Salary
How can someone convince her boss she deserves more money, without revealing that she knows she’s being underpaid? Three steps:
The 2012 Salary Guide from Robert Half International shows that overall starting salaries for administrative professionals are expected to rise 3.4% this year. Among the biggest gains: Senior executive assistants can expect a starting salary between $44,250 and $60,000—a gain of 4.5%.
One admin wrote: “Our company just reorganized and changed our job titles from administrative assistant to ‘office assistant.’ None of the job functions changed. I feel demoted. Should we go to our manager and speak to him about our displeasure or just be quiet and not say a thing?”
Think carefully about taking on increased responsibilities if a raise isn’t in the offing, advises Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. Consider requesting a compensation review in six months or discussing other perks. Hosking identifies five beyond-pay incentives:
If you suspect you’re underpaid, the topic is worth broaching with your boss. But build your case first. Five guidelines: 1. Check online salary calculators. 2. Leave co-workers out of it. 3. Realize need isn’t a credible reason for a raise. 4. Quantify your worth. 5. Seek creative solutions.
Before you go to court with a claim that you’ve been shortchanged on payment for overtime hours, you’ll first have to prove how many hours you actually worked. Proving it just got easier, though, thanks to a powerful new Timesheet app for smartphones from the DOL.
Adecco’s 2011 Workplace Outlook Study asked men and women whether they thought they’d receive a raise, bonus or promotion in the coming year. More than 40% of men said they thought they would receive a raise. But only 29% of women did. What accounts for the difference?
Employee loyalty is at a three-year low, but many employers are precariously unaware of the morale meltdown, according to the 9th annual Study of Employee Benefits Trend.
While many people gripe about their jobs from time to time, few are converting words into action. When it comes to hunting for a better position elsewhere, most of us don’t bother, according to a survey by Accenture.
Question: “I used to have the same salary as my male co-worker ‘Chuck,’ but I recently learned that he now makes more than I do. I have more work experience, but he gets more face time with our manager. Our boss is frequently in Chuck’s office discussing ordinary issues that everyone encounters. He seems to be her pet. In my area, I try to handle problems myself so as not to trouble her with them. Since we have exactly the same duties, I believe Chuck has been given more money simply because he’s a man. I love my job and don’t want to leave, but I feel this is wrong. What do you think is going on?” —Sherry
Question: “I decided to apply for a management job. I expected to receive the same salary as my friend, who has a similar position with another team. When I got the promotion, my new boss didn’t say how much my raise would be. It turns out that I not only make less than my friend, but I also work about 50% more hours. I want to transfer to a different department, but I am not sure how to go about it.”
If you’ve made it this far into the worst economy in decades without experiencing a layoff, chances are you’re out of the woods. Most economists agree that while businesses won’t be hiring much this year, they also won’t be firing much. Could this be the time to ask for a raise?
Base pay for administrative professionals across the United States is expected to remain consistent with 2010 levels, according to the OfficeTeam Salary Guide 2011. The average increase in starting salaries for all positions is 1.1%, with slightly larger gains forecast in customer service and health care.
