Can You Lose Your Job For Asking For A Raise?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Yes is the short answer. But it’s very unlikely as it’s simply not a good business practice to fire someone simply for asking for a raise. In fact, you can get fired for anything that’s not protected by federal law (think gender, race, pregnancy, and disability), particularly if you are an at-will employee.

Is it legal for an employer to reduce your salary?

In general, your employer can reduce your salary for any lawful reason. There is no specific California labor law which prohibits an employer from reducing an employee’s compensation. However, your employer cannot reduce your salary to a rate below the minimum wage.

Can you get fired for negotiating salary?

Although there’s no law against it , firing employees simply for asking for a raise isn’t a good business practice. You want to keep employees who put their best efforts into their job, and are willing to go the extra mile.

What should you not do when negotiating salary?

  1. Settling/Not Negotiating. ...
  2. Revealing How Much You Would Accept. ...
  3. Focusing on Need/Greed Rather Than Value. ...
  4. Making a Salary Pitch Too Early. ...
  5. Accepting Job Offer Too Quickly. ...
  6. Declining Job Offer Too Quickly.

Do employers expect you to counter offer?

If you feel the offer you received isn’t fair, don’t be afraid to make a counteroffer. While many employers try not to lowball you off the bat, it’s fairly common for companies to expect job seekers to counter .

Can my employer take hours away from me?

It is illegal for an employer to take away vacation time or refuse to pay an employee for unused vacation time after the employee leaves the company. In some cases, an employer’s policy about vacations may violate California’s labor laws. This may result in labor law violations for multiple employees.

Can you refuse a pay cut?

By law, employers cannot unilaterally cut an employee’s pay . No one can force you to take a pay cut, so you could reject such an offer even if your fellow workers accept.

When negotiating salary how much is too much?

Always negotiate starting salary by counter offering You won’t know if there’s room to negotiate unless you try. Best case, you’ll find that the company is willing to pay a little more than they offered. You should counter between 10% and 20% above the base salary in the job offer .

How much is too much counter offer salary?

With that in mind, “my rule of thumb is that you should counteroffer between 10 percent and 20 percent above the initial offer ,” says Doody. “You will often end up somewhere under your counter but over your initial offer.” And 20 percent could very well mean another $15,000.

What should I say when negotiating salary?

  1. “I am excited by the opportunity to work together.” ...
  2. “Based on my research...” ...
  3. “Market” ...
  4. “Value” ...
  5. “Similarly situated employees” ...
  6. “Is that number flexible at all?” ...
  7. “I would be more comfortable if...” ...
  8. “If you can do that, I’m on board.”

Why you should never take a counter offer?

Counteroffers can be a stall tactic . Often employers will pay you more because they know it will only be for a short while. They will then start searching for a replacement who will take a lower salary with a similar skillset to yours. This is one reason why you should never accept a counteroffer.

Does HR decide salary?

The HR department should be able to answer your job-related questions, and you can ask them about your salary and any salary increase policies your company has in place.

What if my counter offer is rejected?

You cannot reject an offer and then later accept it. The very same rule applies to counter offers. A counter offer revokes the original offer . Thus, a seller cannot counter the buyer’s offer seeking more money and, when the buyer rejects the counter, then turns around and accept the original offer.

Can my employer change my job role without my consent?

Yes , in some cases. Generally, unless an employment contract or a collective bargaining agreement states otherwise, an employer may change an employee’s job duties, schedule or work location without the employee’s consent.

What to do when your employer cuts your hours?

  1. Unless you have an employment contract or bargaining agreement to protect you, your employer can reduce your work schedule at any time.
  2. Try negotiating you contract to freelance on the side, find a new job or ask for better benefits to make up for the lost hours.

Can I request to reduce my working hours?

But asking for a reduction in work hours is nothing to be embarrassed about, and it certainly doesn’t imply that you don’t want what’s best for your employer. Be flexible , but know your boundaries, and if things aren’t going the way you want, ask for time.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.