Q. I keep hearing and seeing salary surveys that say I should be making about $10,000 to $20,000 more than I am currently making, but I find it very hard to compare when you take in all the factors of cost of living, profit sharing, medical benefits, and working environment. Is the grass greener elsewhere?A. Companies normally focus on the total rewards package they deliver to employees rather than on base pay alone. Total rewards include compensation, benefits, and work/life balance programs such as flex time and telecommuting.The average merit budget for most companies hovers around 4 percen... view article details

With sites like Salary.com employees have access to the equivalent of a Kelley Blue Book for jobs. The availability of online compensation information has leveled the playing field between employer and employee when it comes to negotiation and job offers. Employers who are confident in their pay practices should welcome these new data sources, as they provide external validation that their compensation is competitive with the market.Before there was online salary data for everyone, disappointments and disconnects like these were common.* The irrelevant request. Employee: I need 10 percent more... view article details

Everyone wants a raise. Everyone thinks they deserve a raise. But no one wants to ask for a raise. One can hardly blame people for being hesitant – asking for more money is no easy task. Essentially you’re asking your boss if he/she thinks you’re worth investing more money in, and no one wants to deal with feelings of rejection of worthlessness should the answer be no. But the fact remains, even some who deserve a raise don’t get it. And why is that? Because too many people don’t ask themselves if it’s the right time to ask for a raise. Here are six signs it is a good time to ask for a raise... view article details

Q: I just had my performance review about a week ago, and I was rewarded with a pay increase of 4.75 percent, which seems minimal at best. According to my calculations, this increase does not even cover the cost of living. Is it a common practice for large companies to "reward" employees with such a negligible raise? If not, how could I learn what the median raise is for companies in my area? A: Most companies have a merit budget that dictates the amount of money they give employees when it comes time to deliver annual merit increases. The average merit increase in 2000 hovered around 4 perce... view article details

Be An Essential Part of Your Company's Plans As companies downsize and jobs are lost, many people wonder why they're let go while other employees remain with the company. Although there are always many factors to consider -- political, economic, etc. -- it often comes down to being considered indispensable.Having worked at several companies that have downsized in the past, I've learned these seven things that can help ensure your company is happy with your performance and holds onto you at all costs.Be EXTRAordinary Do at least one thing every day that someone didn't ask you ... view article details

Q: At work, two departments have two separate requirements. One requires a four-year bachelor's degree with a lower starting salary than the other, which requires only a two-year associate's degree. Is this appropriate?A: I know of no legal precedent requiring employers to pay someone with a bachelor's degree more than someone with an associate's degree. If your company has a compensation strategy that pays its employees based on competence and skill sets, it is possible that someone with an associate's degree would get paid more than an employee with a bachelor's degree.I can't say whether it... view article details

Q. Would you discuss the risks of promoting a deserving employee (title change) but not increasing salary due to current economic conditions?A. A promotion is when an employee is moved into a job with greater scope and responsibility than his or her current job. Promotions in and of themselves do not mean a monetary increase in salary. But in general, companies adjust salaries with promotions when the monetary value of the new job is higher than the value of the job the incumbent currently holds.It is understandable that a company might not be able to afford to offer an employee more money in ... view article details

Q: Dear Heather,I am an African-American female who is working for a company who only seems to want to mentor and promote Caucasian people (especially Caucasian females). After putting in maximum effort for this company and even recreating their company newsletter they previously let fall to the ground, they continued to promote one white person after the other, some with high qualifications and others with only previous fast food experience.All of us African-Americans slowly deflated and realized this company did not want anyone with my ethnic background in leadership. We watched while one Af... view article details

Working in the airline industry can take you places. Even from an elevation of only 110 feet -- the official above sea level height of the city of Everett – which is the site of The Boeing Company’s commercial airplane plant on Washington state's northernmost coast. The career path of Bridget Beckmyer-Johnson provides clear evidence of the 'sky’s the limit' type of opportunities available to the dedicated employee. Her passion for people and learning has transported her from an entry-level position as an airplane “sealer” all the way to management during her 15-year tenure at the plant.Between... view article details

Q: What is the typical increase a person should get (or should look for) when changing jobs? I'm in the information technology field.A: There is no rule of thumb for determining a percentage increase for a new job, because the value of someone's skills relates to how that person compares with the market as a whole. You probably won't want to change jobs unless you feel you will be better off in the new situations.Before you settle on your new salary expectations, understand the job responsibilities at the new employer, and then benchmark those responsibilities against a job in the Salary Wizar... view article details