Don't believe these negotiation myths!

Great news! Massachusetts is officially the latest state to require pay transparency! 

The bill, which requires public and private employers in MA with 25+ employees to share salary ranges in job postings, was signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey last Wednesday and will go into effect next summer. 

We are so excited for our Massachusettsans 💚 (try saying that five times fast).

Negotiation Myths Preventing You From Earning More 💰

Picture two groups of people. The first group retires after a typical 42-year career. But the second? They must work several more years to earn the same salary as the first group. 

What gives? What did the second group do differently? 

It’s simple: They didn’t negotiate. Unfortunately, there are tons of rampant negotiation myths that discourage people from advocating for their worth…and that can lead to severe financial consequences. 

That’s why today, we’re busting negotiation myths and arming you with strategies to get you the salary you deserve. Let’s go! 

Harmful negotiation myths 

True or false: Negotiation is inherently assertive and aggressive.

False. Negotiating a job offer is far from rude. It’s an expected part of the hiring process, and most employers respect candidates who advocate appropriately for themselves. 

If an employer retaliates when you try to negotiate for a fair compensation package, it’s not because you were too demanding—it’s more likely a sign of poor company culture. In other words: It’s not you, it’s them. 

Here’s another myth: Women don’t negotiate as much as men. 

The reality is that women actually negotiate their job offers more often than men, according to Vanderbilt University. The real problem is that women are only half as successful as men in negotiating. 

Why? Because women are viewed more negatively (often labeled as “pushy” or demanding”) and are more likely to be penalized for negotiating than men. 

When we have an honest idea of the myths holding us back, we can go into negotiations more confidently. What else helps? Having a plan →

Strategies for a successful negotiation 

Start by showing up prepared: Do your market research to determine your base rate and know which negotiable benefits (e.g. stock options, vacation days, flexibility, etc.) you’d like. 

Once you’ve outlined that, study salary negotiation scripts to refine your approach and anticipate potential responses. 

And if you’re still feeling nervous about negotiating (which is totally normal!), brush up on other common negotiation myths to boost your confidence and debunk any misconceptions holding you back. 

Happy negotiating! 

We went to the Broccoli City Festival 🥦 in Washington, DC! We interviewed over 30 professionals, from pole dancers to software engineers to geometry teachers.

How much do they make? Watch the video below to find out! 👇

• Michigan’s hourly minimum wage of $10.33 will increase by at least $2 an hour starting in February 2025. And by 2028, the minimum wage is projected to hit $15 an hour. 👍

• 25% of vice presidents and c-suite executives in this Bamboo HR study secretly hoped that implementing a strict return-to-office policy would get employees to quit. The result? Nearly half of workplaces with RTO policies suffered major talent losses. 🙃

• Disneyland union members negotiated a “historic” pay raise of 31%, bumping the base minimum wage for over 14,000 Disney employees to $24 an hour. This is the power of unions and collective bargaining. 🙌

• Google held a contest to see which employees could create the best “golden prompts” to improve their new AI product. As a prize, they handed out spot bonuses and….bomber jackets? 🤨

Thanks for being here! Last week, we asked you: Are Olympians fairly compensated? Over 92% of you voted “No”...but there were some contrasting opinions: 

• “I strongly believe athletes should make as much money as the corporation that is benefiting off of them. Like any other job, the athletes work hard to fine tune their skill set. Pay them what they are worth. Period!” 

• "Olympic athlete is not a job. The Olympics are a competition you enter, not a job…when I enter dance competitions, I am not paid to dance. I have to pay to enter the competition. Dancers who win a lot have more clout and get paid more when they teach (teaching being their actual job).” 

One thing is for sure: The answer isn’t black and white. 💭

See you next week!