Make the best of a stressful situation by planning ahead. In addition to rehearsing what you will say when presenting your request, craft responses to all possible outcomes of the conversation.
Try to relax; the absolute worst-case scenario will be a “no.” In that case, you still have a job and the option to search for a higher paying job elsewhere.
View the process as an opportunity to educate your boss and collaborate with her on your career. The bottom line is that you must take control of your career and ask for what you want.
If you don’t get what you want, consider if the job offers you enough satisfaction in other ways to stay there. “Many people who stay at the same organization for 15 to 20 years are usually paid significantly less than the market average compared with those who make moves,” says Eric Dickerson, managing director and senior practice leader, Academic Medicine, Kaye/Bassman International Corp., Plano, Texas, a firm that places academic physicians and administrative leadership.
Karen Appold is a medical writer in Pennsylvania.
15 Reasons to Ask for a Raise
Ms. Mathews and Mr. Jennings suggest using one or more of these reasons to justify an increase—whether you’re a rheumatologist, other healthcare provider or an administrative staff member:
- The practice has grown since you were hired or received your last raise;
- You haven’t had a raise in more than a year, despite scoring very good to excellent on your annual performance appraisal;
- The quality of your work and your achievements over the past six to 12 months have demonstrated that you are a valuable asset to the practice;
- You took on additional work or higher level responsibilities in the past three to six months and have demonstrated that you can handle them effectively;
- You have received commendations or praise from others for your work;
- Your pay rate is not commensurate with the market rate of pay for jobs equivalent to yours; or
- Your pay is not equitable to that of other employees at your practice who have similar responsibilities.
Rheumatologists Specifically
- You are exceeding work RVUs or collecting more than what your salary level represents;
- You are responsible for more in collections than you receive in salary or overhead;
- You see more patients than the other doctors in your group;
- You have highly specialized training in new therapies, diseases or technology;
- You see very difficult or rare types of rheumatology cases the practice could not serve without your clinical expertise;
- You have been recognized by your professional organization or affiliation for a significant achievement;
- You recently presented a professional paper or were a featured presenter at a symposium; or
- You have been offered an opportunity with another organization, and it includes a better compensation package, but you’d like to stay with your current practice.
