Title: Negotiate a Raise Author: Jane Lake Email: editor@allfreecrafts.com Copyright Jane Lake 2004. All Rights Reserved. Format: 65 characters per line Word count: 339

Thanks, Jane Lake

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Negotiate a Raise by Jane Lake

Asking for a raise is a lot like looking for love. No one really values anything that comes too cheaply. But while dating can be fun, confronting authority can be intimidating. We asked John Towler, of Creative Organizational Design, a management consulting firm to outline how to talk money with your boss.

• Know market value of your job. Check with professional associations or personnel agencies for up-to-date surveys of salary levels in your field. Within your own company, swap information with colleagues, or ask your firm's personnel department for salary range in your job category.

One of challenges of multi-career marriages is allotting time for family and for each other. Some years ago, Sherry and I began to realize this and decided to take steps to insure “our time” every day. So, we began going to a convenient place in evening just to have coffee and to visit.

We found it a bit amusing (and a compliment to our 35-year marriage) when some of staff at one restaurant thought we were having an affair because we would often arrive in separate cars.

One of places we enjoy coffee and dessert is Menger Hotel. Not only is it a beautiful place, but also their coffee is some of smoothest.

I remember one particular evening at Menger. After our waiter brought our check and walked away with my $20, I commented to Sherry that I had forgotten to have him bring me plenty of one dollar bills. I knew that after tip I would still need money for school lunches next morning.

We decided to see if waiter knew his stuff. If, on our $10 check, he brought back two fives or a ten dollar bill, we would know he was not on ball. He did not disappoint us. He brought me plenty of ones and we, in turn, were generous with our tip.