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Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
Posted on 23.07.2009 19:11
Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
Hi Everybody,
Recently I had faced an employee evaluation meeting with my German boss and HR guys. I told them the list of my achievements including a new business opportunity with a Silicon valley company in USA.
Luckily,my boss gave me "outstanding " and "excellent " grades in 90% categories.
Then came the salary issue. I told them that I had been underpaid so far. So, my current salary need to be adjusted according to the market average. So, with my three year experience, I claimed around 4000 euro which is about
500 euro more from my current salary.
By, the management wants me to increase my salary only by 100 euro !!
This has made me sad and surprised. I have been exploited so far in the last three years. Now I am expecting a fair salary. But , the reaction of the management seems to be exploitative as well as racist. Besides, the current recession has not affected our company since we have projects from Govt customers.
In the same company one fresh German engineer has been earning 3600 euro from the very beginning. And, I can not catch him even after three years of excellent performance !!!
Isn't it a double standard ?
Being disgusted, I told my boss that I would like to have the salary negotiation meeting on another day. Now I am thinking how I can present my arguments in the next meeting.
I have a feeling that the management views me as a cheap labor !! OK ! YOU are outstanding . So what ? We are extending your job contract. That should be enough for you !!
But I think that the management will not get a easy replacement for me as my skill is rare in Germany.
What should I do now ? Please give me advice.
buetino
Member since 11.06.2008
Posted on 23.07.2009 20:12
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
Hello,
It all depends on how the conversation and relation between you and your employer (firstly your boss). If you feel like comfirtable and confident on your position and requirement of your position in the project(s), and if you are confident that you are value added to the company and even compared to fellow local german colleagues, then
- you try to first repeat your performance summary in your boss words, that is you did excellent etc.. and they also would know that the market value for such a job with such a performance, ask them to give fare amount for valuable work.. Ask them why do they see a problem if they consider your work is excellent and on par with others..
- another idea is, if they are not ready to offer direct increase in salary in terms of liquid money and if you feel like having, you could ask for other resources like company car. some times they would be ready to offer a car instead of equivalent money.
Try to handle smoothly and farely. There should not be any hide&seek game here. To me, it should be fair from both parties to go smoothly.
if you are not thinking of a change over, also keep in mind that, what ever the outcome of your conversation, you are going to see them every day and work with them for next duration.. so you should also maintain good relationship.
Hope this helps..
do share the outcome!!& All the Best.
-RK
alien0in2de
Member since 31.08.2008
Posted on 23.07.2009 23:19
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
Hi RK,
Thanks for your response. If my boss becomes adamant , then should I say that I am getting discriminated ? Should I mention explicitly that another German colleague is getting higher salary ?
buetino
Member since 11.06.2008
Posted on 24.07.2009 09:14
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
I dont have charm for money anymore so evenif i give u any suggestion ,u will close ur brain doors for that.
About racialism ...its like when a thief go on the street and if someone see him he always get the guilty and fear to get caught because his brain fuction with that mindset.
If u feel racialism then u will see everyone as racist evenif its not racial u will see it as racial.because ur brain has adopted the mindset and behaviour and ur just acting the way ur getting instruction from brain.
Me im dark non german ,have loads of here friends here talk to everone and they respond well because my mindset is not supposed to accept any racial or negative shit anymore evenif it happen i dont notice the behaviour from others.
deathinc
Member since 03.06.2005
Posted on 24.07.2009 10:03
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
Hi Buenito,
Actually you might have started with low salary as to a German probably and that keeps you low comparatively. But after some time they normally average the team according to age/experience but most of the time they don't unless you talk and ask for it.
Raising 400 might be like a big raise as they see and you would have already got regular raises(by asking them to review etc) and now all they see as reasonable is this 100euros.
What you can do is to ask them and tell them the market average and that you are not happy as there are some people in the company with less experience and more money(don't say the names). If you don't have any visa issues/dependecies just go ahead and give a hint that you might look for prospects outside.. 
Then the issue will be resolved immediately if you are really important for them.
cheers
rajendrak
Member since 23.06.2008
Posted on 24.07.2009 10:04
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
@buetino
Beggers are not choosers!!
The management knows very well that, what you are earning in germany is a big amount for someone from third-world-country like India.
Instead of giving you any advice, I would like to give you an example:
If your wife demands a five-star holiday for 2 weeks in Caribbean, you are most likely to say NO to your wife, simply because she is not going to leave you just because you denied her the holiday.
Now consider the same demand is made by your girlfriend then you would consider your options carefully. There is a constant risk that she might leave you if you don't meet her demand. You are more likely to give in and spend the money.
________________________________________
Akshay
Member since 21.03.2005
Posted on 24.07.2009 10:16
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
@akshay
that was a good one
@deathnic
i agree with you, its just how our mindset is.
a word of advice.......a bird in hand is far better then the two in nest, just hang on to this job, give your colleagues a "sleeping on the issue" kind of vibes, be normal, be friendly, be a team player as before or work even hard for even longer times and at the same time explore your options, only a new job can give you more money and this time please clarify all issues before signing the contract i.e. salaries, perks, increments bla bla bla.
Raj2009
Member since 14.07.2009
Posted on 24.07.2009 10:33
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
@Akshay
this mindset is even better.Its me and my life and i go for holiday only if i want, I dont have fear of loss,if she goes ,her problem for me 1000s more are available
deathinc
Member since 03.06.2005
Posted on 24.07.2009 10:36
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
@deathnic
seems you are not married
Raj2009
Member since 14.07.2009
Posted on 24.07.2009 10:43
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
That was for ppl with GFs and irritating wifes
deathinc
Member since 03.06.2005
Posted on 24.07.2009 14:18
Re: Salary Negotiation Drama & Racism
In your situation it would be better to look for a change.
If its a German company then the reason they recruited you is only because you are a cheap labor and nothing else,how highly skilled you are or how good you perform it does not matter.The company takes a big risk when they recruit a foreigner as you can pack up and return to India anytime in the middle of a project or you can bring loss to the company and without any problem fly away as the law and contract which you sign is not valid in India even if it is who cares there whereas if its a German then they can trust him as if does something wrong or leave the project in middle and makes vacation in Mallorca finally he returns here and the employer can catch hold of him.
Also be aware that today there are many East Europeans especially Russians who are highly skilled as we Indians and ready to work for less than us so those days are gone when Germany had problem finding highly skilled workers.
If a guy settled in Mumbai works in Bangalore and if another person who is from Bangalore with less experience is paid more then you will term it Partiality but the same happens here then you call it Racism why? All employers first prefer localites and then only outsiders as the risk involved is less.
raj2001
Member since 10.06.2008
