My old manager in Phoenix told me to never ask for a raise before the fiscal year ends.

She said it would make me look greedy and out of touch with company cycles. So I waited, and the budget got locked down tight for the next 12 months. I missed my window by about two weeks and had to wait a whole extra year. Anyone else get burned by timing advice that sounded logical?

4 comments

4 Comments

ninaowens3mo ago

That advice sounds like something meant to keep you quiet, not help you. It's crazy how many rules are just about protecting someone else's comfort. You see it everywhere, people getting told to wait for the "right time" that never actually comes. Makes you wonder who that timing really serves, right?

kelly6383mo ago

Sounds about right. The "right time" is usually just when it's most convenient for the person telling you to wait. Classic move.

mia7003mo ago

Yeah, @ninaowens, that hits hard. I mean, it's like being told to be patient is just code for "stop bothering me about it." I've seen it happen at work where someone's good idea gets shelved forever for "timing" that only helps the bosses. Makes you feel small, you know?

piperbailey1mo ago

You ever have a friend who just kept getting the runaround? I had a buddy who worked at this small company, and he kept pitching this idea that would've saved them a ton of money on shipping. Every time, his boss would say "not the right time" or "we'll look at it next quarter." Three years went by, and they finally implemented it, but only after my friend had quit and the new guy got the credit. And yeah, they lost a lot of money in those three years just waiting for "timing" that was really just the boss not wanting to deal with change. It's wild how "be patient" is just a way to keep people quiet until someone else can take the credit.