How health care system works


8 Ways To Boost Your Salary

Studies show that job satisfaction rises with
an employee's salary. It's a simple equation:Tell the Boss: "Have you met our supplier's
The more money you make, the more valuednew assistant? You should grab lunch with us
you'll  feel.today,  I'll  introduce  you."
Money can't buy happiness, but proof thatThe Bottom Line: A powerful network can put
you're important at work can be veryyou in touch with different people and
important both in and away from the office. Askills,  increasing  your  own  value.
low salary could be the biggest reason why
you're unsatisfied at work, but there are a5.  Use  Your  Experience
number of things you can do to increase your
worth.In the journal Training, Jeff Barbian reports
that workers with 13 or more years'
1.  Watch  Your  Benefitsexperience can expect to earn 33% more than
their coworkers with less than three years of
Many employees are still reeling from theexperience. If you've been with one company
layoff scares of the 1990s. However, somefor a while, you have a powerful bargaining
reasons behind layoffs and low pay healthchip towards a better paycheck. If you're new
care insurance benefits, for example, haveto the company or the field, however, you can
since changed. According to an article instill use the experience you have to your
U.S. News & World Report, "since 1995, theadvantage. A familiarity with machines or
spread of managed care, plus othercomputer programs at work could make you an
cost-containment measures, has freed up doughappealing trainer for new hires, earning you
that otherwise would have been consumed bymore  respect  and  an  argument for a raise.
health care inflation." Ask your HR
department for the numbers on health care andTell the Boss: "Let me give James the
pension plans from the past ten years.tour--I'll show him how to un-jam that
Sometimes, employers are willing to pass theprinter  that's  giving  you  trouble."
savings  on  to  their experienced employees.
The Bottom Line: Experience can be measured
Tell the Boss: "Since the new insurance planin  more  ways  than  years.
raised my deductible, I need a dependable way
to  cover  the  difference."6.  Go  Where  You're  Needed
The Bottom Line: If your salary hasn'tA recent survey in Network World found that
changed since the Clinton administration, butemployees often benefit from "job hopping,"
your benefit package has, asking for a raiseor quitting one job in favor of one with more
shouldn't  put  your  job  in  jeopardy.benefits or higher pay. IT professionals
loyal to their company made an average of
2.  Take  On  Responsibility$74,010 a year, while job hoppers averaged
$85,200. More employees are keeping their
Even small tasks can make a difference ineyes on the classifieds even if they are
your value as an employee. If you're the onlysomewhat satisfied with their jobs, and
one in the office who can operate theenjoying the rewards for doing the same work
projection machine or maintain the companyin  a  new  office.
website, you'll be a leader among your
coworkers and an asset to your boss.Tell the Boss: "I want to be on board with a
Employers appreciate a willingness tocompany that values its employees, and I've
volunteer, and a list of your uniqueheard  great  things  about  your  team."
abilities can be a benefit to you at a
performance evaluation. Of course, the moreThe Bottom Line: If you're ready to change
training you have in the field, the moreyour routine, a new job in the same field can
likely you'll be able to handle new tasks andbe  a  challenge  and  a  reward.
technology.
7.  Change  Your  Scenery
Tell the Boss: "We could organize this
paperwork into an Excel file pretty easily.Your location can mean a big difference in
Do  you  want  me  to  set  up  a  template?"the money you bring home. According to
Salary.com, human resources managers making
The Bottom Line: If you have the time and$77,885 in Des Moines, Iowa, might average
knowledge, a new task can both challenge and$80,967 in Syracuse, New York, or $83,477 in
benefit  you.Portland, Oregon. You'll need to take things
like relocation cost and cost of living into
3.  Educate  Yourselfaccount, but a change of scenery can
revitalize your outlook on life, as well as
There are real financial benefits to gettingyour  paycheck.
an education. In 2005, the U.S. Census
reported that a college degree nearly doublesTell the Boss: "I've always heard this part
a worker's salary, on average. Workers overof the country was beautiful, but I had to
18 in the U.S. with a bachelor's degree earnsee  it  for  myself."
over $23,000 a year more than workers with a
high school diploma, and any level ofThe Bottom Line: A new location is a drastic
education can mean a permanent raise in yourchange, but moving can mean more than a
salary. Because employers often want theirbetter  salary.
employees to be trained and educated, some
companies offer tuition assistance for8.  Bargain  Smart
workers willing to go to school on their own
time.When it's time to negotiate a raise, you need
to be prepared. Come to the table with your
Tell the Boss: "If you invest in me, I'll usequalifications, and anticipate your
my education and training to benefit theemployer's concerns. In Business Week,
future  of  this  company."management professor Deborah M. Kolb suggests
coming up with rebuttals for an employer's
The Bottom Line: Higher education can be alikely concerns. Among them: "I realize the
financial commitment, but the benefits couldbudget is tight; it has been that way for
last  a  lifetime.some time, but we have some new hires," and
"I know the budget is tight, let's see if we
4.  Shake  Some  Handscan work around it." In both cases, empathy,
or taking the time to understand your
From multinational corporations to the row ofemployer's concerns, combines with your own
stores in a small-town block, success inplan to make the negotiation more of a
business is all about who you know. A recentcooperative  effort.
article in Black Enterprise illuminates the
secrets of the casual network: "Lunchtime andTell the Boss: "We both care about the future
coffee breaks provide an excellentat this company. I want to feel confidant
opportunity for informal meetings, whilethat  I'll  be  here for many years to come."
workplace organizations such as affinity
groups, softball teams, and voluntaryThe Bottom Line: Realizing that your employer
committees offer more structured methods ofhas his or her own set of concerns can help
getting to know people from all walks of theyou  work  together.
organization." If you want to advance in your
field, think of the tasks you complete atFor every salary boosting strategy,
work as only half of your job--the other halfconfidence is the key. Once you realize that
is meeting people, expanding your circle, andyou're worth a more lucrative day at work,
getting  your  name  out.make sure your boss knows, too.



1 A B C D 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 84 85 87 88 89 91 92 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 106 107 108 109 110