So Your Boss Refused to Give You a Raise

Unearth possible barriers and pressures that led to your supervisor’s denial. For example, you may be at the top of the salary band, or the organisation is experiencing hard times. In a non-defensive ton, get more details with open-ended questions:

• What’s contributing to your decision?
• How are compensation and performance evaluated?
• What could I be doing more of?

More information can help guide your decision to stay and advocate for yourself or create an exit plan.

Consider negotiating for:

• Flex time or a work-from-home arrangement
• Stock options
• A title change
• More vacation time
• Professional development funds
• Funds to upgrade your home office

If you’ve been denied a raise, use the opportunity to your advantage.

For example, schedule a follow-up meeting and explain that you want to position yourself for a pay increase. Then engage your boss about what you can do to get there.

Highlighting your achievements is vital to building a case for a pay raise.

Find ways to publicize your successes and impact, such as offering to present a case study in a meeting with important executives or speaking at a conference or on a podcast.

Your boss may be one of several stakeholders contributing to decisions about your career path and whether you get a raise.

Consider requesting a meeting with your manager’s manager to make them aware of your work and contributions. Build relationships with other key stakeholders to have more allies championing your advancement.