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Is it ok to joke with your boss about your salary?

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puffff

Platinum Member
A couple weeks ago, I ran into my boss coming out of the cafeteria. I'd only gotten something small for lunch, mostly because money is tight.

He saw my small portions and said, jokingly, 'That's all you're eating? That would just make me more hungry.'

A part of me wanted to say something like 'Well, this is all I can afford right now" but instead I made up some story about eating small lunches and big dinners. He has direct control over how much I make, and has all but guaranteed a promotion and raise at the end of this year. Question is, would it have been inappropriate hint at my belief that I'm underpaid?
 
I personally haven't, but a buddy of mine joked to his boss once saying "I'm going to Costco for lunch since that's all I can afford on the salary you pay me!" :laugh:
 
I don't think little comments like that would come off too well but I guess it depends on how tight you are with your boss.
 
Sure. My boss told me it looked like it was time for a new pair of sandals, so I told him it was time for a $100 a year raise to pay for them.
 
i joke about that kind of stuff with my manager all the time, i also called him a fat ass chunky monkey ronnie buttswanie. needless to say, he is pretty laid back.
 
I tell my boss (owner of the Co.) all the time that I'm overpaid!
He never agrees with me though.
(I'm on salary & I put in a ton of hours, but honestly, I would work for him for half of what he pays me!)
 
You should have said....

"Whenever that promotion comes through, I'll be able to eat more. But right now my dying grandmother and paraplegic cat are cutting into my food budget." Then look down at the ground in depression and walk away.
 
Originally posted by: toolboxolio
You should have said....

"Whenever that promotion comes through, I'll be able to eat more. But right now my dying grandmother and paraplegic cat are cutting into my food budget." Then look down at the ground in depression and walk away.
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lol
 
Originally posted by: jupiter57
I tell my boss (owner of the Co.) all the time that I'm overpaid!
He never agrees with me though.
(I'm on salary & I put in a ton of hours, but honestly, I would work for him for half of what he pays me!)
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seriously? If you don't mind me asking what does he pay you vs what would you work for and be content with? Just seems like a real oddity 😵

I don't really know people who would seriously consider working for half of what they get paid (though I know some know they are overpaid bastards)


edit : ahh yea, I should contribute. I don't think I'd make fun of my salary (mainly cause I'm the relatively new guy and the youngest at the company with probably the least amount of financial obligations save student loans) but I do joke with my boss. I guess I could get away with it, but I don't.
 
Originally posted by: JohnAn2112
I personally haven't, but a buddy of mine joked to his boss once saying "I'm going to Costco for lunch since that's all I can afford on the salary you pay me!" :laugh:
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i can one-up him. i actually TOOK my boss to lunch at Costco!
 
Both me and my wife have achieved rather large raises (10-20%) totally based off joking comments that we aren't making enough money when talking to the powers that be.

If you want more, you gotta go after it, even with subtle subliminal cues like jokes
 
Originally posted by: bctbct
I would'nt. Dont be afraid to ask for your raise earlier, sell yourself not your need for money.
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Yeah, a man talk with him is better than making jokes
 
Haha. I've got two jobs right now to keep myself afloat.

Job 1: Assistant Manager at a pizza place. Not a bad job. Owner/Manager is the bomb. We talk all the time about either the business or random stuff like his car (supped up STi) and my crapbucket. I don't even need to ask for a raise. Just a while ago he bumped my pay by a dollar without even saying anything. And he gives me $40 bonuses just for showing up sometimes. =D. But I wouldn't be afraid to ask for one if I hadn't just gotten one. I was going to ask for $0.50 anyways soon but now I don't need to.

Job 2: I'm my own boss, so I can't ask for a raise. Doh!
 
The probem I see with joking about it is that if he doesnt want to address the raise he will blow it off as you arent serious or he will see it as a weakness and not respect you're request.

Talk directly to him looking into his eyes will leave the impression that you are confident enough to move on if he doesnt give hard thought to it.

Jokes with bosses should be reserved to conversations about sleeping with his wife....again 🙂
 
Originally posted by: LordSnailz
Depends on your relationship w/ your boss ... some you can, some you can't. 🙂
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Agreed. Over the years I've had some bosses with whom I could comfortable joke around with on the subject of salary, and I've had others with whom I best stick to other topics. Fortunately, for the last 10+ years, they have all been pretty fair, and really that's all I ask for.


Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Yup. I joke about it all the time but (most) of my bosses are cool.
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Gonna have to be careful in the future though. Otherwise they will probably make you do too many push ups and run a lot. Then again, that might already be in store for yah. 🙂

Once you get out of basic, are you going to walk around saying "It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of gum?"
 
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