Provisional Accounting Blog

Asking for a raise requires a lot of courage, so it’s beyond frustrating when your request is declined. Right now, you’re probably thinking about applying to other accounting jobs in Spokane — and that might be a good idea — but don’t act before carefully mapping your next move.

The last thing you want is to react poorly and quickly regret your behavior. Here’s some advice to help you navigate the situation like a consummate professional.

Four Actions to Take When You Don’t Get the Raise You Deserved

Maintain Your Cool

It’s only natural to be upset when you find out you’re not getting a raise you feel was earned. Your first instinct might be to quit your job and storm out of your boss’s office, but having a temper tantrum won’t solve anything. Instead, remain level-headed and really listen to your boss’s reason for not granting the raise.

Even if you decide to pursue other opportunities, avoid doing anything to get fired in the meantime. When you’re feeling dejected, it’s easy to adopt a bad attitude and allow your work ethic to slip, but don’t stoop to this level.

Ponder Your Boss’s Reasoning

Raise requests are refused for many different reasons, so consider your unique situation. Being flat out denied a pay increase isn’t the same thing as not getting one because there isn’t room in the budget right now. If your boss gave you a timeline of when a raise could happen or noted a few things they’d like you to work on before having the conversation again, feel confident it’s within your reach.

However, if your manager says you’re already at the top of your pay grade or denies your request, but refuses to explain why, it’s probably not in the cards. There’s a huge difference between a raise that’s attainable in the near future and one that’s likely never going to happen.

Consider a Counter Offer

For most people, money is the most important part of a compensation package, but it’s not the only element. If your boss echoes the sentiment that you deserve a raise, but simply doesn’t have the funds to make it happen for the time being, ask for something else. You might be able to score another perk, such as an extra week of vacation or the ability to work from home once per week. It’s not extra money in the bank, but it will improve your quality of life.

Focus on the Future

Money isn’t the only part of a job that matters, but it’s hard to feel appreciated when you’re not happy with your salary. If you don’t think you’ll ever get the raise or don’t agree with the reason it wasn’t granted, it’s probably time to move on. Start looking for a new job, while enjoying the security of being gainfully employed until you find the right fit.

Ready to find a new accounting or finance job where you’ll be fairly compensated? Provisional Accounting is here to assist. Contact us today to find a top Spokane employer ready to fill a temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire position with your name on it!

It’s human nature to like some people more than others, but when you’re the boss, you can’t display favoritism. You took the time to hire accountants in Spokane with the right skills and personality to thrive on your team, but if people are made to feel like second-rate employees, they’ll eventually quit.

Chances are, you might not even realize you’re giving certain employees preferential treatment — i.e., looking the other way when they show up late to work and asking them to tag along to important meetings. However, the rest of your team definitely notices, and they’re not happy about it.

Four Ways to Avoid Playing Favorites With Employees

Don’t Befriend Your Direct Reports

Friendships often develop when you work closely with someone — especially when the two of you have a lot in common. This is great, except when you’re the other person’s boss. In this case, the relationship needs to remain strictly professional. It’s definitely a bummer, but serving double duty as boss and friend isn’t fair to the rest of your employees.

Keep Track of Assignments

You’re a busy manager who constantly doles out assignments to your team. Having a lot on your plate can make it difficult to remember who has recently completed what projects. This can lead to an unfair division of labor, with some employees always receiving the prime tasks everyone wants. Avoid this by carefully documenting who is assigned to what, so everyone gets an equal chance to do the most exciting work.

Display Consistent Behavior

When managing a team, it’s important to treat everyone equally. For example, you can’t punish one person for taking a long lunch, but do nothing when another employee commits the same offense.

Different people require different amounts of attention, so you might spend more total time with some staffers than others, but try to keep quality time the same. For example, if you take one employee out to lunch for their birthday, do the same for everyone else.

Ask Another Manager for Input

Looking at your own behavior subjectively isn’t easy. You might think you’re treating everyone equally, but inadvertently favoring one person over everyone else. Therefore, it’s helpful to ask another manager for their opinion, because they’re not directly involved with the situation. Feedback from an impartial third party will alert you to behaviors you might not realize you’re exhibiting, so you can make any necessary changes.

