Why Failing to Negotiate Your Salary Is a Big Mistake

Why Failing to Negotiate Your Salary Is a Big MistakeWhy Failing to Negotiate Your Salary Is a Big Mistake1If youve just scored a new job, theres a lot to be happy about. The interview process can be grueling, and once that offer letter comes to your inbox you can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Afteryouve done a little victory dance, though, put your best professional face back on- its negotiation time.Most people are uncomfortable with the idea of negotiating their salary. Unless you negotiate for a living, these skills can get a bit rusty. The truth is that there are a number of reasons why its best for your career to do so, and its not just about making mora money in the here and now.Here are some of the biggest reasons why failing to negotiate your salary at the start of a new job is a mistakeYoure setting yourself up for less money down the road.Yes of course making more money right now would be great, but consider the fact that if you dont negotiate for your salary at the be ginning of a new gig, youre setting your future self up to make less money as well. Every future raise will be based on that base salary, and likely new jobs outside of your current company will, too, since many ask for current salary as a starting point for offers.Not convinced? Consider this Salary.com survey, whichfound that women who fail to negotiate their salaries at the start of their careers could be leaving up to $2 million on the table.Youre losing out on additional retirement savings, and possibly matches.Failing to negotiate your salary may have consequences on your retirement savings, as well. If youre lucky enough to work for an employer that offers a 401(k), the higher your salary, the more money youll save when you contribute 3-5 percent of your salary. If your company matches up to a certain percent, youll get a bigger piece of the pie with a larger 401(k) contribution.You could lose a little face.The next time you feel awkward over salary negotiations, remember tha t employers expect to have a bit of back and forthwith new hires over benefits and compensation. In fact, research from Salary.com found that 73percent of employers agreed they are not offended when people negotiate, 84percent said they always expect job applicants to negotiate during the interview stage, and 87percent said theyve never taken back an offer following negotiations.Youll start your job holding a grudge.Your new employer undoubtedly hired you for a myriad of reasons, many of which probably have nothing to do with how much youre worthbut you should know how much youre worth. Starting a new job on the wrong foot, even if its just an inner herausforderung you have with yourself over not negotiating, is never a good idea.If you at least attempted to negotiate, youll be showing your employer that you know your own value, and you arent afraid to go after it.You could be putting your relationship with coworkers in jeopardy.Most people would rather talk about any topic other th an how much money they make, but if you work with the same people for long enough, the topic may come up. Imagine how you would feel learning that your coworkers in the same position make significantly more than you do? Imagine how they would feel?Of course arming yourself with as much salary information as possible is super important going into a negotiation (here are the median salaries for 20 career fields to help with that), but once the damage is done and your salary is set, finding out people make more than you for doing the same work is only bound to make everyone uncomfortable.Finally convinced that negotiating for your salary is good move? Great Now here are some tips to help you get the package you deserve, as well as advice on how to negotiate your salary when you have a flexible job.

How to Navigate Pumping-at-Work Laws at Your Office - The Muse

How to Navigate Pumping-at-Work Laws at Your Office - The MuseHow to Navigate Pumping-at-Work Laws at Your Office Making sense of legal jargon can be difficult for anyone- and even more so if youre operating on three-hour increments of sleep and are simultaneously figuring out how to keep a tiny human alive. This is how I found myself furiously Googling pumping-at-work laws during a middle-of-the-night feeding shortly after I returned from maternity leave.Long story short, due to an office downsizing the empty office that had initially been designated as a motherbeis room welches no longer available, so the company was forced to create a makeshift pumping room in our new, more cramped open office plan. As ideas were batted around (a parteially glass-walled shared conference room, a room on the other side of the building, and a supply closet- which ended up being the winner, by the way), I started to wonder what exactly I was entitled to, and so I began to cobble together as much know ledge as I could about lactation laws.In an attempt to spare fellow nursing parents the endless Google pursuit, lets break down what the law says about pumping at work and how you can best advocate for yourself, according to experts.What Laws Are in Place to Support Nursing Mothers at Work?Your primary protection comes by way of the Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision, which was passed in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act. This