Would you rather walk into the dentist’s office or your manager’s office? The answer might surprise you.
Although 89% of U.S. workers believe they overwhelmingly deserve a raise, only 54% planned to ask for one, according to a survey of 1,000 adults by staffing firm Robert Half. For those that actually did ask for a raise and didn’t receive one, nearly one-third say they would rather wait for their next performance review than push the issue.
Asking for a raise isn’t the easiest thing to do – or something most of us want to do. In fact, here are here are five things workers say they would rather do than ask for a raise.
>LISTEN: How to make empowered choices
Clean the House
One-third of respondents would rather save money by cleaning their own house than ask for a raise. A professional house cleaner can range from $25-$35 an hour, so doing the job yourself can save you some dough.
Look for Another Job
Another 13% of those surveyed would rather look for a new job in lieu of asking their boss for a raise. That could be a good thing, though. Research shows that switching to a new company is the best way to see a big jump in your pay. And it can be more difficult to convince your manager to give you more responsibility with a higher salary the longer you’ve been in your job.
Have a Root Canal
There are even those that would rather have a root canal than ask for a raise. Of those surveyed, 7% fell into this group. “You’d be surprised how many people struggle with that issue and just how well things can go if one learns how to be more assertive,” says Simon Rego, director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Get an IRS Audit
Being audited by the Internal Revenue Service is preferable over asking for a raise for 6% of respondents. Whether you file yourself or work with a tax professional, it’s always a good idea to have good record keeping habits to make tax time easier.
Speak in Public
A higher number of workers say they’re more confident about speaking in public (66%) than they are negotiating their salary at a new job (61%) or asking for a raise at their current job (56%). That’s surprising given that most Americans are more afraid of public speaking than they are of heights, snakes/bugs, blood or needles, claustrophobia, strangers, flying, ghosts or clowns, according to a study by researchers at Chapman University.
This article originally appeared on MarketWatch.com.
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