Things I’d advise you to consider before asking: 1. Current economic conditions not only affect you and other employees, but also could greatly impact your employer. Is now really a good time to ask? For instance, I work for a manufacturer of chemicals. Our raw materials prices have sky rocketed and the lag time between the increases we get the ability to pass them along can be as great as 6 months. We are hurting for cash. Not a good time to ask. 2. Does doing a “decent” job entitle you to a pay increase? Were you not hired to do at least a decent job? Search and find reasons to ask for an increase. Did you do something extraordinary to save the company money? Did you create a new method of doing something to save employee time? Did you knock off the socks of a good customer with some special customer care? If not, I might think twice about asking. 3. How long has it been since you got your last raise? If it has been less than a year I don’t think I’d risk asking. 4. How long have you been with the company? I’ve been asked for raised from people who worked for me for less than 3 months, citing the same reason you listed above: “Wow, the economy stinks. I need some more money.” 5. I would re-think your line of reasoning: I am not the most active player, but I am not a procrastinator. If you came to me with that attitude I’d boot you out of my office. Personally, I’ve never, ever, in 34 years of working asked for a raise. I’ve found no need to do so. I work hard and have been rewarded. At times when I was not rewarded I moved on. Then I discovered sales, a career in which you can get a raise everyday if you work at it! Good luck. If you are deserving it will come your way.