During Women's Month, it is important to overcome the habit of underestimating oneself. Every woman should possess enough confidence to initiate a professional discussion about her salary.
During Women's Month, it is important to overcome the habit of underestimating oneself. Every woman should possess enough confidence to initiate a professional discussion about her salary.
For many women, the process of negotiating a raise causes discomfort, even if they are confident in their deserved increase. The fear of appearing demanding, difficult, or ungrateful often prevents employees from having important conversations about their own value. However, asking for a pay increase is not a plea for favor, but a professional discussion of skills, work results, and contribution.
As part of Women's Month, while discussions about workplace equality and financial independence continue, women are advised to strengthen their confidence in advocating for their interests. There are practical methods that allow one to approach salary negotiations without feeling pressured.
Before approaching an employer, it is necessary to take time to realize your achievements and the impact you have made. Many employees downplay their contribution, considering their daily duties as 'just part of the job.' Nevertheless, successful project management, system improvements, client acquisition, problem-solving, or taking on additional responsibilities—all these are examples of added value.
Confidence begins with understanding why you deserve this conversation.
Successful salary negotiations require thorough preparation. It is necessary to research how much people earn in similar positions with comparable experience and qualifications. Knowing industry standards helps set realistic expectations and provides a stronger foundation for your request.
One should avoid choosing an amount based solely on personal financial needs; instead, focus on your market value and professional contribution.
You should not wait for an appraisal moment to try to recall all your successes. Keep a record of completed projects, positive feedback, achieved goals, additional responsibilities, and moments when you went beyond your job description. Having specific examples will make the conversation more objective and help shift the focus from demanding more money to demonstrating your influence.
The timing of the request can affect how it is received. It is worth considering approaching after the successful completion of an important project, receiving positive feedback, or during a formal performance review. One should avoid approaching a manager during periods of stress, company uncertainty, or budget cuts.
Many people feel awkward because they don't know how to start the discussion. Practicing what you want to say can reduce anxiety and ensure clear communication. It is important to focus on explaining your achievements, responsibilities, and the reasons for the request for adjustment, rather than apologizing for the fact of the question.
Women are often socialized towards modesty and avoiding excessive self-confidence, but workplace negotiations require self-advocacy. One should avoid phrases that weaken your request, such as apologizing for bringing up the topic or assuming the insignificance of your achievements. Your work deserves a professional discussion.
Although financial pressure is real, employers are more likely to react positively if the conversation focuses on professional value. Instead of explaining why you need extra money, emphasize how your skills, experience, and responsibilities have grown.
A salary discussion does not always end with an immediate raise. If the employer cannot offer an increase at the moment, consider discussing alternatives such as extra vacation, flexible working conditions, professional development opportunities, or a promise to revisit the discussion later.
The phrase 'not now' does not mean 'never.' You must ask for feedback, understand what needs to happen for a potential raise, and agree on a timeline for the next discussion. The conversation itself can demonstrate ambition and career awareness.
Salary negotiations are not just about money; they are also related to recognizing professional progress and ensuring that your career develops parallel to your responsibilities. Women who become comfortable discussing their achievements help create workplaces where future generations feel more confident in advocating for fair opportunities.
Air India announced on Friday an increase in pilot salaries ranging from 8% to 15%. Captains received the largest increase, followed by a gradual reduction of this raise depending on rank.
The company plans to give top pilots or first officer captains the priority opportunity to be promoted to captains in AI Express (which uses only single-aisle aircraft), and then transition to Air India, where wide-body aircraft are used with higher pay. This is being done to create a 'solid foundation for internal group progression.'
The group has taken various steps to make AI Express more attractive to pilots by improving compensation and addressing staff shortages, especially in the Boeing 737 fleet, as well as to prevent resignations and retain cabin crew.
For a long time, Air India pilots faced a guaranteed payment of 40 hours, meaning they received a minimum amount for that number of hours regardless of actual flight time; meanwhile, IndiGo offers a fixed payment for 70 hours. This situation caused dissatisfaction among pilots. Under the revised system, Air India will maintain the guaranteed payment for 40 flight hours but will increase the flight allowance rates. The rates for flights exceeding 40 hours have also been raised, aligning with industry standards and rewarding performance.
Currently, Air India is resuming international flights that were cut after the Middle East crisis and plans to return to January-February levels next month. However, Pakistan's airspace closure remains a constraint for Indian carriers, forcing them to choose longer routes for flights to and from the West, which leads to increased flight times and a greater need for pilots compared to direct routes used by foreign carriers.
A senior captain flying about 55 hours per month will now earn 8.3 lakh rupees, up from 7.5 lakh rupees currently. A first officer flying the same number of hours will earn 3.3 lakh rupees, which is higher than the current slightly over 3 lakh rupees.
