boss declined my pay rise request, should i ask their boss?

I work in Corp Strategy at a start up, I asked my director for a pay rise this year as I've been at the company for 4 years and haven't had a single pay rise since joining. My director immediately said "no, your salary is high enough already, be happy". I thought they would at least reply saying "ok let me speak to our managing director and see if he is open to it and if we have budget"

But.. they immediately declined. Should I now go behind my directors back and email the managing partner to set up a quick coffee chat, where i can request the pay rise there. 

Or would this burn bridges with my director as i guess it's likely the managing partner will message my director saying "your associate asked me for a pay rise today" and then my director come back to me and shout at me like "why did you go behind my back to the MD after i already told you no?!"

Or... maybe it works out well after I tell the MD I've been here for 4 years with no pay rise they might so "oh ok let me speak to HR and bump you up" 

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Lmao, don't do this. That's something a kid of divorce does when trying to get a new Nintendo. 

If you haven't gotten even a symbolic raise in four years and your boss won't even talk to you like an adult about it, it's time to start looking elsewhere. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I 100% second this. Polish off your resume, look to jump targeting 30% or greater pay rise. You're likely being paid under market rate for your skillset if you've not received an increase at all in four years.  

The rule of thumb I've followed is standard inflation adjustment (dependent on firm) of ~1-5% with big jumps for promotions or senior jump every ~2  years within the early career progression. This is more from my experience and the pulse from the many I've spoken to, but it holds true from what I've seen. 

 

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