ByNeed a Raise Due to a Rise in the Cost of Living in California?
Inflation rises every year, and as a result, the cost of living rises too. Even so, most of us don't receive a pay increase even though it's necessary. You can, however, negotiate with your employer for a raise, but
The short answer to that question is no, a company is not required to give you a raise if the cost of living has gone up. Some companies will hand out annual raises anyway, while others will wait for an employee to request a raise and provide a reason why they deserve it. This doesn't always mean you'll receive a raise, but DoNotPay can help you get a better chance of earning one.
Why Do Companies Give Cost of Living Raises in California?
California is one of the most expensive states to live in, so it can be difficult to keep up with inflation rates. A can be a great perk of working with companies that have it included in their employees’ contracts. This type of raise is to help ensure that an employee's salary has the same buying power as it did previously.
What Should You Place in Your Salary Increase Letter?
Writing a salary increase letter can be frustrating, as there are several things you need to include within one. It can be anxiety-inducing too, especially if you're not the type of person who has experience writing a letter like this. While this may not be exact for your circumstance, here are a few essential things you should include in a salary increase letter:
- The general purpose of your letter. What has prompted you to write a salary increase letter? It's helpful to include your job title, name, how long you've worked for your company, and how much you enjoy working with them. Try to snag a few brownie points before you continue.
- The reason you want a pay increase. In this case, it would be due to the rise in the cost of living in California.
- Why your request is justified. Talk about how much inflation has risen, and your work ethic and capabilities at your workplace have improved.
- How much of an increase you're requesting.
- Your willingness to negotiate.
Finding the right words to say is a difficult task to take on by yourself. If you say one wrong thing, it can mean not getting the pay increase that you deserve. You could find someone to help you write the letter, but if they aren't familiar with your company or how to write a professional-sounding letter, then they may not be of much help. Don't worry though, because there is a successful method of getting the raise you need.
Why Should I Request an Inflation Pay Increase in California?
California is expensive; there's no denying that fact. That means inflation doesn't affect Alabama the same way it does California. A 5.9% increase in inflation is less money in states where the cost of living is less expensive overall. The average rent cost in Mississippi is $727 for a two-bedroom apartment, while in California the average cost for the same apartment is $1337. A 5.9% increase for Mississippi means your rent has only risen by $43, but in California, it's risen by almost $80. If everything you pay for has risen by the same percentage, you'll need significantly more money to afford to live. A pay increase can be essential in ensuring you have enough to support yourself and/or your family.
How Does COVID-19 Affect Our Cost of Living?
It's no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the economy. People went out less to avoid getting sick, so people bought fewer things that were unnecessary, and more essential items. The demand for essential items caused the prices to rise, while the price of other items may have fallen at first.
Here Are a Few Ways the Cost of Living in California Was Affected:
| Shipping | Trade between countries was halted, or limited, to avoid spreading the virus. This meant that more things were being sold in America, made by Americans, where it costs more money to manufacture items. |
| Supply and demand | Stores were often sold out of items such as toilet paper and disinfectant wipes. The demand was higher than the supply, so the price was increased |
| Unemployment | Many people went on unemployment because they were laid off during the pandemic. Unemployment paid more than many people made at the jobs they held before, which caused a chain reaction in people demanding a higher wage because they felt as though they were underpaid. Companies were forced to pay their employees more to keep themselves staffed, but, although it was unnecessary for large corporations, they jacked up the prices of their items as a result |
What are Some Convincing Arguments to Request a Cost of Living Raise in California?
The most convincing argument may be that you simply cannot afford to work for the company if they can't give you enough money to keep up with your bills. This won't always work though, as some companies will take offense to such a threat unless they see you as an essential team member. While it's not quite recommended to include this in your letter, it may be worth the risk if you have no other choice. Another argument could be that you've been working your hardest for the company and believe you need a raise. Many companies value hard work and, if you have the numbers to prove it, including this in your letter can be a great asset for you.
If you don't feel that this will work for you though, you have the opportunity to work with DoNotPay. DoNotPay is essentially an online lawyer that can help you with almost any problem you experience. It's a much easier way of getting things done with less work put forth by you.
How to Submit an Inflation Pay Raise Request Using DoNotPay:
If you want to but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 5 easy steps:
- Enter the name of your company and supervisor as well as how long you have worked at the company.
- Select which industry your job position falls under so we can find the right year-over-year wage growth.
- Enter the salary increase (as a percentage) you would like to ask for. The recommended number is ~6%.
- List your recent goals and accomplishments to make a more convincing argument for your raise.
- Choose whether you would like us to email this request to your manager/supervisor on your behalf. If not, we'll generate the request as a PDF that you can deliver to them yourself.
Why Use DoNotPay to Get a Cost of Living Pay Increase in California
The reason why DoNotPay has been successful with its continued service is due to to the fact that its:
- Fast—You don't have to spend hours trying to solve the issue
- Easy—You don't have to struggle to fill out tedious forms or keep track of all the steps involved in solving your problem
- Successful—You can rest assured knowing we'll make the best case for you
The answer to that is simple; there isn't a faster, easier, or more successful way to get it done. Sometimes, we as people don't have enough time to set aside for writing such a letter. We may be very busy with our job and home life and just can't find the time to get it done. DoNotPay, however, will focus on writing your letter and get you the raise you deserve as soon as possible.
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
DoNotPay can do a lot of things. There are so many things they can help you with, it's almost better to ask what they can't do. Aside from writing a letter requesting a cost of living pay increase, DoNotPay can also:
- Help you request sick leave
- File for small claims court
- Help with bills
- Fight workplace discrimination
- Help with insurance claims
Truly, there isn't a better company to ask for help from. Don't miss out on the opportunity to take advantage of DoNotPay!