Published by | | | The dawn of a new year is as good a time as any to take stock of your financial health — and plan for the future. But after 2020, a wrecking ball of a year, matters of money can be trickier. For instance, you might find your job prospects, or earning potential, hampered by the pandemic. Or, you may be warier of buying a house or budgeting for a baby than you otherwise would have been. You sent us your money questions, and we asked Michelle Singletary, The Post's award-winning personal finance columnist, to share answers. Below you'll find the first in a five-part series of Q&As; check our Monday newsletter each week for the next installment.
— Nneka McGuire, Lily multiplatform editor | | | Q: Because of companywide financial challenges, I will receive a very low raise in 2021. I believe I would have earned a much higher raise based on job performance if not for the pandemic. How can I ensure this doesn't affect future earning potential? A: The one thing I've learned from the many professional mentors I've had is to communicate with your supervisor honestly. I suggest that you schedule a meeting (or in the age of covid-19, set up a Zoom meeting) to discuss your performance and corresponding raise. I like face-to-face or video meetings because you can read a person's body language. | The point is, you need to be sure the lower amount is truly just about the pandemic. Or, maybe your boss used the current economic crisis to ease the pain of not giving you more money. Some bosses flat-out lie, others lie by omission. | | | In my experience, supervisors often take the easy road when explaining an outcome an employee may not be happy about. You said, "I believe I would have earned a much higher raise." But find out for sure. Ask, "Did my work merit more money if not for the coronavirus-related economic slump?" Covid-19-related financial issues forced 45 percent of companies to reevaluate salary increases, according to a survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, which collected data from 1,283 organizations during July and August 2020. "Revenue streams and budgets will be unpredictable in 2021 and for these reasons, many employers are pausing across-the-board salary increases," said William Ziebell, chief executive of Gallagher's benefits and HR consulting division, in a press release about the survey. It's very likely you are right that your raise would've been higher if not for the pandemic. Still, during your meeting, look for signs of your supervisor squirming or fumbling over his or her words — a clear indication that your smaller-than-expected raise might not have been about covid-19. | | | | Three need-to-know stories | | (Elijah Nouvelage for The Washington Post)) | 01.More than 281,000 voters under 30 have already cast their ballots for Tuesday's Georgia runoffs, rivaling the historic early turnout of young voters in the state at the same point in the November election. "I do think the fate of our country is at stake in this election, and I hope it turns out well," said Amanda Reiling, 23, a recent University of Georgia graduate who voted early in Atlanta. 02.Millions of pregnant and breastfeeding women across the country are wondering whether they should wait to get the coronavirus vaccine, including many health-care workers who are being offered vaccines not yet tested on pregnant or lactating women. Among them is Yadira Rivas, a nurse coordinator at Neighborhood Health of Virginia. 03.Three new D.C. Council members — all women — were sworn into office Saturday morning, marking a leftward shift in the city's leadership and the first majority-female council in more than 20 years. The additions also establish a majority-Black council for the first time since 2012. | | | | | Seven months into her deployment in Afghanistan, Estella Juarez, a procurement analyst for the U.S. Army, learned her nephew back home in Colorado had died. Homesick and isolated, she began painting flowers and mountains on the light switches and electrical boxes inside her home, a large converted shipping container at Bagram air base. She started a chain reaction. One by one, her friends and even strangers on the base began to help, transforming drab military housing into 22 brightly colored doors leading to a mural of a seaside town, writes Caitlin Huson in The Washington Post. People stationed at military bases often do not spend much time decorating their surroundings because the accommodations are temporary. "It won't be there forever, but why not?" Juarez said. "Why can't you have a little bit of beauty?" | | | | But before we part, some recs | | (Marvin Joseph for The Washington Post) | Caroline KitchenerStaff writer, The LilyWhat I'm collecting:Stickers. All the stickers. I'm well on my way to covering my whole water bottle. What I'm wearing: I treated myself to a couple of bright, patterned sweaters from Desigual. It's hard to be sad when you're wearing turquoise and yellow sparkles. How I'm keeping warm: A new friend recently taught me this great hiking hack: Pack a thermos of hot water and some instant hot chocolate as a reward at the top of the mountain. | | | | |
Commentaires
Enregistrer un commentaire
Thank you to leave a comment on my site