law provides covered employees with the right to time and a private space to pump at work during the first year of their childs life.Who Does the Law Apply To?The biggest misconception about the Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision is that it only applies to large companies. The law actually applies to all employers, whether youre working at a juggernaut of a corporation or an itty-bitty early-stage startup. The caveat that confuses people is that companies with fewer than 50 employees could technically be off the hook for complying if they can prove that providing break time and accommodations would create an undue hardship.However, experts are quick to point out that behauptung scenarios are unlikely. Given how typically easy it is to provide break time and space, cases where there is a true undue hardship are going to be rare, says Liz Morris, Deputy Director of the Center for WorkLife Law at UC Hastings College of the Law.A significant undue hardship implies that accommodating a lactating employee would cause the employer significant expense or construction, according to Cheryl Lebedevitch, Senior Workplace Program Manager Policy Analyst at the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). Its a high bar to prove, especially because simple, inexpensive solutions have been implemented in every industry, she says.Simple, inexpensive solutions have been implemented in every industry.Cheryl LebedevitchHowever, there is a loophole in the law due to a technicality, which leaves many breastfeeding empl oyees unprotected. The Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision is placed within the Federal Labor Standards Acts overtime section, so it only really applies to non-exempt employees. In other words, it covers most hourly workers, but not salaried workers.This was an unintentional oversight in the passage of the law, Morris says. Unfortunately the result is that nine mio women of childbearing age are left out of the laws protections, including teachers and many registered nurses.As a result, there have been efforts to remedy this oversight with a federal law that would cover salaried, exempt employees.What if Im Not Covered by the Federal Break Time Provision?There are a couple of additional safety nets that support nursing parents. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, provides additional protections at the federal level by saying that discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions is sex discrimination. In other words, it makes it illegal to fire an employee because she is breastfeeding or asks to pump breast milk.To boot, about half of states, including California, New York, and Nevada, have laws similar to the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision that require companies to provide break time and accommodations for lactating employees. The details vary so take some time to familiarize yourself with your own state laws here.What Kind of Space Am I Entitled To?Simply put, under the Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision, your lactation space should be private and functional. No one should be able to see you or barge in on you. Maybe thats accomplished by putting a lock or sign on the door, Morris says.It needs to, at the very least, have a place for you to sit and a flat surface for your pump other than the floor. Most importantly, you shouldnt be relegated to the bathroom- or any other unclean space. Breast milk is food for babies, so it cannot be prepared in a toilet stall, Morris says.Breast milk is food for babies, so it cannot be prepared in a toilet stall.Liz MorrisStill, dont expect bespoke digs. Lactation accommodations dont have to be permanent, so its not uncommon for employers to designate a room used for other purposes- such as a supply room, empty office, or conference room- as a pumping room.How Much Time Is Considered Reasonable?As anyone whos had the excruciating experience of waiting for three ounces of milk to accumulate drop by drop can tell you, the time it takes to pump varies not just person to person, but even session to session. Fortunately, whats considered reasonable isnt specified. According to the Department of Labor, its as frequently as needed by the mother.And remember that your break time doesnt just cover the act of pumping, it also includes all the related activities, including the time it takes you to get to the lactation room, assemble your pump parts, clean up, store your milk, and get back to work.What if I D ont Work a Traditional Desk Job?Not all jobs involve eight hours spent behind a computer screen. Professions like food services and retail put different demands on employees days that may make it difficult to find time and space to pump. In these situations management is still on the hook to ensure that there is coverage in place that allows employees to pump, according to Morris. When staffed properly, most businesses can provide breaks for rest and eating. Finding coverage is a normal part of doing business, she says.When staffed properly, most businesses can provide breaks for rest and eating. Finding coverage is a normal part of doing business.Liz MorrisBut it could mean you have to get creative with your space. Lisa, an elementary school teacher, had to navigate this when she was nursing. I used my classroom. I knew my desk area was clean, and I didnt want to be offered a closet, which is what a lot of my friends did at other schools, she says. I locked my doors, put up a do no t enter sign and pumped at my desk. I brought a pumping cover, told my co-workers, and did my thing. Because coverage is hard to come by in her district, she scheduled her pumping breaks to coincide with her students specials, lunch, and her commute.