1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Following yesterday’s episode on asking for the meeting, Nichole tackles a common question: should you involve HR before you talk to your manager? In this episode: A note that every company is different and that Nichole isn’t a lawyer, so check your own company’s policies Why the default for most people is to start with your manager, who knows your work best and will advocate for you, and why going to HR first can feel like skipping a step and catch your manager off guard Five situations where HR makes sense: Your company has a formal process with set forms, bands, or timelines Your manager doesn’t control compensation, because decisions are made higher up or by a committee You’re not sure how pay bands work, and HR may be able to share the range, especially where pay transparency laws apply You have a concern about fairness, in which case you should document what you found Your relationship with your manager is strained, or they’ve been unresponsive after several tries to get on their calendar How to approach HR well: ask process questions, not demands, such as how compensation reviews are handled and when decisions are made Why to keep your manager informed that you’re looking into the process, since transparency builds trust and you don’t want them to hear about it secondhand A reminder that HR works for the company and isn’t your personal advocate the way a manager or mentor might be, so stick to facts A preview that what to do if your manager doesn’t have the power to approve raises, or keeps avoiding the topic, comes in a couple of weeks Today’s task: decide whether to start with your manager or check in with HR about process, write your reason in one sentence, and if you choose HR, write one or two process questions you’d ask Download the 7 Days to Ask for a Raise Challenge to help you confidently ask for a raise&amp;nbsp;here. Connect with Nichole on Instagram&amp;nbsp;@nichole.harrop Future Female Leaders http://www.nicholeharrop.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/43615384/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/43615384