Wages have risen sharply in recent years due to soaring inflation. There’s a good chance your salary also increased. But what if you don’t think it’s enough? Another job with a higher salary might sound tempting. “But salary is secondary.”
Wages rose by an average of 3.9 percent in June. Over the first six months of the year, the increase amounts to 4.1 percent. This is due to the labor shortage to retain staff and the wage demands of the unions at the collective bargaining tables.
You may read about wage increases, but you yourself feel that your salary has not increased much. And all the while you notice that your grocery basket is getting more and more expensive. Due to the labor shortage, changing employers may sound tempting. But is salary a good reason to make that choice?
That depends on your goals, says occupational psychologist Tosca Gort. “If you can’t buy a house, it makes sense to choose salary entirely. But once you’ve bought that house and settled down, you start thinking again about what you enjoy and what makes you happy.”
Salary is usually not the reason why you want to change jobs, says Merel Feenstra-Verschure, organizational psychologist and university lecturer at TIAS School for Business and Society. Often, much more is at play, such as the culture in the workplace, performance pressure, or receiving insufficient appreciation. “Ask yourself if salary is the only reason you come to work. Because that shouldn’t be the intention.”
If things are not going well in the workplace, you can more easily blame it on the salary. And if that’s in your head, it’s harder to let go. “You want to do something that makes you happy,” says Feenstra-Verschure. “If you are not happy with what you do, you can go to another employer for a higher salary. But then you won’t be happy there either, and you’ll quit just as quickly.”
Career coach Bauke van der Voorn also says that a higher salary only provides more motivation for a short time. “With more money you may be able to do more fun things privately, such as taking the trip you’ve always wanted. But if your job doesn’t match what you get satisfaction from, dissatisfaction will arise again. Ultimately, you ask yourself again: does this work fit who I am?”
Discover what you want
“The higher the salary, the more annoying the job,” according to Gort is an old-fashioned thought. It’s about the match and what you get paid for it. “Therefore, consider what your goals are. Where do you want to be in five or ten years? And if you make this choice – for more salary – have you achieved your goals?”
It is also important that a new employer suits you. “Is it a large or small company? Who will be your manager? And how do people work together there?” Feenstra-Verschure mentions as an example.
Discovering what you find important and what gives you satisfaction can be difficult. Make a list of all the important and unimportant things that play a role for you, Gort suggests. That can be different for everyone. Then make a top ten with the most important points and put them in order.
“For some, an hour of travel is an absolute no-go,” says the occupational psychologist. “Someone who is more sensitive may find mental health more important. A career coach can help you make that list.”
Start the conversation or let it go
You can also look around to see what others in a similar position earn. “Do research to get more clarity,” advises Van der Voorn. “This will give you more of a feel for it. Also ask yourself what you need to live the life you want. Can that also be done with less? And what ultimately gives me more satisfaction?”
You can also bring up the salary with your current employer. But it is a waste to leave somewhere only for the salary, says Feenstra-Verschure. “It is very valuable if you let go of the salary. We know from research that you ultimately reach a peak in how satisfied you can be with your salary. If you earn a certain level, you will not be more satisfied with an increase. It is about whether you are happy with your work. The summer vacation is the perfect time to think about this.”
How can you, as an employee, address your salary?
You can always address your salary with your employer. “This can be done, for example, during your annual performance review or in between if you have a reason,” says employment law attorney Pascal Besselink of legal service provider DAS.
A reason could be the increased costs. Or maybe you think you should earn more because of your performance. “There is a shortage in many sectors. If the employer is satisfied, he may be afraid that you will leave if he says no.”
You cannot force a salary increase. And whether the employer can do something for you also depends on what kind of collective labor agreement you have.
Are you covered by a standard collective labor agreement? Then agreements have been made for the entire industry. “The employer is then obliged to follow the collective labor agreement and may not deviate in favor of the employee.” If you are not covered by a collective labor agreement or have a minimum collective labor agreement, that is possible.
Yet you can also address your salary with a standard collective labor agreement. For example, you could go to a higher scale with more responsibilities in consultation with your employer, which also includes a higher salary.
In addition, there are obligations that your employer must meet anyway. Agreements in the collective labor agreement must be followed and with a minimum wage you will receive an increase twice a year.