If you’re in a position where you need to write a letter for a salary increase recommendation, it’s important that you get it right. Whether it’s for yourself or for somebody else, you want to be sure that your letter of support is well-received. If you have never had to write one before, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll be taking a look through some of the steps you should consider before, during, and after writing a salary increase letter. We’ll also provide some examples of salary increase recommendation templates that can be used either for yourself or for someone else with a few tweaks.
Let’s get started…
In what scenarios can a salary increase recommendation letter be written?
When it comes to salary and pay raises, it can be a difficult conversation, especially when you’re requesting a higher salary. However, it’s perfectly normal and isn’t something an employee should shy away from. After all, jobs are for money, right?
Take the following scenarios as an example:
- Increase in responsibilities
- An unpaid promotion
- Earning less than peers
- Post big achievement
- Increase in cost of living
Would asking for a raise in those scenarios be unrealistic? I think you’d agree with the vast majority that asking for a raise in any one of those situations is the bare minimum of an employee’s entitlement.
This brings us to the next point…
How do you justify an employee salary increase?
If you’re the direct manager of an employee who has either requested a salary increase or you feel they’re entitled to one, you may need to justify this to the higher-ups. Especially if you are formally making a request, it’s best to have some form of reasoning as to why you’re recommending an increase. This is likely to receive a more positive response.
On the other hand, if you are an employee writing a formal letter, the following can still apply.
Here are some ways you can do this:
Review the current working situation
If an employee is taking on additional duties and responsibilities, then being compensated for that is not an unreasonable request. This applies to a promotion within a department. If you can justify how the additional responsibilities require more pay, then include this in the letter.
Additionally, as the recent economic climate has indicated, the cost of living and other external factors like commuting are all potential reasons to request a salary increase.
Another reason may be due to the employee’s performance. Achieving goals, hitting targets, and going above and beyond are all fantastic reasons to request a raise.
Review future working situation
If an employee has recently completed a qualification or training program that raises their employability in the eyes of competitors, a salary raise may be necessary. Rather than risk losing a competent and qualified individual to competitors, employers can increase the employee’s current salary to boost morale and loyalty. Therefore, this can be a justified reason for a salary increase. It may also be worth mentioning how much similar candidates would be worth on the job market. It doesn’t just have to be additional qualifications; experience is just as important. Many job adverts request certain years of experience, which can be accompanied by higher monthly salaries. This may tempt an employee to look elsewhere; however, if a salary increase can be provided at the current company, this can prevent disruption to the company.
How do I write a letter of recommendation for a salary increment?
Writing the letter of recommendation doesn’t need to be difficult. As long as you’re professional and provide enough detail, it will serve its purpose. However, there are certain things to keep in mind.
- Provide a reason
Unfortunately, you can’t just state you’d like to recommend a salary increase. You will need to provide justification. List the reasons why you believe an employee deserves the pay raise
- Use persuasive language
When writing the letter, ensure that you are highlighting the fact you feel the employee is deserving of the raise. Ensure to list what they bring to the table to add further justification.
- Keep it concise
As with any letter or email, keeping things concise and easy to read is a surefire way of ensuring that it will be read and understood.
What are some examples of letters recommending an employee for a salary increase?
Here we have provided a few different scenarios with templates for salary increase recommendation letters. You may need to tweak them for your specific situation if it is not covered.
Salary Increase Letter Template: Finished a Big Project
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase. [He/She] has played an integral part in the recent [Project Name], which has now concluded successfully.
[Employee name] was responsible for the following [List the exact contributions the employee has made here}. The project’s overall success would not have been possible without the hard work and contributions by [Employee name].
Additionally, [Employee Name] has always been a valuable team member since joining in [YEAR]. [He/She/Name] has consistently delivered excellent results, consistently exceeded expectations, and has always displayed a strong work ethic.
I believe a salary increase is well-deserved and would be a valuable recognition of [Employee Name] ’s hard work and contributions to the company. I strongly recommend that [he/she] be considered for a salary increase.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Salary Increase Letter: Salary Increase After Promotion
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase following [his/her] promotion to [Job Title]. [He/She] has always been an integral part of the team since joining in [Year].
[Employee Name’s] promotion to the [Job Title] is a testament to the hard work and dedication that we have seen in [his/her] previous role as [Previous Position].
In the new role, [Employee Name] will be taking on additional responsibilities [if possible, list some of those responsibilities].
I believe that a salary increase is appropriate to reflect the increased level of responsibility and the value [he/she] brings to the company.
I strongly recommend that [Employee Name] be considered for a salary increase. [He/She] is a valuable asset to our team, and I am confident that [he/she] will continue to excel in [his/her] new role.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Salary increase letter: Increase in working hours
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase due to the increase in [his/her] working hours. As a result of [reason why additional hours are required], {Employee Name] has risen to the challenge and is willing to take on the additional responsibility.
[He/She] has always been an integral part of the team since joining in [Year].In addition, [Employee Name’s] availability to take on these extra working hours is a testament to [his/her] hard work and dedication.
I believe that a salary increase is appropriate to reflect the increased working hours and the value [he/she] brings to the company.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Salary Increase Letter: New Degree/Certification/Course
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase in recognition of [his/her] recent achievement in obtaining [Degree/Certification/Course].
