Help Wanted: Bias on merit raises?

A career expert said your situation may not be as dire as you believe.

"If a department has four people and only one person gets a pay increase, then a person would get an increase every four years on average, assuming all are good performers," said Kate Wendleton, president of The Five O'Clock Club, a Manhattan career-management and outplacement firm. "You got a pay increase three years ago. In those departments where there are eight people, a manager is justified in asking for a pay increase for more than one person, or those employees would have to wait eight years to get a pay increase."

And she said the company's policy on raises may tie the manager's hand for a top-scale earner like you.

"Some companies are not allowed to pay someone more than the top of the range," Wendleton said.

Still, you shouldn't give up trying to get more monetary recognition for your work. But you may have to work harder to convince your boss.

"You have your work cut out for you," Wendleton said. "You have to quantify what you have contributed over and above others in that same range or quantify why you should be in a higher range."

Here is what she recommends:

Request a formal meeting with your boss and state your case by using the chart you developed. Start the meeting on a positive note by telling your boss how much you like working at the company.