Men Who Wear Makeup or What I’d do for a Raise
I was driving back to Columbia early Monday morning. It was 6:45 and I tuned in to my favorite country station.
The on air folks are real chatty this time of morning. I am chatty as well in the morning, so I like to listen to the two of them go back and forth. As usual, they threw out a statement for listeners to ponder and call in about.
Their report went something like this. 14% of men surveyed said they would do this if the boss promised them a raise.
There were lots of creative answers called in and they all sounded like something men might say…things like sleeping with the boss, wearing women’s clothes, running thought the office with no clothes on, brown nosing the boss, etc.
None of those were the right answer and we were all going around in circles. Finally, they started giving us hints.
Before long, the right answer came in.
The answer was – 14% of men said they would wear makeup if the boss promised them a raise.
Now I don’t know how many of you men out there would do this, but I can assure you the men I know would not…at least most of the men I know wouldn’t.
There are some exceptions. My television personality men friends wear makeup all the time. That’s pretty common when you’re in front of a camera. Then there are some of my male theater friends who wear makeup when they’re on stage.
Generally speaking, though, my men friends wouldn’t get near makeup except to admire it on the women they see along their way.
So just what would you do for a raise?
It seems to be a question many ponder and few feel comfortable asking for without some bit of anxiety.
Ever thought of just asking the boss for a raise without doing something drastic? I mean, after all, if you are a good and faithful employee, the likelihood is that you deserve it.
I have no magic words here for how to ask for a raise. Each boss is different and there are so many variables that it can’t be simplified too much. Also, many companies have built in evaluation periods for performance reviews. Raises are often attached to those reviews.
Know your companies policy on this before you ask for a raise.
If you are interested in a raise and don’t feel like doing something drastic – like wearing makeup to the office if you’re a man – then you have to think about how to approach your boss with care and professionalism.
Here are a few helpful hints to consider:
1. Make sure you’re hard working and giving your job 100% effort
2. Make sure you are not tied down in office politics
3. Be someone a boss can count on for professionalism and integrity
4. Choose your time wisely when talking with the boss – know his/her mood and know the right time of day to talk
5. Keep the request between you and your boss…do not share your plan with others in the office. This is a private matter.
6. Tell your boss you are there to ask him/her to consider giving you a raise and know the percentage you are thinking of. Be specific… 4%, 6%, etc…whatever seems reasonable for th research you’ve done on the subject and the position.
7. Mention your accomplishments and how you’ve addressed your responsibilities with professionalism and efficiency. If you do work above and beyond the call of duty, be prepared to share that with the boss at this point.
8. Be willing to discuss other benefits besides a raise…like the possibility of the company paying you to go to school, flex time, etc.
9. If the boss says he/she can’t give you a raise right now, ask what you might do to put yourself in the position for a raise later on.
10. Don’t mention another job elsewhere or suggest you may go somewhere else if you don’t get a raise. Bosses don’t like to feel like you are giving them an ultimatum.
11. Be prepared to continue to do a good job whether you get a raise or not.
12. If you don’t get that raise and you decide to start looking elsewhere, remember to speak positively of your current job to those you are talking with about future employment. You just never know when your boss and the prospective boss may be friends or business acquaintances.
My wish for you today is that you find a job you enjoy, give it 100%, and be prepared to negotiate a raise when the time is right without having to “wear makeup” to do it. Best wishes as you continue to grow professionally and personally.
~ Joellen