If High-Achieving Corporate Executive Women can't get a Raise, Who

If High-Achieving Corporate Executive Women can't get a Raise, Who Can?

To my mind, it's inexplicable how women still allow this to happen; but in this day and age, women at different levels of corporate responsibility are still paid far less than what a man would make at the same job. The surprising thing is that all of the difference can be laid at the feet of simple sexism. When women get in to negotiate a pay rise, they are just not as demanding as men are and can be. But wait, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Most of the time, women, even executive women, never ask for what they are due.

In part, the reason could be that women ense a certain judgment in their male coworkers - a kind of sexism if you will. If a male executive sits down to ask for what he believes his contributions to the company are worth, the gesture is expected to be what it really is - a valuable worker negotiating for a fair settlement. When executive women work up the nerve to arrange for a similar meeting, they are seen as just not cooperative, and as overly greedy. There has even been a survey done that has found that people find male executives demanding better compensation more attractive; they find women less attractive to look at what they do the same thing.

So what is it that you're supposed to do if you feel that your contributions are not valued, and you don't want to be thought of as ugly if you ask for a raise? Women need to put their demands forward with a certain deal more of tact and fitness, all in acknowledgment of the fact that the workplace has never been really great turf for equal opportunity. So does that make us betrayers of the women's cause? Not exactly. Not every battle is won with outright strength. What war minister would dispense with cunning and tact when outnumbered?

Here's the thing - if executive women ask for higher pay, the management balks at the demand because women aren't generally paid more. The management doesn't hold the perception that women are supposed to make more, and they are uncomfortable. Once enough women find a way, any way to get better paid, the existent perception will begin to change. The more women there are out there getting paid on the par with men, the easier it'll be for other women to ask for the same without appearing overly demanding.

So here is the pay rise rulebook for women at the every level of the corporate letter. You need to be motivated enough to go make it happen for yourself. Women often think that if they do a really, really good job of the responsibilities they are given, someone is bound to notice, and they'll be spared the embarrassment of demanding more. But that's not the way the world works, is it? No one wants to recognize anyone else's efforts, if they can help it. Executive women can always work up the nerve to ask for more if they know exactly what to compare their pay against. Research is key; find out how much a man makes in the exact kind of job you have. If that is kind of uncertain, the rule of thumb would be to ask 10% more than what you can find the nerve to ask. That would be a good starting figure.

It's all about second guessing your boss; you need to think ahead to find out what your boss could possibly come up with to stall your demands. You need to be creative, and you need to have the answers ready when your boss thinks of ways to shoot your request down. If he does, be sure to have a backup plan to withdraw with dignity. For instance, you can ask for suggestions on what your next step forward might be to move up in your world.