First, if you are truly the linchpin, you’re likely working over/above your position. So make the case that you are a rank N employee doing N+1 work.
Alternatively, try the market adjustment route: you are doing more than your role, and you’re already being underpaid for that role.
As a manager IDGAF about these typical asks for raises. It’s part of the job. What I do care about is the “pay me +X or I leave” games - those suck to deal with and are often a card you can play once.
But while we are all worried about job security, things are extra tight for employers right now: if I lose one of my employees, it’s very likely that I’d face an uphill fight to hire someone to replace them because my boss / her boss would claim that as a win for their budget. So you do have some room to maneuver here.
How would you feel about a proposal like, "Because of X,Y, and Z, I believe that my current position doesn't match the value I provide to the company. My opinion is that a good method to fix this would be to promote me to Sr. (current position) or (current position roman numerals +i) and increase my salary accordingly."?
First, if you are truly the linchpin, you’re likely working over/above your position. So make the case that you are a rank N employee doing N+1 work.
Alternatively, try the market adjustment route: you are doing more than your role, and you’re already being underpaid for that role.
As a manager IDGAF about these typical asks for raises. It’s part of the job. What I do care about is the “pay me +X or I leave” games - those suck to deal with and are often a card you can play once.
But while we are all worried about job security, things are extra tight for employers right now: if I lose one of my employees, it’s very likely that I’d face an uphill fight to hire someone to replace them because my boss / her boss would claim that as a win for their budget. So you do have some room to maneuver here.