I get a number of employees who e-mail me seeking advice on the best ways to request a salary increase. I always find this request interesting, because written between the lines is really a bigger issue that all employers should know.
The hidden message? If an employee makes it a point to ask for a salary increase, what they are really saying to you is that they don't feel valued.
As I mentioned in last week's blog, employees are looking for a purpose in their careers. But they also want to feel valued in their positions. Problem is, if they get the perception that they are not valued by the company, the only thing they can really grasp onto is asking for more compensation. Disappointment in their compensation is only part of the problem–the rest is a lack of feedback on their performance and praise for the good they have done for the company as it grows.
