May's Challenge:"How do you ask for a raise when you have worked for your employers for years? Is a tough situation to find yourself in. There are many variables that fit into a equation, that must be consider. They are:

1. What type of job do you have?
2. How many employees currently work for the company?
3. What type of business do you work for?
4. Is the Business a "Mom & Pop" shop?
5. Do you receive paid vacations?
6. Are you currently receiving back pay from leftover vacations, personal or sick days?
7. Do you have health benefits?
   
8. Does your employer paid a portion of those health benefits?
9. Do you have paid sick days?
10. Are you a hourly or salary employee?
11. Is your company affiliated with a Union?
12. Do you receive bonuses from your employer?
13. How many work days have you missed the past year?
14. How many personal calls do you receive in a day?
15. How many paid work breaks do you receive in a day?
16. Are you full-time or part-time?
17. What have your last two employee evaluations been like?
18. Did you improve what they asked you to work on concerning your job performance?
19. Do you make suggestions to the manager or owner to improve work productively and work-flow.
20. Are you a clock watcher?
21. Do you arrive to work before and on time?
22. Do you have an employee discount?
23. Just how long have you worked there?
24. When did you receive your last pay raise?
25. What extra things do you do for the company they might not know about?
26. Do you use your work time wisely?
27. What is your reason for not getting a pay increase sooner?
28. How you told anyone else that you're about to ask for a pay increase?
29. What pay increase percentage is acceptable to you?
30. Have you prepared yourself if your request is rejected?

Asking your employer sometimes creates a tense situation between the employer and yourself. Be prepared for whatever is thrown your way. Many people find out an employers true opinion of their work performance, when asking this question.

Be prepared:

1. Have your ducks in a row. Make sure you know how many days of work you've missed in the past year.
2. Be prepared to be disappointed. Generally employers do not like employees dictating wage contracts. Money always makes people nervous.
3. Politely give them time to consider. Do not re-ask the question. If it appears to you that they may have forgotten, your wrong. It is their way of telling you they can't afford it right now.
4. Be aware of production. Are sales up? Is the boss driving a new BMW?
   
5. Remember you're replaceable. Everyone is replaceable. Instead of asking for a pay increase, you might have just given your notice instead.

Most importantly rely on your gut feeling. Asking for a pay increase, during this economic recession is not a good idea. Especially if you are one of the lucky ones with health care benefits, 401k plan, paid vacation and sick leave. Over 3 million people are out of work. I highly suggest you wait till the recession breaks if the business you work for is considered a small business company. Make sure you are aware of what's going on in the background of your boss's schedule. What I mean by this is;

• Have you worked at your job for over 10+ years?
• Can your employer hire someone younger for a lot less money?
• Are you close to retirement?

In the background of most employers minds, those questions are lurking somewhere in there. I wish all you lots of luck!