Why Many Women Don’t Negotiate Their Salaries

The Price for Silence. Women must speak up!

They say if you don’t ask, you won’t get it.

Yes, you woman, you don’t have to feel ashamed to appreciate your performance more and actually demand your rights, because…

More than 55% of women rarely negotiate their salary and only ask for a raise when they feel it is necessary, whereas men do it without any stops. Where do their fears come from and why don’t they ask for what they deserve?

Most women are simply afraid. The reasons could be many, but I want to highlight the main ones.

Never negotiating your salary is the biggest mistake any woman can make throughout her career.

This phenomenon is very common and it happens mainly because women do not have the confidence to evaluate themselves or are ashamed to recognize their worth.

It can be a lack of confidence, a lack of information, feelings of self-doubt, or complex societal barriers, which means how women are perceived compared to men.

They don’t feel comfortable asking for what is rightfully theirs, they often underestimate their value and the contribution they can bring to a company.

This happens everywhere. Even if a woman does a good job in a company, she usually prefers to please others and see them happy, rather than take credit for her merits.

Therefore, the major difference we see between men’s and women’s wages is also due to this. Equal pay scandals happen often and have been growing in recent years.

When to Ask for a Raise?

There are key moments when you can ask for a pay raise.

For example, when you get a promotion or are given a new project or more tasks at work. Extra work deserves more pay. So it’s time to negotiate for more than just a new title or extra responsibilities.

You can also do this during the annual evaluation when the balance of the past year is taken. It is a great opportunity to talk openly about your projects, expectations, and wishes.

When you have completed a training or further training course, it is another good opportunity to discuss a possible salary increase.

How Do You Ask For a Well-Deserved Raise?

First of all, know your worth! A passive attitude only generates frustration

Women, in my view, should do the same as men when it comes to a pay rise and get over the shame episode, especially if they feel they have worked harder lately and can lend themselves to such a request.

If you were to ask a man how such a discussion went, he could tell you in no uncertain terms that he asked for a pay rise because he was very convinced of the contribution he had made to the company, of the impulse he had given to the team and of how many extra things he had done for the company.

And it’s not necessarily about how convincingly you pose the question: Can I get a raise?

Then, you state your intention — to get a raise — and say the amount you want. This is when many women take a step back. You as a woman don’t feel very comfortable with proposing an amount, so it’s good to practice this before going to your boss.

Think of this talk as a presentation, say what you did differently or extra at work, and give concrete examples. Because no one is indeed going to raise your salary because you did the same things as last year. So there has to be a clear justification.

Sometimes age is usually part of this discussion. This is another fear why many women don’t even consider this pay rise option.

In short, you need to have the right arguments, know the salary policy of the company you work for, and choose the right time to negotiate your raise.

What Do You Do When Your Application is Denied?

It’s among the worst-case scenarios, but it can happen.

The concern of being fired is another thing a woman fears, and when it happens that her request for a raise is delayed or not accepted, everything seems to come crashing down on her.

Surely in less pleasant situations, you don’t make dramatic gestures.

A man would not bow his head and accept defeat but would look for a good line or a short speech. You might try asking when you could expect a pay raise or what your boss’s expectations of you are.

This could help you find out what your skills, years of experience, education, and level of training are worth.

However, there are times when you should avoid this decision, such as: after a period of poor performance, if the company is experiencing difficulties, if you have already received a salary increase in the last six months, or if the manager/boss is having a difficult time and cannot focus his/her attention to study your request in depth.

So pay close attention to whatever decision you want to make and don’t rush.

Ultimately, wage increases are beneficial for both women and men because they keep people motivated and less stressed at work. In addition, fewer think about quitting or looking for another job.

Next time you’re thinking about a raise, take a stand and ask, talk to your boss openly!

Thank you for reading!