An acquaintance of mine truly believes asking for more money is rude and wrong
I was talking with an acquaintance a few nights ago, and her opinion on salary negotiation left me completely confused, and honestly, a bit sad for her.
I was telling her about another friend whose financial situation is difficult and who truly needs a job with a better salary. This friend applied somewhere, and when asked about her salary expectations, she gave a range, for example, from $18 to $22 an hour. After a few interviews, they offered her $21. She responded politely, expressed her enthusiasm for the position, and gently asked if there was any room for them to reach the higher end of the range she mentioned, $22 an hour. What was their response? They lowered their offer to $20.50 an hour.
The acquaintance I was talking to that night completely sided with the employer, insisting that my other friend was wrong and impolite. Throughout our conversation, she kept saying that one shouldn't ask for more money if a range has already been given. She said that the company offered within that range, so my friend should have just accepted, and that this situation proves that 'nobody wants to work anymore.' The strangest thing she said was that companies don't know how much they can pay someone, which is why they ask candidates for their desired range... I mean, what kind of logic is that?
I was genuinely shocked and felt concerned for her and her situation. She is a single mother with teenage children, barely making ends meet in modest housing, and has previously mentioned that her family often helps her pay bills. With all the difficulties she faces, why would anyone defend an employer who is clearly toying with a person's potential earnings? And why would one think they are obligated to accept whatever is put on the table? I tried to explain to her that I've successfully negotiated my salary in every professional job I've had, except for my very first job when I was still learning the ropes. She dismissed my point, saying I was an exception and that such behaviour is generally unacceptable. Perhaps it's a generation gap - I'm about ten years younger than her - but now I can't stop thinking about all the financial opportunities she might be missing out on because she's not willing to speak up for herself.