<prompt> Human: Can anyone give me some tips about negotiating a raise with my boss?I am a teacher at a daycare and I am making a lot less money than other centers are offering their staff to start. However, with the center I am at, I get an amazing employee discount for my own children where even if I made what I am asking for by going to another center, i would being paying much more for child care.They asked me to come back early from my maternity leave because they are so short staffed. I also am not going back into my original class room which was the plan when I left because they rather me to rebuild a new classroom. All of the parents are very excited for me to be back working, I know I work hard and well with everyone. I want to ask for a pretty decent raise compared to what other teachers at my educational and experience level are making but our daycare is losing employees at an alarming rate cause of the pay so I feel its justified. What are some tips on being direct with a cheap boss who is always stressed out?  <response>: Heres how I approach every discussion:1 Im underpaid. Heres why Im worth more:2 I make the company money in these ways 1, 2, 3.3 I save the company money in these ways 1, 2, 3.4 I am fantastic for these reasons.5 These are the ways I go above and beyond coming back early from maternity, staying late, writing extra lesson plans.Dont argue what other coworkers make, but do feel free to bring up market rate.Remember that this is just business: you are selling a service, and they are buying a service. They want to get it as cheaply as possible, and you are trying to sell it for what its worth. HR and management talk about this all day. They will be very comfortable, so you should be too. Dont make it an emotional discussion; its just business. Remain polite and professional, but dont let bosses walk all over you eg, Ive actually heard a boss say, I did you a favor by letting you have a maternity leave! and the employee didnt mention that it was required by federal law. 