter pill to swallow, he left for various other reasons but we were able to confirm his basic was £3000 higher and we received (not directly) from the MD an apology “that he got it wrong”

So I want to have a conversation with my MD and ask for a performance related pay rise, I'm sure he is aware of the above (if not I’ll inform him) but what is the best way to ask for a raise without saying I want more money?

Any comments welcome

964Cup

1,407 posts

236 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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Say you want more money. It's much easier that way. Ask yourself in advance what you'll do if it's refused. Hold to that.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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Whats the split of basic/commission making up your overall compensation? Is £3k a massive amount in the scheme of things?

MacW

1,349 posts

175 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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You do want more money. You're only working every day because he gives you money in return for your time and effort.

I've never understood the issue about being coy in this scenario.

It sounds like you have a good case for it, just detail it to him as you have above and state in clear but polite terms that you believe you deserve more. If you can back this up by showing the industry average for decent achievers matches your expectations then so much the better.

Foliage

3,861 posts

121 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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1. Check if you have had a pay rise, get all your pay slips together, have you had a cost of living increase? if not why haven't you asked each year why not.

2. Ask for pay rise, but have correct concise figures to show your worth, be prepared to explain in a logical manner, keep emotion out of it.

Its in the best interest of the company to keep you on if your earning them a significant amount of money (ive heard 3-5 times your salary bandied about before?), but it isn't in their best interest to pay you more if they think your happy as that will cut into the profits.

Ive been in the same situation as you, I ended up getting a 15% pay rise but that was hard work.

milner993

Original Poster:

1,293 posts

161 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
I would have to say that £3000 in the grand scheme of things isn't a huge amount of money its more the principle of it that kicks you in the nuts.

The split is 35.6% Basic and 64.4% commission based on last years earnings.
My cost of living has gone up, new house, getting married and I'm sure kids will follow eventually which is the other reason for needing a raise.

Certainly never had a basic salary pay raise

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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milner993 said:
I would have to say that £3000 in the grand scheme of things isn't a huge amount of money its more the principle of it that kicks you in the nuts.

The split is 35.6% Basic and 64.4% commission based on last years earnings.
My cost of living has gone up, new house, getting married and I'm sure kids will follow eventually which is the other reason for needing a raise.
Maybe negotiate an improved commission structure rather than the basic?

Foliage

3,861 posts

121 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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milner993 said:
new house, getting married and I'm sure kids will follow eventually which is the other reason for needing a raise.
These aren't relevant to the business, cost of living perhaps is. (they are relevant to you, but for these purposes aren't)


Think of yourself like you are a business providing another business with a service milner993 ltd if you will, and you have to justify having to increase your rate, you wouldn't go on about how your costs had increased, but how your price/quality/customer service are still very good value for money, and are beneficial to the company.

Muzzer79

9,806 posts

186 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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milner993 said:
what is the best way to ask for a raise without saying I want more money?
Why would you not say you want more money?

You do. confused

If you feel you're justified in having more money - put together a professional case for having it then present it to your superiors. Demonstrate the value you've brought to the business, your experience, increased cost of living, etc, etc.

Do NOT directly compare your salary to others. This other chap on £3k more may have been better qualified, may have had more experience, may have been an emergency appointment for some reason.

Your salary should be a reflection of your worth to the business, not a reflection of your colleagues' renumeration.


milner993

Original Poster:

1,293 posts

161 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
garyhun said:
milner993 said:
I would have to say that £3000 in the grand scheme of things isn't a huge amount of money its more the principle of it that kicks you in the nuts.

The split is 35.6% Basic and 64.4% commission based on last years earnings.
My cost of living has gone up, new house, getting married and I'm sure kids will follow eventually which is the other reason for needing a raise.
Maybe negotiate an improved commission structure rather than the basic?
The new commission structure has already been put in place at the start of the year, where you can earn more but it's far harder to achieve, on the flip side if you don’t hit the new targets you stand to lose far more than you stand to gain.

ok so leave house, marriage and kids out of the conversation.

milner993

Original Poster:

1,293 posts

161 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all


Do NOT directly compare your salary to others. This other chap on £3k more may have been better qualified, may have had more experience, may have been an emergency appointment for some reason.

you hit the nail on the head with that one.

milner993

Original Poster:

1,293 posts

161 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
swerni said:
milner993 said:
I would have to say that £3000 in the grand scheme of things isn't a huge amount of money its more the principle of it that kicks you in the nuts.

The split is 35.6% Basic and 64.4% commission based on last years earnings.
My cost of living has gone up, new house, getting married and I'm sure kids will follow eventually which is the other reason for needing a raise.

Certainly never had a basic salary pay raise
The question was " what's the split" not what it equate to last year.
Seing as you said you overachieved, i assume it's closer to 50 / 50
What are the accelerators like?

You're in sales, the basic is irrelevant, it's the ability to over achieve that matters.
I've just changed roles and reduced my basic by nearly 35% in real terms.



I'm not sure I follow or how this relates to my question.

Moonhawk

10,730 posts

218 months

Saturday 18th April 2015
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Companies will often treat employees in a similar manner to customers - with new ones often being able to negotiate better deals than existing employees get.

It's sad to say it but there is very little reward for loyalty these days and to get the best - you have to move.