Getting a Raise

[Guest]

I was wondering how you have asked for a raise from your employer before?

[HotelSecurity]

The owner of my hotels has a reputation of being very cautious with his money. The hotel business in January in Montreal is dead. Sometimes below 25% occupancy. We had a major ice storm a few years ago. Parts of the city were without electricity for weeks in the middle of the winter. Our downtown hotel was on the same power line as the head office of Hydro Québec & therefore we never lost power. The hotel was full, 100% for days on end. One night I saw the owner in the lobby watching all the people with a big smile on his face. I went to him & said "Mr. R, would now be a good time to ask for a raise?" With a bigger smile he pointed to the elevators, said "get in & push the up button!"

[FDG06]

Semper Fi Mayor!
2 approaches, that worked for me in the past.

#1 - Direct..example: "boss, I love working here, I've single handedly saved 6 nuns, 4 school kids, stopped a run away tractor trailer, defused the small yeild nuke device left on the bench out front here & havent taken a sick day in the last 35 yrs, do you think we could discuss an increase in my take home pay?"

#2 - Semi-Direct - " Boss, did you hear 'Pimp Me A Guard' got the contract for the new FEMA building downtown & is hiring for supervisors at $21. hr..man I really have been considering moving up the ladder here, or..somewhere that I can make more $$, the wife, my 18 kids & I, are sort of struggling at $4.50 hr.."

Eitherway, dont be shy about it, you'll never know if you dont ask.
Yoda

[Jackhole]

You just started there, relax. Not to mention the fact that you were fired from your last job, I'd say you're lucky they even gave you a job in the first place - regardless of the wage.

[Jackhole]

Semper Fi Mayor!

HAHAHA!!! That idiot was never in the Marines!

[Mr. Security]

Getting a raise is tricky with contract security because it reduces the profit margin between what the client is paying for the guard and what the guard is being paid.

I've found that when the client contact is exceptionally pleased with his/her security officers, they will ask the security company to give the officers a raise so that the same officers w/ their good service remain at the site.

Merit raises are another option. If you are recognized for performance, then that's a good time to ask.

[Guest]

HAHAHA!!! That idiot was never in the Marines!

Even an idiot would not join the marines.

[N. A. Corbier]

Getting a raise is tricky with contract security because it reduces the profit margin between what the client is paying for the guard and what the guard is being paid.

I've found that when the client contact is exceptionally pleased with his/her security officers, they will ask the security company to give the officers a raise so that the same officers w/ their good service remain at the site.

Merit raises are another option. If you are recognized for performance, then that's a good time to ask.

Some companies try to build raises in at 1 or 2 year intervals over the life of a 5 year contract. Unless the client cares about raises, they will be underbid by a guard service company that bids 3 guards at minimum wage.

For a client to "suggest" a raise, they usually must be able to take the increase in man hour cost, because the company may not actually give that increase unless the client pays for it. "Well, that's nice and all, but we are responsible for our employee pay, and we feel that we have a competitive wage for your site as is."

That's not grounds to terminate a contract, unless the guards are performing badly and there is enough evidence for material breach. They could terminate, take the termination fee and lump sum of remaining payments, and hire a company that pays their guards more, but... why?

[Mr. Security]

Some companies try to build raises in at 1 or 2 year intervals over the life of a 5 year contract. Unless the client cares about raises, they will be underbid by a guard service company that bids 3 guards at minimum wage.

For a client to "suggest" a raise, they usually must be able to take the increase in man hour cost, because the company may not actually give that increase unless the client pays for it. "Well, that's nice and all, but we are responsible for our employee pay, and we feel that we have a competitive wage for your site as is."

That's not grounds to terminate a contract, unless the guards are performing badly and there is enough evidence for material breach. They could terminate, take the termination fee and lump sum of remaining payments, and hire a company that pays their guards more, but... why?

Exactly. In fact, that's how it went down at my site when we received raises.

[Eric]

I did it the old fashioned way, performed consistently and kept applying for higher roles in the organization as they became open.

On a similar line to HotelSecurity's - a boss told me once, he had large pockets but very short arms.

[HotelSecurity]

Mr. Security, it is not only in contract security where you have a problem getting raises, it happens in-house too!

[Mr. Security]

I did it the old fashioned way, performed consistently and kept applying for higher roles in the organization as they became open.

On a similar line to HotelSecurity's - a boss told me once, he had large pockets but very short arms.

When the boss says: Thanks, just tell him that: "You can't take thanks to the banks."

[hrdickinson]

Getting a Raise

Mayor,

You have received some good advice to your post already. If the security client won't accept a rate increase, your chances of receiving a meaningful raise are slim. You can always ask to be transfered to a higher paying site.

If you show some leadership and intiative skills, and maturity, you should be eligible for a promotion to a supervisory role. It my not work for everyone, but my strategy was to always excel at what I did, every day, never turn down an opportunity to take on a new task and know when to ask for assistance.

[Mr. Security]

Mr. Security, it is not only in contract security where you have a problem getting raises, it happens in-house too!

Doesn't surprise me. Security Officers, Bank Tellers, and some LE positions are all noted for low wages.

[S/O245]

A raise ? i wish lol. I did put in a request they printed it out incase they ever ran out of paper for the rest rooms at the office lol (joking) i did make a request and never got one. Not alot of people get a raise in my company