asked for a bigger raise today...

[z1ggy]

You must be a retard or something. If you wait for the raise, it's already been determined, approved and signed-off by the higher-ups. There is a pre-determined percentage of money allocated for raises/bonuses and by the time you wait to find out, the money has already been allocated.

And you then expect your boss to go back to his bosses/HR/etc to fight for you and go thru the whole approval process again after he's already decided on what he's going to give you for a raise. Sounds like a winning move!

Some people here just don't get it... lol. Don't even bother with them man.

Here, the process of being evaluated through receiving a raise takes 5 months. Yeah good luck trying to go back to your boss to "negotiate" another raise amount...

 

[ultimatebob]

So wait, let me understand: You asked for a higher raise... before you knew the raise you are getting?

That just sounds fucking retarded and pompous. I would be sure to put you at the bottom of the list for being such a jackass to feel the need to mention your raise being low before receiving said low raise. How about you wait to RECEIVE A RAISE so you can TALK ABOUT the raise?

It was a good idea, actually. Once your boss has discussed the annual raises with management, it's really tough to get them to go back and reconsider if you feel that your raise was too small. The departmental budgets are set at that point, and it can take an act of God to change them depending on how business is going and how stubborn the bean counters are.

Odds are that he would have to wait another year to get the raise he thought the deserved if he waited to find out what that raise was.

 

[Tweak155]

I always voice when I need more money, but that's when I *need* more money to do the job I am doing. If you're happy with the pay and just want more money for the heck of it, then you're striving after the wind.

I've declined raises when they weren't large enough to retain me. I then tell them what it takes and that's what I get. The day they don't give me what it takes, I look elsewhere. I am not nervous at all and I tell them very plainly that X won't keep me around.

In return, I make a "verbal" agreement to stay there for at least a year.

 

[jayzds]

Buahaha. You're clearly a drone. When you actually make it (and not at a silly audit company), you are judged based on your value, not the hours you put in. Apparently you're under the impression that people have a high opinion of your field. They don't. And no, one need not work oneself to death to be well compensated. In fact, if you're having to work yourself to death to keep up, there are two options. Either you're not valued, and are being exploited and probably should seek a more equitable arrangement with a different organization, or you're incompetent and have to work yourself to death because you can't keep up. Which bucket do you fall in to? Frankly, whichever you are, I'd suggest you not pretend to others that what you do or working yourself to death is admirable.

You're in a crappy industry that takes advantage of all its workers (because the workers are a dime a dozen, and so it can). This is not something the rest of us aspire to. That you laud it makes me think you're a little brainwashed.

The industry is not bad/better if your not with the Big 4. They burn out accountants/CPA's all the time. Run right through them with such high demand and expectations. Many of the new people do it for the experience for their resume and then get another job at a smaller firm. I work in the industry as well with a small firm and only work 65 - 70 hours in tax season. Plus we get straight time OT so we are compensated for additional hours as well. The rest of the year I work 30-40 hours a week and love it.

I would not work at any large firm that requires 70 - 80 hours a week all year long. No business is worth that unless it is my own and for a short time. Family and life is much more valuable than work in the long run.

 

[doubledeluxe]

Asking doesn't hurt as long as you deserve more money and you aren't effectively blackmailing upper management or giving them ultimatums.

I don't see a problem here.

 

[Ferzerp]

The industry is not bad/better if your not with the Big 4. They burn out accountants/CPA's all the time. Run right through them with such high demand and expectations. Many of the new people do it for the experience for their resume and then get another job at a smaller firm. I work in the industry as well with a small firm and only work 65 - 70 hours in tax season. Plus we get straight time OT so we are compensated for additional hours as well. The rest of the year I work 30-40 hours a week and love it.

I would not work at any large firm that requires 70 - 80 hours a week all year long. No business is worth that unless it is my own and for a short time. Family and life is much more valuable than work in the long run.

See, you have a much more healthy attitude. I was just beyond amused at the guy who has been brainwashed to think that being well compensated requires one to sell one's entire existence. I was getting a real cult like vibe from that post. You know how people get sucked in to MLM schemes and they that "Us vs Them" mentality for anyone who doesn't drink the koolade? That's exactly the vibe I get from that other guy's post. The weird pseudo-cults that form for people to convince themselves that the situation isn't horrible and in fact great.

 

[manimal]

I think yo handled it great.

 

[Linux23]

Sup bitch? Raise!

 

[Jeff7]

Wow. You clearly don't know what it's like to work in the business world What do you do and how much do you make?

Think I have it bad working 50-60? Try the interns and initial hires that come in to do audits and tax returns during busy season. Their sad lives revolves around 80+ hours every single week.

Let me put it to you this way: Anyone working 40 hours in the Big 4 is getting canned... Or any top consulting company. Anyone here can confirm that for you.

That said, it's an annual raise, you know it's coming, they know it's coming. You didn't ask for a raise, because a raise is inevitable. It's the amount that is coming. Every year every company has a year end talk/review that discusses the amount of the raise. That is where you make your counter points to the amount you were expecting.

:\


Remember the unions and such when they fought for things like weekends, paid vacations, and 40hr workweeks?

How quickly it all begins to fade...



Here, taking a vacation (a short US-style vacation, not the "holiday" that a European worker can enjoy) is commonly perceived as a sign of laziness or a poor work ethic.


