How do you guys handle it when a relatively good employee asks for an outrageous raise? I just had a guy who is being paid $18/hour ask me to be paid $28/hour. He’s a decent worker, but really not particularly skilled at anything. I have much more skilled employees that make less than what he’s asking for. This person does mostly odd jobs throughout the business. He said he came up with that number because represents a 10% raise for each year he has been here, though the math clearly doesn’t work on that; he would be at less than $24/hour even if I had given him a 10% raise each year.
I agree he deserves a raise, but that amount is crazy. I can hire much more skilled and competent people at that rate. I’m somewhat indifferent to whether he stays or goes, but I don’t see him really quitting as he and my office manager are a couple, and they like to commute to work together. I can handle things if both of them quit. Life would be less fun for a bit, it’s not the end of the world. I don’t see any real scenario where they will be otherwise able to work together like they do now.
You need to fire the couple it’s a standard no in a business to have couples in it due to drama. Also if he is asking for that raise and you don’t give it to him then he is probably already looking for another job. He will leave you as soon as possible. Just let him go by writing him up for being late or pay for unemployment. You can always hire a better person. Unskilled labor should not be rewarded unless they bring in more value to the company. Tell him to kick rocks. Maybe a 2 or 3 dollar raise is a nice gesture but not required. That’s how business is done.