Assignment:
EXERCISE: Negotiate a Pay Raise
In this exercise you will negotiate a pay raise with a partner.
Role for Employee:
Imagine that you have been working as a consultant for two years and have not received a pay raise despite being one of your work group's best performers. The organization has frozen salaries over this time due to a weak economic environment, but recently business has picked up and you've heard rumors of some employees in other departments getting raises again. You currently make $60,000, but if raises hadn't been frozen you figure you would be earning at least $70,000 by now.
You feel that you might need to look for other jobs if your pay doesn't increase soon. You believe you could get at least $68,000 at another company, plus future raises that are still frozen at your current employer. You decide to approach your supervisor to ask for a raise. Call your partner by his/her real name, and do your best to persuade him or her to give you a raise.
Role for Supervisor:
Your organization has survived a tough two years. As consultants, your business suffers the ups and down of the economy. Fortunately, the pay freeze your company established two years ago helped save enough money that layoffs were avoided. Although the organization has seen an increase in business lately, management is not convinced that a recovery is sustainable and has asked supervisors like you to remain frugal to help prevent future layoffs if the downturn continues.
An employee is about to approach you to ask for a raise. This employee is currently making $60,000, which is the average for the employee's work group. Like the rest of your employees, this employee has not received a pay raise for two years. This person is one of your best performers.
You do have some discretion over your subordinates' salaries, and have heard of other managers giving modest increases to top performers with other job offers. All of your team members are performing well, and you would hate to have to let any of them go. Hear the employee out, and use his/her real name.