[He/She] has always been an integral part of the team since joining in [Year]. In addition, [Employee Name’s] availability in obtaining [Degree/Certification/Course] is a testament to [his/her] dedication to personal and professional growth.
As no doubt you’ll be aware, candidates with [Degree/Certification/Course] can expect [Annual/Monthly Salary] in the current employment market. Therefore I believe that a salary increase is appropriate to reflect the additional value [he/she] brings to the company.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter of Salary Increase: Increase in Responsibilities
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase due to the increase in [his/her] responsibilities. As a result of [reason why additional responsibilities are required], {Employee Name] has risen to the challenge and has shown exceptional work ethic and dedication.
Since [Employee Name] has taken on these additional responsibilities, we have witnessed [List a benefit]. Further adding to the value that [employee name’s] contributions bring.
[He/She] has always been an integral part of the team since joining in [Year].In addition, [Employee Name’s] commitment to taking on these extra responsibilities is a testament to [his/her] hard work and dedication.
I believe that a salary increase is appropriate to reflect the increased responsibilities and the value [he/she] brings to the company.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Salary Increase Letter: Earning Less Than Peers
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase. It has recently been brought to my attention that [Employee Name] is earning less than [his/her] peers with similar qualifications and experience. I believe this is not in line with the value that [Employee Name] brings to the company and needs to be rectified.
Additionally, [Employee Name] has always been a valuable team member since joining in [YEAR]. [He/She/Name] has always provided results, consistently exceeded expectations, and has always displayed a strong work ethic.
I believe a salary increase is well-deserved and would be a valuable recognition of [Employee Name] ’s hard work and contributions to the company. I strongly recommend that [he/she] be considered for a salary increase.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[his/her] current salary is significantly below the market average for [his/her] position. [Employee Name] has been a valuable member of our team for [X] years and has
Letter of Salary Increase: Increase in duties
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase due to the increase in [his/her] duties. As a result of [reason why additional duties are required], {Employee Name] has risen to the challenge and has shown exceptional work ethic and dedication.
Since, [Employee Name] has taken on these additional duties, we have witnessed [List a benefit]. Further adding to the value that [employee name’s] contributions bring.
[He/She] has always been an integral part of the team since joining in [Year].In addition, [Employee Name’s] commitment to taking on these extra duties is a testament to [his/her] hard work and dedication.
I believe that a salary increase is appropriate to reflect the increased responsibilities and the value [he/she] brings to the company.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Salary Increase Letter: Big Achievements
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase. [He/She] has played an integral part in the recent [Big Achievement], which has [list benefit of achievement].
[Employee name] was responsible for the following [List the exact contributions the employee has made here}. The [Big Achievement] would not have been possible without the hard work and contribution by [Employee name].
Additionally, [Employee Name] has always been a valuable team member since joining in [YEAR]. [He/She/Name] has consistently delivered excellent results, exceeded expectations, and has always displayed a strong work ethic.
I believe a salary increase is well-deserved and would be a valuable recognition of [Employee Name] ’s hard work and contributions to the company. I strongly recommend that [he/she] be considered for a salary increase.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Salary Increase Letter: Excellent Performance Letter:
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase following [His/Her] excellent performance review.
[Employee name] has been identified to have [List some of the targets the employee has met here].
Additionally, [Employee Name] has always been a valuable team member since joining in [YEAR]. [He/She/Name] has consistently delivered excellent results, exceeded expectations, and has always displayed a strong work ethic.
I believe a salary increase is well-deserved and would be a valuable recognition of [Employee Name] ’s hard work and contributions to the company. I strongly recommend that [he/she] be considered for a salary increase.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Salary increment recommendation letter: Increase in Cost of Living Letter:
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase due to the recent cost of living increase.
The increased cost of living has impacted [Employee Name’s] financial situation. I have also noticed that [he/she] has not benefited from a salary increase in [X] years.
Additionally, [Employee Name] has always been a valuable team member since joining in [YEAR]. [He/She/Name] has consistently delivered excellent results, exceeded expectations, and has always displayed a strong work ethic.
I believe a salary increase is well-deserved and would be a valuable recognition of [Employee Name] ’s hard work and contributions to the company while providing assistance during these difficult times. I strongly recommend that [he/she] be considered for a salary increase.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Salary Increase Request Letter: Salary Is Below Market Average
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to recommend [Employee Name] for a salary increase. It has recently been brought to my attention that [Employee Name’s] current salary is significantly below the market average for [his/her] position.. I believe this is not in line with the value that [Employee Name] brings to the company and needs to be rectified.
Additionally, [Employee Name] has always been a valuable team member since joining in [YEAR]. [He/She/Name] has always provided results, consistently exceeded expectations, and has always displayed a strong work ethic.
I believe a salary increase is well-deserved and would be a valuable recognition of [Employee Name] ’s hard work and contributions to the company. It would also bring [Employee Name’s] salary in line with market rates. I strongly recommend that [he/she] be considered for a salary increase.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Bottom Line
There you have it. Salary increase recommendation letters don’t need to be difficult. We hope you found this article interesting and informative. Feel free to browse the rest of our site for more useful information about all things employment.