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Womens Health offers clever solutions for carving out time and space in other industries. For example, a retrofitted dressing room could serve as a pumping space in a clothing store, or a managers office could become a makeshift lactation room in a restaurant.How Do I Make Sure My Employer Is Ready to Give Me What I Need?Dont wait until youre juggling a baby on top of your professional responsibilities to figure out your pumping plan. Talk to your boss before you take maternity leave. The big suggestion I have is to tear off the Band-Aid and have the awkward conversations up front. Dont beat around the bush, says Jessica Shortall, author of Work. Pump. Repeat. The New Moms Surviv al Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work. You may want to start the conversation over email if it feels less awkward than face-to-face.If your companys accommodations are unclear, resist the urge to go in guns blazing. I dont think its a good idea to march into someones office waving around a print-out of the state law because thats antagonistic, Shortall says. There are other ways to go about it at first.Shortall recommends thinking about what youll need to pump in terms of space and time and writing out as much of a plan as possible before you speak with your manager. The biggest thing is to get proactive, she says.Consider using this sample script to guide the conversation Since we dont have a designated lactation space, Id like to discuss how we can work together to create one. Here are a few ideas I had Id like to get ahead of this so I can be as productive as possible and cause minimal disruptions when I return.How Do I Communicate How Pumping Will Affect My Schedule a nd Availability?In addition to telling your manager what youll need in terms of space, be clear with them about the time youll need. Shortall suggests having a conversation with direct reports as well. Let them know that pumping will impact your schedule to some extent, but that its a temporary change.You may want to go as far as to block out your pump breaks on your shared calendar so that theyll know you wont be available. Before returning from leave, for example, I set up three daily recurring 20-minute appointments at the times I anticipated pumping and treated them like any other meeting Id honor.What Do I Do if My Employer Isnt Meeting These Requirements or I Feel Im Being Discriminated Against?Bias against mothers is one of the strongest forms of bias against women, Morris says. Breastfeeding and seeking accommodations for pumping really draws attention to a workers motherhood role. Whats more, breastfeeding discrimination exists in many industries and has serious economic ra mifications for the nursing parents it affects.The first thing you can do if youre denied accommodations or suspect youre being discriminated against is to have a conversation with your manager or, if your manager is the obstacle, HR. When you have these talks, ask specifically what the schwierigkeit is so you can try to troubleshoot it. Come ready with solutions to combat concerns about time or space.For instance, if your boss is worried about a lack of space in your small office, you can suggest a temporary option, like a screened-off area or an unconventional space, such as a storage room. Sometimes having a note from a healthcare provider with medical documentation of their recommendation- like this example provided by the Center for WorkLife Law- may be helpful, says Lebedevitch. It could come from your doctor, your childs pediatrician, or your lactation support provider.We definitely encourage moms to get help as soon as they need it. Moms arent alone to fight this battle.Cher yl LebedevitchYou can also seek assistance or just a second opinion outside of work if you think bias is afoot. We definitely encourage moms to get help as soon as they need it, Lebedevitch says. Moms arent alone to fight this battle.Initiatives like PregnantWork and A Better Balance offer free legal hotlines. Because each case is so different, youre best off getting advice tailored to your situation. Make sure to keep records of any concerning behavior- including relevant emails or texts and written accounts of incidents with dates- so you have something in writing to help you reliably remember everything thats been said to you.The triple-whammy pressures of performing at work, raising an infant, and figuring out how to pump can feel insurmountable. But its important to remember that youre not alone.Because pumping is an issue that affects almost exclusively women, it gets dismissed as a problem that doesnt need to be solved at work, Shortall says. I think we absorb some of that to o and think, its on me and only me to solve.Though youll need to be ready to advocate for yourself, there are regulations and resources that have your back. Youve got enough to lose sleep over right now- dont let pumping laws be one of them.

