You should be paid what you deserve. End of story.
Read that first sentence again, because we want to help you make sure you’re getting the wages you deserve. We’ve previously talked about how to know if you’re underpaid, but what should you do if you look at your paycheck and realize it’s just not enough? Let’s walk through your options.
Ask for a raise
This one could be better classified as “demand a raise,” because your employer owes you proper pay for proper work. The first step to any process of getting more money should be asking for a raise. This can be scary, but schedule a meeting with either your direct supervisor or a supervisor in the office who has the ability to adjust your wages or works with the higher-ups who can.
You should come to this meeting prepared with a specific number you believe you should be paid, and you should be prepared with evidence of the work you’re doing. The blog linked above outlines specific situations you can use to prove you deserve a higher salary.
During the conversation, you should be confident and stand your ground. This is a negotiation, and your employer isn’t paying you enough for a reason so they’ll likely want to stick to your current wages. Be confident and have a plan.
Enter the job market
If your current employer won’t pay you what you deserve, another employer should. You should always have an up-to-date resumé, but this is the perfect time to spruce it up.
You may not want to advertise at work that you’re seeking opportunities outside the organization (but also know your employer likely can’t retaliate just because you are). However, if your employer sees that a hard-working employee is looking elsewhere it might inspire them to give you the raise you deserve.
Short of a change of heart by your employer, you should understand your own qualifications and how to sell them on the job market. You should also take the number you took into negotiations above to the market and stick to it. Eventually, a job offer will come as long as you play your cards right. Once you get that offer, understand you should always counter even if the number is where you want it to be. The first offer is rarely the final offer so don’t be afraid to test the limits of what the offering company is willing to pay you.
Consider a lawsuit
We’ll go back to the very beginning of this blog: you should get paid what you deserve. If you feel you’re not getting paid what you deserve or even that your work has surpassed the initial demands you agreed to for the salary you’re being paid, you should consider legal options.
At Feldman Legal Group, we have extensive experience helping clients get the money they’re owed for their hard work. Contact us today to schedule your consultation or give us a call at 877-946-8293.
