Should You Ask For A Raise During The Covid-19 Pandemic?

Do some homework before asking

This is one of the many questions that employees may have asked themselves during the pandemic at one point or another. Notwithstanding the usual factors that would normally qualify someone for a raise, this is certainly a legitimate question to ask given that many people have been working harder and longer. While the range of situations that people are experiencing may vary, and while each individual can ultimately only decide for themselves, there are factors they can consider to help bring some clarity to what might otherwise be a murky thought process. 

Do Some Homework Before Asking

Before asking for a raise, or when trying to figure out if it’s a good time to ask or not, take some time to think through a number of issues. Try to get a feel for the current financial situation of the company you work for. Unless you’re the CFO, there’s no way you’re going to know everything in detail but it may be possible to glean a general sense of the company’s financial health through certain clues. Did your company have to receive a paycheck protection program (PPP) loan, for instance? Have they taken measures to trim costs? Has leadership taken any pay cuts? 

You can also do some honest self-evaluation about how deserving of a raise you may be at this point in time, which is something to always do before asking for a raise anyway, not just during the pandemic. Do you feel that you carried out the duties of your job well over the past year? Has enough time passed since your last raise? What are you currently paid compared to what others with comparable experience in your field get paid? Are you paid comparably compared to others within your organization?

Be sure to also think through the implications of a flat-out “no” answer as it will require you to decide if you’re okay with that or if you’re going to start looking for another job. Remember that depending on your industry, looking for a new job during a pandemic, or even just in general, may not be a straightforward affair. For instance, based on the bleak job market in academics at present, looking for another job for me may mean having to change industries entirely, and I would have to think about whether that’s something I want to do right now or not. 

Depending on your own answers to these kinds of questions, deciding to not ask for a raise right now is a perfectly legitimate, and possibly even a wise, conclusion to reach. As a general rule human beings do not like uncertainty, but they struggle with it even more during times of crisis. Grappling with whether to ask for a raise or not, and what to do if the employer’s response is negative, is adding an additional layer of uncertainty to an already fraught situation. Realizing that you may prefer not to introduce more uncertainty in your life right now doesn’t mean you’re undervaluing yourself or being too timid. It means you are being self-aware and pragmatic with regards to your mental and emotional well-being. 

The Best Ways to Ask for a Raise

Let’s say that you have done your homework and introspection and you’ve concluded that you do indeed deserve a raise, and as far as you can tell your employer seems to be in a position to offer it. What, then, would be the best way to ask?

Undoubtedly, the best way to ask right now would be to do so in a way that recognizes the intrinsically sensitive nature of the timing. The pandemic isn’t your fault but it isn’t your employer’s fault either, and it’s best to begin by verbally acknowledging that this is a challenging time for everyone. It’s a good idea to do this even if you think your company is actually doing relatively well, and it will go a long way towards ensuring that the conversation is a positive one.

Another thing to consider is raising the issue as an open-ended question for discussion rather than a direct request for a raise. For example, you could say something like, “I know this is a challenging time for us all, but I was recently reviewing my accomplishments over the past year and realized that it’s been a while since I’ve received a raise. Would you be open to a conversation about this?”  

How to Respond to Your Employer’s Response

After a conversation like this, you’ll most likely get one of four possible responses or some combination thereof: (1) Yes, (2) No, but we can offer you something else, (3) No, but let’s revisit this topic later, or (4) No.

Of course, how you respond will depend on the answer your employer gives. If it’s #1, congratulations! Simply keep doing the great job you’re doing. 

If the answer is #2, you can then discuss what your employer can offer you such as flexible hours, more PTO, or perhaps the option to work from home on certain days. You can also suggest revisiting the topic of a raise further down the road in addition to whatever your employer offers you.

If the answer is #3, agree to revisit the topic later and ask if they’d be willing to offer something else for the time being. For both #2 and #3, it may be a good idea to agree in advance on a concrete date or at least a general time period for when to resume the discussion of a raise. It might also be prudent to have this conversation documented in writing.

Even if the answer is #4, ask the same follow-up questions you’d ask for #2 and #3. Would they be willing to offer something else for now? Can the topic be revisited later? Ideally, a “no” answer is a scenario you’ve already considered during the pre-asking introspection period. If you don’t like your employer’s answer(s), only you can decide if looking for another job would be in your best interests or if sticking around for now would be your best bet. Regardless of what you intend to do, it’s best to keep the discussion cordial, thank your employer for their time, and then consider your next step in private.

It’s unfortunate that the pandemic has had to make the normally straightforward process of asking for a raise more complicated. But it doesn’t have to be unduly stressful. By doing the necessary introspection beforehand, and by having the conversation with your employer in a way that demonstrates your thoughtfulness and consideration for their position, you will have done everything you can on your end to ensure a positive exchange. The rest will be up to your employer, how they respond, and what you choose to do from there.