[USER]

NEED HELP WITH ASSISTING MOTHER’S ASK FOR RAISE
My mom (63 y/o, HCOL area in Southern California) has worked for the same employer since March 2012 (12.5 years) without ever receiving a raise, bonus, anything.

Her employer is an insurance agent for a major insurance company with only 2 employees under the agent.

She’s currently making just under CA state minimum wage ($15.87/hour, min wage is $16/hour).

After years of trying to convince her, my mom is finally open to asking for a raise.

I would like to help her with this however not sure where to start.

1. I assume I should research wages for comparable work – where/how to do this?

2. The ask for a raise would need to be via letter/email – My mom sees her employer in person maybe 2x/year. Any tips for what to include in this letter?

How to ask?

Any guidance is appreciated

[Rachel]

Is your mom open to changing jobs? If so, I’d tell instead of ask. Google what $16/ hr today would be in 2012 dollars in CA. That’s terrible.

This screenshot info doesn’t take into account whether the area where your mom lives has changed in terms of COLA and the fact your mom has 16 years of experience in that firm.

[Lori]

Ask Chat GPT for how to best draft the communication.
I would look on Glassdoor for wage comparisons.

[Rebecca]

her employer isn’t even complying with the law and she’s hesitant?

[John]

Seriously, what would a kid with no skills get for just flipping burgers right now? I’m guessing $20+.

So, in other words, no one is going to compete to replace your mom.

She safely can ask for that much without fear of being replaced.

[John]

Well, if she had gotten just 3% raise yearly for the past 12 years, she’d be making around $22.62 by now, pretty measly considering the value she no doubt is bringing to the firm.

If they think they can bring on someone else for under $22.62 who can do what she does, good luck to them!!

It is repulsive that the employer has abused her like this year after year, just because “they can.”

Show her the math, and anything under $23 right now means she is making less than when she first started (remembering high inflation a few years during that timeframe.)

[Author]

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