Finding top accounting and finance talent isn’t easy, so allow Provisional Accounting to assist.

Get in touch today to connect with temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, and direct-hire talent eager to join your Seattle or Spokane team!

You’ve set some pretty lofty goals for your company this year, so you need your entire team to show up to work each day and give their all. When hiring accountants in Spokane, you always seek enthusiastic professionals who are a match for your company culture. This is definitely the right approach, but if you want to keep them motivated in the long term, you have to make them feel valued.

People are happier when they’re able to make meaningful contributions. When you give them work that matters and show appreciation for a job well done, you’re rewarded with employees who truly care about your bottom line.

Five Ways to Make Your Team Feel Valued

Display Gratitude

When an employee exceeds expectations, recognize their efforts. A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way, so don’t be stingy with those two little words. Chances are, you’ve grown accustomed to being impressed by your amazing employees, but they can’t read your mind. If you don’t let them know you appreciate their hard work, they’ll start to feel invisible.

Ask Them to Weigh In

You hired a very talented group of people, so give them a voice. Asking for their thoughts and opinions is both great for business and a sign of respect. The best employees want to contribute, so give them the opportunity to do so.

Show Employees the Impact of Their Work

Often times, there’s a disconnect between the tasks employees complete and their effect on the business. Keep people motivated by showing them how their contributions help the company meet its goals. When employees realize their work really matters, they’re inspired to keep doing their best.

Compensate Them Fairly

The right employees didn’t join your team solely for the paycheck, but it does make a difference. People feel undervalued when they earn below average salaries, so do your best to offer competitive compensation. If you don’t have the budget to match your competitors’ offerings, show appreciation by providing other perks, such as making your workplace pet-friendly or allowing flextime.

Keep Them in the Loop

It doesn’t feel great to be the last to know what’s going on with your own employer. Employees lose motivation when you don’t respect them enough to provide timely updates on company happenings. Show them the respect they deserve by ensuring they’re always the first to know both good and bad news impacting your business.

Need a Help Finding Motivated Accounting or Finance Talent?

Provisional Accounting is here to help you find enthusiastic professionals for your temporary/contact, contract-to-hire, and direct-hire positions. Contact us today to find out what we can do for your company!

One of the most important things about Spokane accounting jobs, is finding an employer that truly values your talents. In many cases, this appreciation is shown in the form of promotions and pay increases, but that’s not the only way to do it.

Often times, this regard is shown in a more subtle manner, but that doesn’t mean you’re respected any less. If any of the situations below sound familiar, feel confident your hard work and commitment are not going unnoticed.

Three Signs You’re Valued at Work

Your Opinion is Frequently Requested

When decisions need to be made, both your boss and colleagues tend to run things by you — even when the issue at hand doesn’t fall directly under your domain. You probably don’t think much about this, but it’s a clear indicator that your opinion holds a lot of weight. If people didn’t think highly of you, they wouldn’t go out of their way to ask for your thoughts.

You’re the ‘Go-To’ Person on the Team

Every team has one person who wears a lot of hats, and at your company, that’s you. When anyone has a question no one else knows how to answer, all eyes turn toward you, because you’re an endless bank of knowledge. If you don’t know how to solve a problem, you keep working until you’ve found the solution. Your team player attitude has earned you the respect of everyone fortunate enough to be your colleague.

Your Responsibilities Have Increased

Since starting your job, the amount of work on your plate has increased. You haven’t officially been promoted, but your boss trusts you enough to keep piling on responsibilities. If you look around the office, you’ll realize everyone hasn’t earned this level of confidence. Doing more work for the same paycheck might feel frustrating, but try take it as a compliment that your manager has grown to depend on you. Most likely, a promotion is headed your way in the near future.

Searching for New Accounting Opportunities in the Spokane Area?

Provisional Accounting is here to help every step of the way. Get in touch today to find temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, and direct-hire positions with top local employers!