Your Negotiation Script
You: I asked for a meeting with you today to talk about my total compensation package. As you know, I’ve been a loyal and productive employee of Company X for [blank] years now. I know we’ve come through the worst of the recession, a time during which I [and everyone on my team or and everyone else who saw the company through these difficult times] threw everything we had behind the company’s success.
Your Negotiation Partner: Of course we appreciate everyone’s work but, as you know, our hard times aren’t yet over.
You: Yes, I know the company’s position, though improved, still has a far way to go to. I know we’re working to achieve several goals, including [list the goals you’re going to help the company achieve and those for which your negotiation partner is responsible].
Your Negotiation Partner: It’s still a tough economy and a lot of people are out of work.
You: I know. And now is the time I feel like I can give the company my absolute best. As you know, however, no one in my department has been given a meaningful raise since 2008 [or from the beginning of time]. I’d like to make the company a proposal that I believe will enable me to deliver the highest value possible to allow it to meet its goals and to compensate me fairly for my contribution.
Your Negotiation Partner: We’re not giving anyone more than a 2% raise this year.
You: Interesting. I’d love to talk to you about the basis for that decision. But first, I’d like to lay out my proposal.
Your Negotiation Partner: [reluctantly] OK, but it won’t do you any good.
You: Here are the elements of my proposal. [This can be communicated either orally or as a list you ask your negotiation partner to walk through with you.]
During the coming year, I plan to do X, Y, and Z, all of which I believe will significantly advance the goals we’ve discussed.
If we meet those goals, the company’s bottom line should be increased by $X [or, if you can’t monetize the company’s return on its investment in your plan, then name other benefits, such as reducing attrition or absenteeism or improving recruiting or teamwork].
To achieve these results, I’ll likely be putting in additional time, which I’m happy to do. If the company believes in its own future as much as I do, I’m certain it will want to compensate me for my fair market value.
I’ve done some benchmarking, and the job I’m already doing would cost our company $X if it had to go out on the market and find a replacement.
Your Negotiation Partner: Are you threatening to leave if you don’t get what you want?
You: No, not at all! I simply wanted to recalibrate my market value given the recession’s impact on everyone’s compensation. I love this company. I don’t have any present intention of even looking for a different job [note the word “present”]. In any event, the current rate for someone with my education, training, and experience working in this industry in this city is $_______ [your highest reasonably well-supported market value].
Your Negotiation Partner: Like I said, we’re only giving 2% raises this year across the board and there are no exceptions. [This, of course, is not true. There are always exceptions.]
You: That must make compensation discussions difficult for you. I assume you have the discretion to make an exception if it were justified. If not, could we both talk to the person who does? I think we might be able to make a good case for both of us getting more than the “across the board” 2% raise this year.