Brendan O'Connor How to ask for a pay rise
Mar 28, 2026
Caroline Reidy, Head of HR Solutions at NFP and pay negotiation specialist, explains when to ask for a review and how to prepare. She covers upcoming pay-transparency laws, benchmarking your salary with data, linking raises to employer benefits, and alternatives to threats like bonuses or discreet market testing.
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Ask After You’ve Proven Yourself
- Do time your salary request after you've proven yourself, typically at six months or definitely after one year.
- Caroline Reidy advises using that review point to show concrete contributions and bargain from a position of leverage.
Pay Transparency Will End Negotiation In A Vacuum
- Pay transparency rules coming from a European directive will let employees compare salaries within the same job category.
- Caroline says this cultural shift will expose gender pay gaps and stop people asking for raises 'in a vacuum'.
Schedule And Structure The Conversation
- Do book a meeting and prepare expectations rather than ambushing your boss unexpectedly.
- Caroline recommends outlining your contributions, proposed objectives and the mutual benefits ahead of the pay discussion.