It can be done: Landing a raise in a recession

From Computerworld, January 20, 2009...

With raise season under way, many employees may be stumped about whether they should ask for a salary increase this year. During a recessionary period, people often find themselves working harder but wonder whether it's realistic to expect to be compensated for bearing the extra burden when many companies are facing losses.

The answer is, probably, but with a catch. It isn't unrealistic to expect a salary increase, but the general consensus among management experts is that if you want a raise, you're going to have to justify it more than in previous years. And you'll need to pare down your expectations, as companies — especially financial firms and others directly affected by the downturn — have less money to dole out.

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