Dear Bob ... I am currently working for a small IT company, and am earning slightly below the low-end of the pay range for programmers. Recently, my employers applied for a grant, which provides a certain amount of money to be used to supplement the salary of one recent graduate. I provided a copy of my diploma and resume to my employers to enable them to apply for the grant. At a recent meeting they told me I w Dear Bob …I am currently working for a small IT company, and am earning slightly below the low-end of the pay range for programmers.Recently, my employers applied for a grant, which provides a certain amount of money to be used to supplement the salary of one recent graduate. I provided a copy of my diploma and resume to my employers to enable them to apply for the grant. At a recent meeting they told me I would receive an increase from this program, but they didn’t mention any specific amount. I suspect they will not use the full amount as a salary supplement for me, but will rather give me a small increase, and take the rest for the company.I am currently on a two week break. Would it be out of line for me to send them an e-mail asking for specifics on the salary increase I will receive should I be accepted into the program?– Suspicious Dear Suspicious …This feels like dangerous territory to me. From your comments it sounds like you don’t trust your employers to adhere to the letter and spirit of the terms of the grant. If that’s the case and your judgment is accurate, asking the question won’t get you more money and will antagonize your employer.If, on the other hand, your judgment is inaccurate, asking the question also won’t get you more money. Whether it will antagonize your employer is an open question, but it’s a possibility. Since you have nothing to gain by asking the question and might lose something by doing so, I’d suggest you consider any extra cash you get out of this deal to be free money instead of worrying about the cash you didn’t get but might have.You say you’re a recent graduate, working for a start-up and earning slightly less than the low-end of the range? Here’s some unsolicited advice. If you’re earning a living wage, concentrate on building your resume, not on your salary. Especially if you don’t trust your employers, making yourself as employable elsewhere as possible is your first, second and third priorities.One other point: Never use e-mail because you’d find a face-to-face conversation uncomfortable. The chances for misunderstanding and for angering the recipient is far higher when you use a non-interactive medium that also has no ability to convey body language, facial expression and the other nuances that make face-to-face conversation a more efficient communications medium than any other. – Bob Technology Industry