Women missing out on millions not negotiating for higher pay

Women are potentially missing out on lots of cash because they aren’t negotiating for higher pay. (AP)

Asking your boss for a raise can be intimidating, but
studies show that women specifically are missing out on
lots of cash because they shy away from negotiating for
higher pay.

“Over the course of their careers it’s estimated that
women collectively lose around half a billion dollars,”
said Buzzfeed Executive Editor and “Work It” columnist
Doree Shafrir, in an appearance on 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank Show.

In her piece called “I Got The
Promotion. Now How Do I Ask For The Raise?” Shafrir
cites an MBA study that said people who negotiate
typically get an 8 percent increase in pay, but that while
more than half of men negotiate, only 12 percent of women
do.

“I think a big part of it is women are really afraid of
seeming pushy and that is an adjective that’s often used
to describe women,” said Shafrir. “I think also we kind of
collectively feel uncomfortable talking about money, so
when you go into your negotiation, it’s kind of scary to
have to come up with some specific figure. I think that
women are more inhibited in that way.”

To support your request, Shafrir suggested bringing some
actual data to the negotiation.

“You can find a lot of statistics about what the pay range
is for a lot of different industries online,” said
Shafrir. “If you do that search and you find out you are
in fact underpaid for your level and whatever industry
you’re in, that’s something you can go to your boss with.”

For those that fear an employer will rescind a job offer,
or fire you for asking for a raise, Shafrir seems to think
that’s pretty unlikely. She said it’s also very possible
to make your request serve as a reinforcement of your
commitment to the opportunity.

“You can frame it in a way that is extremely respectful,
in the sense of, well I love this job so much and I do
want to stay and I’m not looking for another job because I
want to stay here and contribute to the company.”

Shafrir had a recent salary negotiation of her own.

“They offered me a salary and I said it sounded a little
low and they said, ‘OK.’ And later that day, I emailed
them and I said, ‘I was thinking more along the lines of
this, and I named a figure,’ and they said, ‘OK.'”

After you’ve done it once, Shafrir said it really isn’t
that hard.

“Once you do it, it actually doesn’t seem so scary,” said
Shafrir. “At the beginning of my career, it was something
I did not feel comfortable doing. Over the course of a few
years, I’ve learned.”

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By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor