Buzz
Since the start of the coronavirus lockdown, those of us fortunate enough to keep our jobs have been dedicating considerable time and effort to our work. We've embraced new skills, such as mastering Zoom meetings, while simultaneously assisting our companies in staying productive amidst heightened uncertainty and stress.
Is now the right moment to request a raise from your boss? Is it even appropriate to do so in the middle of a pandemic?
This question becomes particularly relevant if you missed your annual performance review due to the lockdown. If a salary discussion with your supervisor was supposed to happen but never took place, you may find yourself wondering how to initiate the conversation now.
I reached out to Alison Green from Ask a Manager to get her take on whether it’s the right moment to ask for a raise, and she confirmed what many of us have already sensed: It’s not.
“I’d say that, at the moment, in most sectors, there’s so much uncertainty and concern that it’s not the best time for most people to be asking for a raise,” Green shared. “Employers are figuring out how to retain staff, where cuts may be needed, and what their finances will look like in the coming months. There’s a significant risk of appearing tone-deaf to that context.”
Green did present one exception. If your employer has largely avoided the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout, and if your company is not making cuts or facing financial instability, it might be acceptable to bring up salary increases. Some industries are thriving right now, and employees in those fields may have taken on more responsibilities, which could make it, potentially, maybe a good time to ask for a raise.
However, it may still be wise to wait just a little longer—because, as Green points out, you likely won’t have to wait indefinitely. “This doesn’t mean we’re entering a long period where raises are off-limits,” Green clarified. “It’s really just about the current time, while we’re still in the midst of so much uncertainty.”
My recommendation? Mark a reminder on your calendar to revisit the idea of asking for a raise later this year. If you’re aware of when your company sets its annual budget, try to time your request so that it occurs before the budget is finalized. If you have a performance review scheduled, that’s an ideal time to bring it up. If you missed your review, ask your manager when (or if) they’d like to reschedule it; this will give you valuable insight into where your employer’s priorities lie.
Keep up with what you’re already doing—getting your tasks done, sticking to deadlines, staying in touch with your team, and embodying the kind of employee who merits the raise you’re about to request.
