Follow up after no response to a raise request — without looking pushy
Short answer
Send one short follow-up. Reference your original email by date. Ask for a specific timeline — not a yes/no. Offer a 15-minute conversation as the deliverable. The follow-up should fit in the preview pane of an inbox: under 90 words. Most managers respond to a single short follow-up where they ignored the long original.
You're here because
- You sent the raise email and got nothing back
- You don't want to look like you're nagging
- Your manager is busy / avoidant / never replies in writing
- You don't know if silence means no
- You want a real answer — yes, no, or by-when
The exact email to send
Hi [MANAGER],
Following up on my [DATE] note about the comp adjustment.
Could we book 15 minutes this week or next? Even a one-line reply with a target timeline is helpful — I want to make sure this is on the right track and not stuck in someone else's queue.
Thanks,
[YOUR_NAME]
- Built for the moment a written offer or deadline lands — not casual browsing.
- Written for the 24–72 hour decision window.
- Designed for people who don't negotiate often.
- Real workplace register — not internet bravado.
What NOT to say
- "I haven't heard back" — passive; turns the email into a complaint.
- Resending the entire original email. Keep the follow-up short.
- Threats ("if I don't hear back…"). Save for the third email if needed.
- Asking via Slack or DM. Always written email — keeps a paper trail.
- Cc'ing HR or the skip-level. Escalation comes later, only if needed.
An illustrative example
A PM sent a raise request that went unanswered for 3 weeks. They sent the 70-word follow-up above. The manager replied in 90 minutes with a 15-minute slot the next morning. Comp adjustment approved a week later: +9% base. Total turnaround from follow-up to yes: 8 days.
Why this works
Long emails sit in someone's queue. Short ones get cleared. A 70-word follow-up that asks for a timeline (not a yes/no) is operationally easy to reply to — managers will pick the smaller thing first.
What to do next
Send today if it's been ≥10 business days. Don't wait longer — momentum decays. The Salary Raise Kit includes the third-email "escalation to skip-level" and the "I'm leaving" pivot.
Before you send — quick check
- Do you have your raise number tied to a market band?
- Do you have 2–3 specific impact examples ready?
- Do you have a follow-up date if your manager says "let me think"?
If you answered "not sure" to any of these, the Salary Raise Kit walks you through all three.
Related reads
FAQ
How long should I wait before following up?
10 business days. Less feels pushy; more lets the original email decay.
How many follow-ups is too many?
Two is the cap before escalating to a 1:1 conversation or going to HR/skip-level. The Kit includes the right wording for each.
Should I cc HR?
Not until the second follow-up. Your manager is the primary advocate; HR escalation should feel like a last resort.