Even worse is if you're salaried at 40hrs and are expected to work far more than that every week.
"Haha! We can slice your hourly rate in half whenever we want to! You even agree to go along with it!"

 

[Linux23]

^ /this.

 

[Homerboy]

Good luck buddy!

 

[Sho'Nuff]

anyone else tried this before?

Yes - earlier this year. Worked out well. Helped that I was underpaid (relative to market) and I was/am the most profitable associate in my firm.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2376353&highlight=

 

[purbeast0]

:\


Remember the unions and such when they fought for things like weekends, paid vacations, and 40hr workweeks?

How quickly it all begins to fade...



Here, taking a vacation (a short US-style vacation, not the "holiday" that a European worker can enjoy) is commonly perceived as a sign of laziness or a poor work ethic.


Even worse is if you're salaried at 40hrs and are expected to work far more than that every week.
"Haha! We can slice your hourly rate in half whenever we want to! You even agree to go along with it!"

the only person to blame for this is yourself. only you can get out of it by doing something about it. most people just continue to do it and slave their life away.

 

[purbeast0]

Yes - earlier this year. Worked out well. Helped that I was underpaid (relative to market) and I was/am the most profitable associate in my firm.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2376353&highlight=

nice! yeah your situation is a bit different i think too.

i'll update this thread when i find out about my raise, which won't be until mid/late december.

 

[madoka]

anyone else tried this before?

Whenever I want a raise, I stand in front of a mirror and ask, "Madoka, do you want a raise this year?" Half the time I'll say yes, and then add another $20-$50 per hour that I charge clients.

 

[chimaxi83]

Whenever I want a raise, I stand in front of a mirror and ask, "Madoka, do you want a raise this year?" Half the time I'll say yes, and then add another $20-$50 per hour that I charge clients.

 

[purbeast0]

Whenever I want a raise, I stand in front of a mirror and ask, "Madoka, do you want a raise this year?" Half the time I'll say yes, and then add another $20-$50 per hour that I charge clients.

i actually am starting to do some freelancing on the side and my calculated rate based on an online calculator i found was significantly higher than i expected it to be, even with calculating in $0 overhead costs into the calculator. if i end up doing a lot of freelancing work on the side, i could see myself sliding into that role for good or starting up my own gig.

 

[madoka]

i actually am starting to do some freelancing on the side and my calculated rate based on an online calculator i found was significantly higher than i expected it to be, even with calculating in $0 overhead costs into the calculator. if i end up doing a lot of freelancing work on the side, i could see myself sliding into that role for good or starting up my own gig.

I like freelancing because it fits my lifestyle. Once you develop a client base, you can choose who you work with, when you work, where you work, and even if you work.

On the flip side, you may end up working quite a bit once you realize how true it is that your time = money. Then you start weighing how much it is costing you to spend time with friends, go to family events, etc.

 

[purbeast0]

so found out this morning that i will be finding out in the first week or so of next year about the raise. met with the head hancho today to discuss the annual xmas bonus and he told me that they are still working out the raises for people for next year, and that he is taking into consideration the talk i had with them (it was with another higher up, not the one i talked to today) and they are going to help me out if they can.

so not much of an update yet, but i also won't pull a syringer

 

[Smoblikat]

Raises? Bonus? Appreciation? Where the hell do you work?

 

[Linux23]

they should fire you for having the balls to ask for a cut into their piece of the pie.

 

[Blackjack200]

so not much of an update yet, but i also won't pull a syringer

Lol, that will never be forgotten!

 

[brianmanahan]

On the flip side, you may end up working quite a bit once you realize how true it is that your time = money. Then you start weighing how much it is costing you to spend time with friends, go to family events, etc.

this is why i am spending a lot of my free time building up passive income - stuff that just makes money regardless of what i am doing. adsense, youtube, etc. not making much really at this point (just a couple hundred $ per month), but it is increasing.

my goal is to continue to work on this passive stuff for the next 10-15 years and get it to the point where i could actually live on that income.

then i can quit working if i want, or do whatever i want.

 

[rh71]

and that if they can't do anything more than the usual, that i would be 100% happy and appreciate anything that i can get.

Managers have a budget bucket so by saying that he can give it to other people who need it more and not feel one bit guilty. You may be ok with that, but it certainly does not help your case. Shouldn't have said it. I've learned by experience that it's better to say only what needs to be said, nothing more.

I've also shot myself in the foot recently when I got a large increase (out of cycle and not resulting from performance) and in the excitement I said it's more in-line with what I expect as a salary (it really isn't). Meanwhile it wasn't part of an annual raise so I am concerned that all the work I've done throughout the past year won't earn me what I should be getting as part of an annual raise simply because I made that emotionally-charged statement. Instead of feeling good about the raise, now I feel stupid.

 

[purbeast0]

Managers have a budget bucket so by saying that he can give it to other people who need it more and not feel one bit guilty. You may be ok with that, but it certainly does not help your case. Shouldn't have said it. I've learned by experience that it's better to say only what needs to be said, nothing more.

yeah, well like i said, this company is very reasonable and different than any other company i've ever worked for or been around, so i don't have any problem being completely honest with them.

oh and the bonus included an extra 1% that they are contributing into our 401k which is nice on top of the normal bonus. and we also got a $100 amex giftcard that the ceo walks around and hands out to everyone which is cool (and this isn't the normal bonus, this is just a "gift" he gives everyone)