How to ask for a raise?

Rarely see my two bosses, which should I ask for a raise and how should I ask?

• When I started this job it was a very simple matter of manipulating data sent in from our clients and prepping it for production. In the two years that I have worked for this company, we have expanded from one product line to three and I now have to deal directly with our clients. In the entire time I have worked for the company, I haven't been given (or asked for) a raise. I have no doubt that I have earned a raise, but my question is how do I ask for it? I currently have two bosses (father and son), all three of us work from home in different parts of the state, which basically rules out a face to face conversation. I interact everyday with the son. He is very difficult to get along with and his lack of people skills have necessitated my interaction with the customers in the first place. He strikes me as the kind of person who would immediately answer no to the question of a raise without even considering it. I do think of him as my main boss, but I have never discussed my payment with him in the past it has always been with his father. The father doesn't have much involvement in our day to day operations, but all major decisions for the company do seem to run through him. I don't want to step on the sons toes by going to his father, but I think I am more likely to get a positive answer (or at least a reasonable response) from him. Since face to face is out of the question should I call or E-Mail? Should I E-Mail them both with the request at the same time?

• Answer:

  Family businesses are always a problem. Who is the person who hired you, that person generally will have more control over raises. While you may deserve a raise you should see what you can find near you and if it is a better deal. There are very few jobs where you can really work from home and make a living. Why would you leave to say work someplace else for 10K more a year if you spend that 10K on gas, clothes, taxes, lunches etc. Sometimes it is not long after asking for money that one is fired. Sons will always be pissy when working for their fathers that is the nature of the game. Asking for more money is not easy especially if the business is not doing better. Never try to be smart and say X is paying more then you because a smart boss will fire you on the spot.