How do I politely remind my boss about a promised promotion?

11 Comments

1. Joyce Breitweiser HallMarch 3,2023 at 3:50PM UTC

   Now is the time to follow up on this. If you aren’t promoted in April, she will tell you to wait another year. If that happens, I would start my job search.

   I suggest you ask for a meeting and in it say, “Are we still on track for the April promotion and do you have any feedback on my job performance?” Her reaction to this will tell you all you need to know.

   Good luck and trust your intuition!

   Please let us know how it turns out.

2. AnonymousMarch 3,2023 at 3:57PM UTC

   I went five year without a promotion. I asked for one at my annual review and I didn’t get the promotion until the following year because that’s how my company operates unless someone leaves

3. Cindy GrossMarch 3,2023 at 4:36PM UTC

   Go in and say you're looking forward to the April promo, what does she need from you to make sure it goes smoothly and when can you expect the title and $ changes to show up?

4. Barb HansenMarch 3,2023 at 5:06PM UTC

   Set a meeting with your manager and ask her about the details of that promotion. It's okay to ask that question.

   Also, ask her to follow up with an email to you on what your promotion will look like (or send her an email with what was discussed during that meeting).

   Here is a prompt for you to use to start the meeting (I'm adding in made-up details, but you'll still get the gist of what I'm saying)

   "Sally, it's a been great few months leading the team on this project. As you mentioned last August, there was a promotion for me coming in April. I'd like to take a few minutes to review what that promotion entails so I'm prepared for the next phase of my career here at Company XYZ"

5. Coach Nancie Kay ShumanMarch 5,2023 at 7:55PM UTC

   I was coming here to suggest this exact approach.

6. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 4,2023 at 12:21AM UTC

   Have you had any on-going conversations with your boss since this promise was made to make sure you are hitting whatever milestones are needed for the promotion?

7. AnonymousMarch 4,2023 at 12:49AM UTC

   I would set something on her calendar and ask her if she has a specific date and title in mind for the promotion she mentioned last fall?

8. Crystal HowellMarch 4,2023 at 11:25AM UTC

   I would send an email for a meeting and discuss next steps regarding your new duties as......... See what happens. Don't ask or say you said, if she doesn't, send your resume to recruiter. A broken promise shows culture and dishonesty.

9. Arika LawrenceMarch 4,2023 at 4:13PM UTC

   Love the advice in this thread!

10. Kelly HammerMarch 4,2023 at 6:23PM UTC

    If your role changed due to a restructuring, they should have changed your title and salary at the time to be consistent with the restructuring. A restructure is the very definition of change.

11. AnonymousMarch 4,2023 at 7:58PM UTC

    I would refer in an email back to the discussion you had in July. Reinforce the conversation that you had and reinforce the differences in writing between the old job description and the new one (write it yourself if there isn't a new one) and let her know in the mail how excited you are for the promotion you both spoke about. Be presumptive in the mail and then ask for a 1-1 a few days later to discuss how this will be messaged to the team and internally. If it does not happen or you get some excuse ask for a plan with a tight short time window for making it happen. Perhaps maximum 90 days. Shorter if its a small company. Send a copy to your personal email too and then also to HR if there is a dept in the company. If nothing happens take your management skills and career elsewhere. When interviewing tell prospective employers that you took on additional responsibility, lay it out. let them know that the growth of your company meant all promised promotions are on hold and that you don't want to be held back. Find the words make it happen!