Business Week columnist, Jonathan Segal, wrote an article recently called “Ten Things Not to Say When Firing an Employee” in which he tries to give good advice, in typical HR fashion of over-reducing risk, in how you should speak, or not speak, to an individual regarding their near termination. As you can imagine, there were the classics:
- “This was a job elimination and nothing to do with your performance”
- “We have no choice but to terminate your employment”
- “This is just as hard for me as it is for you.”
- “I know exactly how you feel.”
Among a few others, including the most recent classic of firing people over email – which is just brilliant, for those HR Pros who struggle with conflict, Segal nailed pretty much all the normal things we would tell hiring managers not to do or say. The question then really comes down to thanks for the info, now what should I be saying to someone when I fire them? The article probably would have been better served here – but that would have been difficult and thought provoking – and taken more than 13 minutes to write.
The piece did get me to thinking about certain conversations in our work lives that cost people the most anxiety – besides the above example of having to terminate someone – having to go in and ask for money was, on my list, the next most anxious work conversation I could come up with. I can think of many times that I wanted more money, thought I was deserving through results to get more money, and heck even our good old Comp people said the market should be paying me more money – and still – it is a difficult conversation to have with your superior (at least for me).
Like many, I think I do a good job, give my best effort, produce great results – and after all that, do I really need to ask? Shouldn’t my boss get it and just want to write me a blank check – I mean really!
So, here are the lines that you would like to say when asking for more money – but probably shouldn’t – if you really want more money:
1. “If you pay 10% more, I will really put in some extra effort!” - So what you’re saying is you’re not putting in extra effort now…
2. “I looked in our HRIS system and I know Sheila on the 5th floor is making $5000 more than I am – and she’s an idiot!” - Not the best strategy to look at others’ private comp information, even if you have access, then call them an idiot – at least in my experience…
3. “If you don’t pay me more money, I’ll be forced to find another job that will pay me what I worth” - Be careful, I’ve tried this one, and they might call your bluff!
4. “I’ve done the math and if you fire Mike, I can do his job and mine, you save $50K, after giving me $25K of his $75K salary” - This actually might be a really good idea, But Mike might be the last one standing with the $25K raise, not you!
5. “I really don’t understand how you can be worth $50K more than me, I do all your work – and deserve more money” - Bosses just love to hear they are overpaid, don’t do anything, and you can do their job – NOT!
6. “I saved the company $1 million in reducing recruiting fees, by implementing a social media strategy successfully, I should at least get a fraction of those savings” – Why, yes you should – if you were in sales, but you’re in HR, and this was part of your job description. Sorry for the wake up call – all employees aren’t treated equally – put on a helmet.
7. “I know times are tough, so I was thinking instead of more money you could give me an extra weeks vacation or pay for my health insurance or something else like that.” - Okay, Einstein, stop thinking – it’s all money. Vacation, health insurance, paid parking, lunch money – it all hits the bottom line on the income statement. You just showed how expendable you really are.
I’ve learned over the years, through trial and error – okay, mostly error – that many, if not all, of the above statements just don’t seem to have the impact that I was hoping for with my supervisor. I have seen others, who I will not name, who performed well, gave it their all, were dedicated to doing their best for themselves, their co-workers and the company, and showed a little patience who actually did very well in both the raise and promotion category. Supervisors are as uncomfortable as you are to have the compensation conversation – mainly, because if you are as good as you profess to be – then they really do want to give you more – but probably can’t due to budget, economy, they like your co-worker even more, etc.
As Yoda would say – Patience my young Padowan…
“The question then really comes down to thanks for the info, now what should I be saying to someone when I fire them ? The article probably would have been better served here – but that would have been difficult and thought provoking – and taken more than 13 minutes to write.”
So lets hear some suggestions on what’s been effective in getting a bump during these tough economic times.
Right back atcha
Steve!
