At many companies, there’s a feeling that now is not the time to ask for a raise. Businesses are struggling, and many have laid off more than a few employees. Asking for a raise can feel like you’re putting yourself up on the chopping block and asking to go next.

But that’s not necessarily the case. While not all companies have a lot of room for negotiations, you do still have some opportunities to look for a raise.

No Harm In Asking

Asking for a raise is certainly not a reason that an employer might find acceptable for sending out another pink slip. As long as you’ve been working hard, your supervisor will at least show some sympathy for your request for a little extra in your weekly paycheck. Admittedly, that isn’t something that always translates into actually offering you a raise — but don’t let the fact that times are hard keep you from asking.

Even in companies with a pay freeze, I think it’s worth asking. Of course, asking straight up for cash isn’t likely to get you a thing, but if you’ve been putting in plenty of hours, you may be able to get a pay raise in the form of some other perk you’ve been after. If you can think of a benefit that would help you save the money you have to spend in order to work, it might be worth bringing up with your supervisor.

The Work of Ten Men

If there have been cuts in your department, the odds are pretty good that you’ve been landed with extra work and responsibilities. Your paycheck covers the job you were hired to do, making it very reasonable to ask for a raise if you’re doing more than your job description. In offices where there have been layoffs, you’ll need to step carefully, but there’s still no harm in asking.

Put together your reasons ahead of time. Document extra time you’ve been putting in at the office, projects you’ve taken on and deadlines you’ve met. Make sure that you really do have the paperwork to show that you’re doing the work of multiple people. You should also have a pretty clear idea of both what you want and what you’re likely to get. It is highly unlikely that you’ll just get the salary of the people who’s responsibilities you’ve taken over added to your paycheck. But adding a few bucks on to your paycheck each week will be cheaper for your employer than finding another person to take your position — and far less paperwork if there’s a hiring freeze on.

Even if you think that a pay bump is obtainable, I encourage you to doublecheck that there aren’t any perks that would provide you with a better payoff in the long-term. If you’ve been dreaming of telecommuting, getting your supervisor to agree to such a set up is probably easier right now than getting a raise. Even better, you’ll still wind up financially ahead with the money and time you save on your commute.

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