9 Everyday Decisions That Will Make or Break Your Career

9 Everyday Decisions That Will Make or Break Your Career9 Everyday Decisions That Will Make or Break Your CareerPerspective always clears away the fog. When we look forward, the path seems uncertain and the future unpredictable. When we look back, all the dots seem to connect.The key is to never be forced to look back and regret certain decisions- and that means standing strong in the face of challenges, adversity, and stress. (In other words, staying mentally strong.)Here are nine decisions that successful people refuse to make.1. Choosing to Give in to FearBeing brave doesnt mean you arent afraid- in fact, the opposite is true. Courage without thought or meaning is simply recklessness. Brave people arent fearless theyve simply found something that matters more to them than fear.Say youre scared to departure a geschftliches miteinander. Find a reason to do that that means more creating a better future for your family, wanting to make a real difference, or hoping for a more rewarding and fulfilling life.Once you find a greater meaning, you also find courage. See fear not as something to shrink from but as something to overcome, because thats all it is.2. Choosing the Pain of Regret Over the Pain of DisciplineThe worst words you can say are If only I had...Think of all the things youve wanted to do but never have. What did you do instead? If youre like me, you dont even remember. All that time is gone, and whatever I did instead welchesnt even worth remembering.Think about something you dreamed of doing five or 10 years ago but didnt work to do- and think about how good youd be today at that thing if you had. Think about all the time you wasted and can never get back.Then, today, start pushing yourself to do what you hope to do, so, five or 10 years from now, you wont look back with regret.Sure, the work is hard. Sure, the work is painful. But its a lot less painful than thinking back on what will never be.3. Choosing to Not Say I WillA boss once gave me what I thought was an impossible task. I said, OK. Ill try.He told me trying didnt matter- as long as I didnt quit, Id finish it. Trying didnt enter into it. Persistence was all that mattered.Often we say Ill try because that gives us an out. Our ego isnt on the line. Our identity isnt on the line. After all, were just trying.Once we say I will, our perspective changes. What previously seemed insurmountable is no longer a matter of luck or chance but of time and effort and persistence.When what you want to do really matters, dont say Ill try. Say I will, and then keep that promise to yourself.4. Choosing to Not Take Lots of Small RisksYou may never create the perfect business plan, or find the perfect partners or the perfect market or the perfect location, but you can find the perfect time to start- because that time is now.Talent, experience, and connections are important, but put your all into enough new things, and some will work.Plus, after you take enough chances, over time youll grow more skilled, more experienced, and more connected. And that will mean that an even greater percentage of your efforts will succeed. Take enough shots, and learn from each experience, and in time youll have all the skills, knowledge, and connections you need.Ultimately, success is a numbers game its all about taking a shot, over and over and over again. The more shots you take, the more times you will succeed. So get the power of numbers on your side and take as many shots as you can.There is no guarantee of success, but when you dont take any shots at all, youre guaranteed to always fail.5. Choosing to Not MoveFamiliarity creates comfort. But comfort is often the enemy of improvement.If you have a great opportunity and the only thing holding you back is the thought of moving, move. If you want to be closer to family or friends and the only thing holding you back is the thought of moving, move. If you want to be closer to people who think and feel and act like you, move.Youll soon find cool new places to hang out. Youll soon develop new routines. Youll soon make new friends. When the fear of moving is the only thing holding you back, move. Youll meet cool new people, do cool new things, and gain a cool new perspective on your life.Besides, Thomas Wolfe was wrong If it doesnt work out, you can go home again.6. Choosing to Not Let GoBitterness, resentment, and jealousy are like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. You are the only one who loses.Life is too short to resent all the people who may have hurt you. Let hard feelings go.Then spend the energy you save cherishing the people who love you.7. Choosing to Not Say Youre SorryWe all make mistakes, so we all have things we need to apologize for words, actions, omissions, failing to step up, step in, to be there when were needed.Swallow your fear- or pride- and say youre sorry. Then youll help the other person let go of her resentment or bitterness.And then you both get to make the freshest of fresh starts, sooner instead of later- or instead of never.8. Choosing to Not Throw Out Your Backup PlansBackup plans can help you sleep easier at night.Backup plans can also create an easy out when times get tough.You will work a lot harder and a longer if your primary plan has to work because there is no other option. Total commitment- without a safety net- will spur you to work harder than you ever imagined possible.Then, if somehow the worst does happen (although the worst is never as bad as you think), trust that you will find a way to rebound.As long as you keep working hard and keep learning from your mistakes, you always will.9. Choosing to Be Too ProudDont be too proud to admit you made a mistake. To have big dreams. To poke fun at yourself. To ask other people for help.To fail.And to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go again.Instead, take pride in the fact that no matter what might happen, you will always get up and go again.That way, you never truly lose- and you r dreams can never die.More From Inc.How to Disrupt Your Day By Improving Your Habits12 Inconvenient Truths That Smart People Easily Forget 14 Things Successful People Do First Thing in the MorningPhoto of man looking at laptop courtesy of Shutterstock.