I clearly take less than 13 min. to write my stuff, but here’s how I would approach getting a raise in hard times…
1. Go in knowing what valued you’ve added, and be able to quantify it in dollars, or don’t come to the table.
2. Only come to the table if you know you’re an A player, if you’re going to ask for more.
3. Be clear in what you’ve done for the organization beyond your normal JD.
4. Ask for an amount that you know the organization can afford, and will allow your supervisor to save face when having to justify why you should be given more when others won’t get.
5. Give your supervisor every piece of ammunition they will need to fight for your raise.
In lean times organizations will still give raises, but most times managers are forced to compete for limited resources, against fellow managers in other departments. The managers who comes most prepared, with good data, usually ends up getting the most for their people. It might be less about if you deserve it, and more about can you prove you deserve it.
At least that’s what I would say in under 13 minutes!
Thanks for reading…
Interesting post and good advice. Number 3 is especially interesting to me, but not in the exact way it was phrased. Obviously, the job market is not ideal at this point in time, but what about the tactic of procuring a job offer from another company to force your current company to give you a raise to keep you?
I’m currently in a situation where I’d like to stay at my current company for a few more years at least, but I’m not moving up as quickly as I thought I would when I joined. I was on track for a promotion within a set timeframe, but that timeframe was extended indefinitely due solely to economic issues. Things are looking a bit better now, and my manager has submitted a request for my promotion a second time, but from my understanding, nothing has been approved.
I know that I’m a valuable member of my team and of the company as a whole based on my contributions and reviews with my manager, but I feel stuck. I’m not ready to move on from this job but I am ready to move up. I’m considering going on some job interviews simply to gain a job offer, which I can use as a bargaining chip at my current job. These job interviews would be for positions that I would be willing to move to if my current employer refused to budge, but my primary goal is to continue at my current company.
What are the pros and cons of this tactic? I know patience is important, but how much is too much patience? Because the new fiscal year starts in January, I am planning to at least wait until after Q2 2010 to seriously pursue this avenue if nothing happens. What are the general attitudes, especially in management, of an employee doing something like this? Even if it works, are there are any common negative after-effects? Or is this simply something that is often done to push peoples’ careers and salaries forward?
Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!
Brian -
Good Question – from a personal standpoint I believe using another companies offer to get yourself more money at your current job that you like – can be very dangerous. A couple of things can happen: on the good side you can go to your boss and tell him/her that you really want to stay with the company, but you have another offer for more money, but would be willing to stay if they match. They match – your happy.
On the negative side, same situation: You go to your boss, and they say sorry we can’t match – have a nice life. Or match, but now feel a little disconnected because you went outside instead of letting them take care of you, etc. It’s probably a 50/50 proposition, and when I make career choices I don’t like even odds – I want a sure thing.
My suggestion, if you really like your current situation, but just need more money, would be to keep having those direct conversations with your boss and be patient. In my experience, if someone reporting to me went outside, looked for a job, then interviewed (sometimes multiple times) and came to me to match the offer – I let them walk.
Thanks for the question.
Having been in the situation above several times, being patient can be as detrimental as not asking for a raise at all.
For most organizations it all boils down to the balance sheet at the end of the fiscal year. If your organization can keep you doing the great job you have been doing at the same salary they will.
It’s maximizing their return on investment. You should do the same.
The tack that has been successful for me in past has been:
1) Finding an employment agency and getting an idea of the market rate for your role
2) Finding a job and go for the interview etc.
3) Get a job offer
4) Taking the job offer to your boss and asking for a match (remuneration & role).
If they agree – Great! You’ve shown that your pragmatic and will demand career advancement.
If they decline – Accept the role you applied for with the other organization.
If your current employer isn’t going to match an offer now (when you hold the cards) they likely never will.
Finally if you left then your employer would have to go through the same steps as above, finding the market rate, advertising the role etc, this is costly & time consuming. The person they hire to fill your role, would also likely be paid more than you!