Fri 24th Feb Newsletter

TGIF, right? 🙌

You’ve made it — Friday is finally here. If you’ve had a stressful week, it’s time to wind down your work so you can fully enjoy your weekend. And, before you know it, this will be you:

Today, we're covering how to ask for a raise and what to do if you're crushing on a coworker — plus, there's another exclusive freebie. So, let's go and smash Friday!

In today's email:

• Google accused of destroying evidence: the full details

• Asking for a raise: the professional way to do it

• Your weekly gift: an ATS-optimized cover letter template

• Friday to-do’s: a list of tasks to make your day productive

TRENDING NEWS

Google Accused of Destroying Evidence by DOJ

The story: Google is facing sanctions by the Department of Justice for deleting evidence in an antitrust lawsuit. They were asked in 2019 to suspend their policy of auto-deleting company chats, but they continued to delete “off-the-record” chats until February 2023.

Sanctions: The DOJ has requested a federal judge give sanctions to the company due to “intentional and repeated destruction” of company communications that took place over Google Hangouts, which are destroyed after 24 hours — unlike emails.

The antitrust lawsuit: In 2020, the DOJ filed an antitrust case against Google, accusing them of having an unfair advantage in search and online advertising. The case alleges that the company made exclusionary business deals that would disadvantage competitors. It’s the largest legal challenge Google has faced, and it’s believed the legal fight could last years before it’s resolved.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• OECD says global economic outlook “slightly better” for 2023 — OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann says, although things look brighter, inflation challenges remain. (CNBC)

• Retirees lost 23 per cent of their 401(k) savings in 2022 — 401(k) retirement plans lost almost a quarter of their value in 2022 amid high inflation and economic uncertainty. (CNBC)

• UK among the most accepting countries for foreign workers — A survey found that only 29 per cent of people in the UK said local people should have priority over jobs, compared to 65 per cent in 2009. (The Guardian)

TODAY'S ADVICE

How to Ask for a Raise

If the idea of asking for a raise makes you cringe, you’re not alone. Many employees find it difficult, despite knowing that bosses expect it to happen.

This is because self-doubt can emerge when it’s time to negotiate. “Am I good enough to ask for a raise?” you may wonder. “What if they say ‘no’?”

Though fear of rejection and second-guessing is common, it shouldn’t stop you. You should ask for that raise anyway! Just make sure you read through the following steps first:

1. Start with some research. Websites like Glassdoor and PayScale can give you an idea of how much to ask for based on your field and experience. Seeing the numbers beforehand means you won’t ask for too much — or settle for too little.

2. Ask yourself why you’re requesting a raise. Everyone could use a bit more capital, right? However, that sentiment alone won’t cut the mustard with your manager. Before you ask to speak with them, think about your achievements and how you’ve helped the company grow.

3. Pick the right time to ask. If your manager has had to conduct layoffs recently, you may want to wait a little before asking for a raise. The same holds true if your manager is going through something difficult outside of work.

4. Warn your manager. It’s not a wise idea to waltz into your manager’s office and start making demands. Instead, send them a message in advance and say you’d like to discuss your accomplishments, goals and pay in private.

5. Consider accepting other types of recompense. Your manager may not be able to give you a raise right away. However, they may be able to give you more paid leave, a flexible schedule or additional employee discounts for company products or services. Consider which of these perks could be beneficial to you!

DON'T MISS

🏆 Here’s how to stay productive when you’ve got that Friday feeling!

🤣 Are you a natural comedian? You can make a career out of it.

🤑 These jobs pay the most in Ireland!

🌍 Are you big on sustainability? Here are the world’s most eco-friendly companies.

FRIDAY'S TO-DOS

It’s Fri-yay! Here’s how to make it to the weekend, and prepare for the coming week — like the superstar you are.

✅ Wrap up your tasks. You’ll not only feel like you’ve achieved greatness, but you’ll also feel pretty chill knowing that there won’t be any loose ends for you to tie up on Monday.

✅ Plan for the week ahead. Write a to-do list for your tasks and projects for the coming week. The more prepared you are, the less you’ll have to scramble around on Monday morning.

✅ Start work earlier. If company policy allows it, of course! The earlier you start (and finish), the more “weekend time” you’ll have to enjoy.

✅ Make some weekend plans. This will give you something to look forward to, which means you’ll be more inclined to be productive.

✅ Clean up your desk. Sure, you can leave those empty soda cans on your desk over the weekend, but why add yet another task to your Monday’s to-do list?

Read more productivity tips for a Friday

WATERCOOLER CHAT

Crushing on a Coworker?

Spending 8 hours every day at work with the same people is bound to result in a workplace crush or two. But what can you do about it? Should you act on it?

• Firstly, don’t berate yourself about it. It’s perfectly normal.

• Take time to reflect. Is it just some fantasy, or is developing a relationship with them possible?

• Consider company policy. Some companies prohibit, or at least discourage, workplace romances.

• Act on it. If everything sways in your favor, ask them out for a drink or for dinner.

• Shake away the feelings. If the feeling’s not mutual, let go of them — otherwise, it can turn into sexual harassment.

Pros and cons of dating a coworker

FUN FACT

An Excel spreadsheet has over 1,000,000 rows and 16,000 columns, which works out to more than 17,000,000,000 cells!

TODAY'S GIFT

Apply for Jobs with Our Cover Letter Template

Did you know that 78 per cent of recruiters prefer candidates that include a cover letter in their job application? Well, our gift to you today is a professionally designed and ATS-optimized cover letter template that could help you land an interview for your dream job! It’s easily customizable and includes some helpful tips for displaying your awesomeness.

Download the template here

Stay tuned for more awesome gifts.

(PS: Check last Friday’s newsletter to receive the supplementary résumé template, too!)

WORK STORIES

“We were out on a work trip once and I was sharing a hotel room with my colleague who got a little too comfortable and started burping and farting throughout the night. She even left the door open to the bathroom when doing a number two. It’s safe to say we got to know each other very well during our time abroad!”

Daniel R — Los Angeles, CA

“I told my manager that I love him at the end of a call. I was distracted as I was trying to fill out a report at the same time and was used to saying “I love you, see you later” at the end of the call to family members. Once I’d realized what I had said, I tried to back-track, but there really was no coming back from that. I just hung up and avoided him for the rest of the week!”

Becky S — London, UK

MEME IT

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Created with care by Chris Leitch, Joanna Zambas, Hayley Ramsey and Electra Michaelidou