Are you someone who professionally cares for families? If so, you can be assured that you are pursuing a very worthwhile career. However, if you feel like you’ve been employed by the same family for some time and your experience and responsibilities are increasing but your salary is not, then it’s time to talk about getting a raise.
For many carers it can be a challenge to ask their employer for more money as the relationship is often very personal, sometimes it even feels like family. The following tips should help you find the right moment and the right tone for the salary discussion.
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1. The right time
Most companies use a personal interview once a year to talk to their employees, review their performance and their salary. Often the salary is adjusted based on this discussion. If you’ve been working as a babysitter, pet carer, elderly carer or as a housekeeper for a family for over a year, now might be a good time for a salary discussion. If you’ve never had a feedback interview with your employer, just ask. The overall review of your work is the perfect starting point for the salary negotiation.
In addition, imminent events or challenges are a suitable starting point for a salary discussion. If, for example, you take over the spring cleaning for the family or if there are more offspring in the house, these are good reasons for a wage increase.
2. The right framework
As you want to come across professionally, you should not ask for more money if you are in a pinch. After all, your seriousness in this matter also affects your employer. Suggest an appointment for the meeting so you can both take enough time to review the situation. It is best to arrange a meeting outside of your working hours, ideally in a neutral place. Children should not be there either.
3. The right approach
Working as a child carer, pet carer or elderly carer can be highly emotional. Nevertheless, you must remain professional. This means that you should not appeal to the emotionality of your employer by mentioning private reasons to ask for a higher salary. This could put the family in an awkward position, especially if their budget is insufficient to increase their wages.
Instead, bring a positive and confident attitude to the salary negotiation. Be worth the raise. First and foremost, you have to believe you are worth the raise yourself. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Why am I entitled to a salary increase?
- What positive result does the family/employer benefit from as a result of my actions?
- Do I have special skills or knowledge that would be of additional benefit to my employer?”
Gain confidence from the answers to these questions and you will find it easier to approach your employer.
4. The right amount
The most important thing in a talk about pay is knowing the average hourly pay for your job in your area. With this information you can find out if you are on par with the carers in your area and have a good reason to negotiate. Use Care.com’s wage calculator for babysitters, pet carers and housekeepers to find the average salary in your area, or check your industry’s web pages for the common rates for your work.
When you ask for a raise, you should also be aware of the appropriate increase. There are no exact specifications for wage increases, they depend on the individual case. If you are really confident in your abilities, then 20 percent would be a fitting benchmark to start the negotiations. This will give your employer room to negotiate with you and you can, hopefully, end up somewhere around 10 percent.
5. The right reaction
It is important to go in prepared for any reaction and not to have an outburst if the negotiation is not going your way. Reacting with anger can quickly lead to longer-term upsets, such as the termination of employment. If your employer is resisting in the negotiations, ask them questions to help you understand why. Questions you can ask them include:
- Is your employer dissatisfied with your services?
- Is there something you can do to improve?
- Are there other circumstances unrelated to you, such as financial difficulties?
But, perhaps the most revealing questions is what are their requirements for a salary increase? With this information you find a goal that you can work towards. Based on these requirements, your employer may be willing to find an agreement with you to which a salary increase can be linked.
Conversations about money are uncomfortable for just about everyone. Revealing your salary-raising arguments and waiting for your employer’s response is a good place to start. If everything works out, that is great for you. If your request is denied, ask what you could do to get a raise. Maybe you can decide together to revisit the topic a few months down the road. However, if you are not being paid as you deserve and your employer isn’t willing to negotiate, then it may be time to look for a new job.