Although the privileged leave was reduced from 30 to 24 days, sources reported that the airline will not account for mandatory weekly rest time provided to pilots according to regulatory requirements, and the new leave structure does not take this into account, which may be perceived as a reduction in leave. There is speculation that IndiGo may also review its leave policy for pilots.
Since the Tata Group took over Air India and AI Express in January 2022, the company has lost over 55,000 crore rupees due to various reasons. The salary increase announced on Friday indicates that management is looking to the future and preparing for growth, having hundreds of aircraft on order, unburdened by a turbulent past.
An official spokesperson stated: 'New career paths, improved compensation and benefits, and quality of life initiatives support the next phase of Air India Group expansion. At the core of these initiatives is a clear, structured, and transparent career path that provides faster opportunities for command positions, long-term advancement, and access to one of the most significant wide-body aircraft growth programs in global aviation.'
Since 2022, the Air India Group has grown from approximately 100 aircraft to nearly 300 and has placed orders for 600 new aircraft, including 80 wide-bodies. Tata is investing in capacity building, including the creation of a modern aviation academy in Gurugram with full-scale Airbus and Boeing simulators, as well as a new flight training school in Amravati, Maharashtra.
The same official spokesperson noted: 'As the Air India Group expands, we are focused on developing and retaining internal talent through a structured promotion model in both Air India Express and Air India. Pilots of Air India and Air India Express will operate within a common seniority system, creating an integrated and transparent career path across the entire group. This system ensures greater transparency of future opportunities while providing a consistent and structured approach to advancement.'
Under the new system, AI Express will serve as the 'primary pathway for pilots aspiring to become captains.' This approach is designed to accelerate opportunities for command positions, allow pilots to gain command experience earlier, and build a solid foundation for internal Group progression.
The official spokesperson added: 'After gaining command experience in AI Express, pilots will have the opportunity to move to Air India and subsequently undertake flights and command tasks on wide-body aircraft. Since 80 wide-body aircraft are still on order and will be introduced in the coming years, Air India offers pilots a long-term path unique in the Indian market.' Furthermore, pilots who agree to support the growing Boeing 737 fleet in Air India Express are offered an additional incentive in the form of a fleet allowance.
At the Senate meeting, the general assembly considered a law concerning state pension provision for military personnel (former military personnel) and their families.
According to this law, the pension calculation amount will be increased for individuals who have served in the military sphere for more than thirty years.
In Chandigarh on Friday, thousands of Punjab government workers held a large-scale demonstration to put forward their long-standing demands. Employees from various departments gathered at Dana Mandi Ground in Sector-39 under the aegis of the Sanjha Mulajam Manch. During the protest, workers chanted slogans against the AAP government and attempted to break through police barricades. In response, the Chandigarh police used water cannons against the demonstrators. Despite the use of water cannons, many nurses who arrived from Amritsar remained at the site of the rally.
The main demands of the workers and pensioners include payment of the outstanding 18% Dearness Allowance (DA) indexation, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), implementation of the Assured Career Progression Plan (ACP) (4-9-14), and regular regularization of contractual, outsourced, and temporary employees. Furthermore, they are seeking the elimination of salary discrepancies, restoration of certain benefits, and resolution of other accumulated employment issues.
Suchain Singh Haira, coordinator of Sanjha Mulajam Manch, led the demonstration. He stated that the employees had been waiting for the government to fulfill its promises for four and a half years, but the government had failed to meet its obligations. He warned that the action would be intensified, and its consequences would be seen in the elections.
Participants in the protest expressed dissatisfaction with the government. Jyoti Sharma from the United Nursing Association stated that the government acted unfairly towards the employees by not increasing the pay scales. Nurse Vijay noted that the salaries of ministers and their assistants were increased, while the pay scales of many categories of employees remained low.
Rajiv Ram, an employee of the Punjab Commodity Board, reported that employees lose between 5000 to 8000 rupees monthly. Due to rising inflation and the need to support a family, they were forced to take to the streets. Kuldip Singh, an electricity grid employee from Bathinda, accused the government of ignoring the employees to whom it had made promises.
Sardar Harjit Singh, head of the Pensioners Association from Fatehgarh Sahib, stated that the government would pay a high price in the upcoming elections. Nurse Amandeep Kaur from Amritsar said that her future was under threat. Her colleague added that the government is willing to spend money on other programs but refuses to pay DA to employees and restore the old pension.
After a multi-hour protest and clashes, the Punjab government agreed to hold negotiations on the employees' demands, especially regarding the 18% DA, on August 27. Following this, the demonstrators suspended their action. Thousands of employees, who have been waiting for their demands to be met for four and a half years, are now awaiting the negotiations scheduled for August 27.
