Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

This might belong on the career board, but I know more people are on here...

DH's brother and wife are expecting in a couple of weeks. We were talking one night and BIL said he did not tell anyone at work that they are pregnant b/c he wants to wait for his yearly review to tell his boss so he gets a better raise. I know there are a few people on here who work in HR and I am wondering what you think about that???

From my own work experience in the past, managers/companies feel that your mortgage, your car payments, the number of children you have, etc. is not their problem. They are paying you to do a service, to do the job they hired you to do. Of course if they like you and you do a good job they may throw in a little extra for your yearly bonus (if you get one) or maybe even give you a larger raise, but in general, their not going to give you a 10% raise instead of a 3% raise b/c you are going to have a baby.

How do you feel about this? Smart move or stupid move?

Message edited 11/29/2007 12:04:40 AM.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

For me, it would have no bearing on his raise. If he's a good employee or poor performer, I would compensate him accordingly.

Depending on the manager, the flip side to his theory is that he "needs" the job now that his wife is pregnant so he isn't going anywhere.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

You are right.

I'm in HR.

If I were to give a better raise to someone just because they were becoming a parent I could expect to be sued immediately by all the employees NOT expecting.

If one of the managers at my company told me that they did that, I would be forced to put them on final warning for discrimination.

Bottom line, he can wait if he wants, but it will (or at least it should) have NO bearing on his raise.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

That's what I thought. And as an employee, I dont know that I would have the b@lls to ask my employer for a raise just b/c I was having a baby. If I do a good job and my employer wants to give me a little extra out of the goodness of his heart than that is fine. I would think expecting it and "sliding" it in there during a yearly review is kind of sneaky thing to do.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

Having children. the amount of them or none should not have any bearing on your raise. That is crazy!

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

I took your question to mean that he didn't want to bring it up until after his review because they might think he will need to take off more and won't be around and his performance may suffer..so he wants to wait until after he gets his raise to bring it up.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

I think it depends on the company. There was a guy here he and his wife had an unplanned pregnancy and he went to the VP and asked if there was anyway he could get a raise because he was going to have to go out to get a second job.

He gave him the raise, but told him that for the next few years his raise at review time would be lower, so in reality it was more of an advance

i work for a relatively small company though, only about 250 employees

Message edited 11/29/2007 2:15:55 PM.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

it shouldn't have a bearing - but realistically, it's a smart move IMO, if he thinks his boss and company are the types to give him a little extra, especially if he's liked.

They always say to never talk about raises to other employees, so as long something like that is kept under the table, which it is 90% of the time, i think it's a smart move

depending on the company

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

Not unheard of.

Stupid move to wait to say anything though. What he should have done was announce it right away and when review time comes up, they already know and *might* take it into consideration. But to straight up ask for it is not a smart move.

I've seen double the promotion/raise for people expecting twins.

Is it right? The answer is obvious.

People should be getting raises based on job performance. But then again, how often do we see undeserving people get promotions and raises for things like knowing the right people while dedicated, diligent workers are overlooked?

Message edited 11/29/2007 2:44:57 PM.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

Message edited 11/29/2007 3:34:47 PM.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

I'm in HR too...

We are trained in HR to compensate based on a number of things - policy, merit, performance etc etc....the fact that someone is becoming a parent would have no bearing on his / her raise...if their performance started to slip then it becomes an employee relations issue...so short answer, No, it has no bearing.

Eta: The boss is not going to want to give him a raise just because his family is expanding. If it is well deserved, then fine. But solely because he is becoming a family man - no.

Message edited 11/29/2007 10:04:42 PM.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

I have to say that at my dh's last job, the original salary they offered to pay someone was raised on the spot of being hired because they felt he was older and had a family and would be more responsible.

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work

Re: Having a baby and "asking" for a raise at work