I have never asked for a raise since I started working here.
'Mai' = MAI; a one-syllable word that carries strong emphasis as 'never'.
Use when this is genuinely your first salary request after an extended period with the company, to signal that you are not a chronic complainer but have a legitimate, first-time request.
'Non ho mai chiesto' (I have never asked) is a powerful phrase because it highlights restraint and loyalty. It implies that the request is overdue rather than opportunistic. Combine it with the length of service for maximum effect.
In quattro anni non ho mai sollevato la questione salariale.
In four years I have never raised the salary issue.
Specifies the period; more concrete
Sono stato/a paziente, ma è arrivato il momento di parlarne.
I have been patient, but the time has come to talk about it.
'Sono stato/a paziente' signals that patience has a limit
Ho atteso il momento giusto, e credo che questo lo sia.
I waited for the right moment, and I believe this is it.
Shows strategic thinking rather than impulse
Many Italian employees, particularly in the public sector and in traditional companies, never ask for a raise and simply wait for contractual increments. This cultural norm means that those who do ask proactively are often respected for their courage — if they do it professionally.