- 1). Ask your supervisor for the specific reason regarding the cut. Perhaps it's budget-related and has nothing to do with your performance. However, if it does have something to do with your performance, then it's important to know this fact --- no matter how tough a pill it may be to swallow --- so that you know what you need to do to improve.
- 2). Inquire as to how long the cut will last. Perhaps you're on probation for a work-related violation and a pay cut is part of the repercussion, or short-term budget issues have resulted in the pay cut. Whatever the reason, ask if the cut is temporary or permanent so that you can plan accordingly.
- 3). Deal with the emotional fallout of the pay cut so that it doesn't consume you. You're bound to feel slighted because of the cut in pay; the last thing you want is for those feelings to affect the quality of your work. Avoid that by allowing yourself to wallow --- just a tiny bit --- in the emotions that accompany a pay cut so that you can resolve the issue in your mind and move on.
- 4). Revise your personal budget immediately. Trim the fat where possible so that the pay cut doesn't have such a dramatic impact on your life. Even if the cut is temporary, you may find that you'll save more money in the long run if you create a budget that falls within your reduced means. Even if you get back up to your previous salary, you'll be automatically saving money every paycheck.
- 5). Prepare an explanation for your next job. Because you're now working at a lower salary, it becomes part of your salary history and may play a part in your next salary negotiation. When you move on to a new job, explain what happened and what your salary should have been so that you can work toward getting back to the salary level you deserve.
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