Anonymous Inbox: Listener Hasn't Received a Raise in Nearly 3 Years and Wants to Know How to Ask
A listener reached out to The Bobby Bones Show's Anonymous Inbox with a question many workers have probably wondered about at some point.
The listener shared that they've been at their job for almost three years and haven't received a raise since they were hired. While they enjoy their workplace and don't want to come across as ungrateful, their responsibilities have grown considerably since day one.
Their question for Bobby: How do you ask for a raise without seeming entitled?
Bobby's biggest piece of advice was to do some homework before setting up the conversation.
Rather than simply asking for more money, he encouraged the listener to clearly outline their accomplishments, additional responsibilities, and the value they've created for the company.
"You don't want to lead with, 'I need more money,'" Bobby explained. "You want to say, 'Here's what I've accomplished. Here's the value that I feel like I've created.'"
Bobby also stressed the importance of timing. If possible, he suggested bringing up the conversation after a successful project, a major accomplishment, or during a positive time for the company.
Another recommendation was to be specific. Instead of vaguely asking for a raise, Bobby suggested researching market compensation and having a clear number in mind.
Most importantly, he said to stick with facts instead of emotions.
"You've got to win it with evidence, not emotion," Bobby said.
Amy shared that she once found herself in a very similar situation. After a coworker left her company, she inherited many of that person's responsibilities but never received an increase in pay.
After putting together a list of everything she had taken over, Amy scheduled a meeting with her boss and presented her case.
To her surprise, her boss immediately agreed.
"He said, 'I'm so glad you brought this to my attention, because you absolutely should be making more,'" Amy recalled.
Amy said the experience taught her that managers aren't always aware of how much an employee's role has evolved, and sometimes they simply need someone to bring it to their attention.
Lunchbox pointed out that even if the answer is no, there's still value in having the conversation. Bobby agreed, adding that raising the issue can help a boss better understand an employee's contributions and be prepared when future salary decisions are made.
The conversation also turned to how prepared someone should be. Eddie wondered whether bringing notes into the meeting would look unprofessional. Bobby reassured him that it's perfectly acceptable to walk in with a notepad and talking points.
In fact, Bobby even suggested a simple framework listeners could use to start the discussion:
"I'd like to talk about my compensation. Since my last salary review, I've taken on additional responsibilities including..."
"I've also accomplished..."
"I think my contributions have grown significantly, and based on that, I'd like to discuss fair market compensation for this role."
At the end of the day, Bobby acknowledged that asking for a raise is uncomfortable for almost everyone. But if you believe your responsibilities and value have grown, he says the only way to find out what's possible is to have the conversation.
As Amy's story proved, sometimes the hardest part is simply asking.
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