বাংলা | Epaper

বাংলা E-Paper 📍 Dhaka 📅 Saturday | 29 August 2026, 14 Bhadro 1433 PID registration number 06

HEADLINE

● Irene Khan assumes charge as Bangladesh’s permanent representative to UN ● 50-Km tailback grips Dhaka-Ctg highway ● Number of missing in Nepal, China floods soars past 2,400 ● Food Minister warns of tough action against syndicates ● Five more children die of measles symptoms ● Why India is eager to host Bangladesh PM? ● Fresh flood risk recedes in Nepal, rescue operations resume

What does it really take to get a salary hike at work?

Published : Friday, 28 August, 2026 at 6:22 PM

Observer Online Report

Symbolic Photo

Getting a salary increase at work is not simply about working longer hours or pointing to rising living costs. Career experts say employees need to demonstrate their value to an organisation, understand their market worth and develop skills that can contribute directly to business outcomes.

Consider Shanto, a pseudonym, who received a monthly salary of Tk 60,000 this month. He was neither particularly disappointed nor excited. His salary has remained almost unchanged for three years. When he joined the company, he earned Tk 56,500, meaning his salary has increased by only Tk 3,500 over the period.

Meanwhile, living costs have risen, including house rent and the prices of everyday necessities. Friends often advise Rakib to change jobs, but he wonders whether moving to another company would automatically raise his salary to Tk 100,000.

The real challenge, however, is not simply increasing his salary from Tk 60,000 to Tk 100,000. It is about increasing his market value as an employee.

Hard work is not enough; show your impact

Being a loyal and dependable employee and earning a higher salary are not necessarily the same thing.

Arriving at work on time, handling files efficiently, following instructions and maintaining good relationships with colleagues are all valuable qualities. But employers also want to know why an employee deserves to be paid more than others.

Career expert Sho Dewan, writing in Forbes in May 2026, said employees cannot secure higher pay simply by putting in more hours or working hard. They need to demonstrate that they are reliable and that their work produces measurable results for the organisation.

Therefore, Shanto's first step should be to document his achievements. Instead of telling his employer, "I work very hard all day," he should present evidence such as how his work helped the company save money, increase revenue or improve performance over the past year.

Know your real market value

Asking for a salary increase without knowing the market rate for one's position is like shopping without knowing the prices.

According to a June 2026 report by Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation, employees should understand prevailing market rates, their own contributions and their organisation's current priorities before entering salary negotiations.

The report also recommends focusing on the value of one's work rather than personal or family expenses.

Instead of telling a manager, "Everything has become more expensive," an employee could explain, "I successfully completed these three important projects over the past year, contributing to a measurable improvement in the organisation's performance."

Add technology and specialised skills

Shanto then reviewed his skills and realised that he had been doing largely the same work for three years without acquiring significant new skills.

A study published on LinkedIn in August 2026, based on data involving 2.4 million workers, found that specialised skills can create opportunities to move into higher-paying positions, while developing a broader range of skills can also make it easier to transition into new careers.

Therefore, simply spending more time at work is not enough. Employees need to acquire skills that are valuable to their organisations.

For example, a marketing professional could learn data analytics, an accounts professional could develop expertise in modern financial software, while a writer could learn to use artificial intelligence tools effectively. Such specialised capabilities can help distinguish an employee from colleagues with similar experience.

Negotiate strategically

Many employees hesitate to ask their employers for a salary increase. However, salary negotiations can become easier with proper preparation.

According to Harvard's Program on Negotiation in July 2026, employees do not necessarily have to focus only on their basic salary. They can also negotiate for additional responsibilities, a clear promotion pathway or greater flexibility in their work arrangements.

A Forbes report published in April 2026 also cited data showing that only 30.4% of new employees negotiated their salaries during the final quarter of 2025. Among those who negotiated, 90% received a better offer in some form.

Should you change jobs or improve your skills?

Changing jobs can be an effective way to increase income, but it should not necessarily be the first option.

Leaving a job simply to move from Tk 60,000 to Tk 70,000 can be risky. Employees should also consider how much they will learn at the new organisation and whether the move will increase their market value over the following year.

For young professionals in Bangladesh, the strategy can therefore be straightforward: acquire a valuable skill within the next six months, maintain a record of measurable achievements, research current market salaries and then approach the employer with a well-prepared case for a raise.

A salary increase does not always require changing jobs. If an employee can increase the value of their work, they may also have a stronger case for earning more within the same organisation.

Ultimately, the equation is simple: the more valuable an employee becomes to an organisation, the stronger the justification for a higher salary.

-HIS