How Small Does a Raise Have to Be To Make You Laugh?

[NWFlyer 2]

Hypothetical question ...

Let's say you get an annual review at work and your boss goes on and on about how great a job you've been doing, how wonderful all the feedback is, and how your clients and team leaders LOVE you. You have exceeded expectations in every way and dealt wtih some challenging situations and dealt with them well. Your employer is not only solvent, but performing well.

Then your boss gives you the percentage of your annual salary increase.

What number would be small enough that you would laugh out loud?

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[yardhippie 0]

Dont ask.

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[Rebecca 0]

Less than 2%, sadly.

These days 5% is seen as a generous increase by MANY companies...

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[skytash 0]

I got a raise of Euro 2.80 one year and they didn't even change the standard letter to basically tell me (what I already knew) that I was overpaid already and wouldn't be getting a payrise at all

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

[PLFXpert 0]

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Then your boss gives you the percentage of your annual salary increase.

It would depend on the salary, now wouldn't it?

Then again, it's all relative.

Of course the truly rich still value the $1.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[wmw999 2,589]

I can remember when a company gave out raises to "re-equalize" (they'd had to raise starting salaries). My friend's raise was a whopping $6.00 per YEAR, and they tried to make it seem like a big deal.

Different situation, but, well, their raises in general sucked too.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[NWFlyer 2]

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Then your boss gives you the percentage of your annual salary increase.

It would depend on the salary, now wouldn't it?

Actually, I don't think it does. That's why I used percentages.

Raises less than the rate of inflation are laughable no matter what you were making to begin with.

Hypothetically, of course.

[DJL 235]

If your responsibilities, profitability, or marketability (for the company) have not increased then 5% is right on target. 2% is practically a wage cut.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[Thanatos340 1]

About 10 years ago, I was still working hourly at a Manufacturing plant. Got a VERY small Raise that was just enough to bump me up to the next tax bracket. Net result was a about a $20 a week reduction in pay. I went back to HR and told them to PLEASE take thier raise back. I couldnt afford it.

[NWFlyer 2]

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2% is practically a wage cut.

That was my thinking. Apparently I'm alone on that one.

[PLFXpert 0]

I'll take anything but a penny. I hate pennies.




I'm paid on residual commission.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[GTAVercetti 0]

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I'll take anything but a penny. I hate pennies.




I'm paid on residual commission.

You would even take getting bumped up just enough to pay higher taxes like Thanatos? I would not take a loss myself.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[DJL 235]

If you got a 2% raise then you need to get those accolades in writing so you can bring the paperwork to your upcoming interviews. Either you company is tanking or whomever makes the descisions doesn't know what they're doing. In either case, doesn't sound like a good work environment.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[Icon134 0]

hrm... I agree anything less then inflation is the company telling you that you aren't cutting it... even if your review is stellar...

and Jay... I don't know much... but I do know that taxes don't work that way... if you move into a higher tax bracket you ultimately only end up paying taxes the percentage of the money in the next bracket...

now that may not be the case up front but in the end that's how it works...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[PLFXpert 0]

I was being silly, tax master.


But for the record, I take temporary losses all the time.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[NWFlyer 2]

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If you got a 2% raise then you need to get those accolades in writing so you can bring the paperwork to your upcoming interviews.

Good reminder to print out a copy of the hypothetical review.

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In either case, doesn't sound like a good work environment.

Doesn't, does it? That was obvious before the review, so my course of action has been obvious since before then, too.

[hookitt 1]

how about 0.67% ?

I worked at a world renowned fast food joint for quite a while before I knew better. Minimum wage started at 3.35 an hour. They gave out nickel an hour raises. If you were an exceptional worker and overly cheery, a 10 cent an hour raise was very exciting.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[soberamprat 0]

was working for the phone company a few year ago and it seem that all raises went along with insurance increases of about the same amount.

http://www.swoopstudios.com/videos/videos-rex.php

[GARYC24 3]

I chosed "less than 2%"
However, I would not laugh.
I have worked at places that did not give raises at one point, they really did not have the money.
(btw, their out of buisness..Pratical Peripherals)
I just noticed on my last PT pizza delivery job I got a 0.15 cent per hour raise!
My day job's review is in 2 weeks.
Only time I ever laughed was getting a $20 bonus and had taxes taken out of it!..I believe I posted about it yrs ago!
Actually the labor put into making the check and the envelope cost more than the check!

[Slappie 9]

I really thought I had something to add to this thread. Then I started to think about how low my salary is compared to the average wage my friends are making. I should be flippin burgers again and asking if you want fries with that.

In the last 9 years with my company I've gotten a raise every year.

Lowest - 1%
Highest - 6%
Other years - 4%

Man I reallllllyyyyyy need a new job. It's so fucking shitty I'm in a dead end position and so pigeon holed with what I do. People in my industry just don't move around so job opening are few and far between. Then IF you find a position, it's contract until the project is over. Then you're out beating the streets unemployed again.

Demmit, thanks for making me depressed about my professional life.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[NWFlyer 2]

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Demmit, thanks for making me depressed about my professional life.

Sorry. I decided to laugh rather than get angry or depressed. But it's not working as well as I would like.

[Thanatos340 1]

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and Jay... I don't know much... but I do know that taxes don't work that way... if you move into a higher tax bracket you ultimately only end up paying taxes the percentage of the money in the next bracket...

I understand exactly how it works. At that time (10 Years ago) I was living paycheck to Paycheck. Yes, I could have adjusted my with holding to compensate (w4 was single - 0, I could have changed it to Single - 1 but then risked owing money at the end of the year).. What happened was the raise was just enough to put me in next higher withholding bracket. Net result was $20 a week in less pay. Yes I would have gotten most of that back at the end of the year when I filed a return. At that time I didn’t feel like giving uncle Sam an interest free loan I couldn’t afford or optionally play with withholdings and risk owing money at the end of the year.

Imagine the shock when you get a raise and get your paycheck and it is smaller.

I did end up getting a bigger raise when I went to HR and showed them my past Pay Stubs compared to the new one with raise. They got a laugh out of it and pushed through a bigger raise for me.


In todays world.. 3% is a cost of Living adjustment. Anything more is a Raise, anything less is a Pay cut.

[jojo69 0]

I an a consultant for the nursing home business and the raises for the hourly employees are 1-5% each year. The salary staff get 2-6%. This is a basic standard and the only way to get a good raise is to quit and go to the place down the street. It is not unusual for the staff that has stayed past 3 years will be making less than the new hires.

[PLFXpert 0]

Iz OK---I think you're funny, Krisanne.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Icon134 0]

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I understand exactly how it works. At that time (10 Years ago) I was living paycheck to Paycheck.

Ok... it suprised me that you didn't seem to understand it... and I certainly am glad it worked out in your favor in the end...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...