OK, I know in this economy I shouldn't complain about ANY raise, but this one irks me. In the past raised have been percentages. My husband always worked hard for merit raises and he worked hard getting a MS so he could be a college prof at our community college. He's also worked 15 years at the school. When his raise is a percentage of his salary its a percentage of his years of school getting his education, years of work at the school, additions to his salary based on merit raises etc. Yes, his raise is larger than some other employees in the school because his salary is higher based on all the work he has done. This year they decided percentage raises weren't fair to those who had lower salaries so they gave everyone a flat rate raise! What BULL! So my husband got what works out to a 1/2% raise while an entry level worker got what amounts to a 5% raise. We found that VERY unfair. Are we out of line here? I'd seriously like to hear other people's opinions!
Sigh.... Yes, I understand what you're saying. No, I don't think you're out of line, but it's a sign of the times. Do they want the college janitor to make as much as the college president? (Though sometimes I think the janitor DESERVES more than the pres...lol!)
Not out of line at all. He is at the pay he is at for a reason, he should not get less of a pay raise because of that. I once heard a saying something like life does not have to be equal to be fair. Granted, this was said to children to explain why so and so was given special treatment at school for a learning disability. They would say "that's not fair". Well, it was fair, just not equal. It is fair for your husband to receive more if he has put in more effort, even if it is not equal.
I realize it is frustrating to you, but in this economy any raise is a good thing and those entry level workers could probably use it more. Sure it isn't fair, but life doesn't come close to being fair.
Some of it might be the school as well. I'm not so quick to blame the economy for things related to higher education- because people are going back in droves, and colleges/Universities aren't suffering. My own college doubled it's enrollment last year. YET they cut our Marine Bio prof's hours, cut his benefits, cut his salary. The college was making so much money they were able to do seemingly unneeded improvements, yet one of the few professors truly qualified to teach (the only one who really taught me anything, to be honest) was downgraded. I wasn't the only one whispering "GREED" on campus...
You are not out of line! This makes me think about the way kids' sports are these days, Where everybody gets a trophy whether you won or not, and how there are no try-outs or auditions for anything, and no one gets a failing grade so no one gets their feelings hurt. Those kids grew up and are now demanding they be paid just like the guy who dedicates his life to something and strives for excellence while they sat around being all entitled. It is a little socialist, but mostly its our culture's entitlement mentality. Yeah, this really hits a nerve with me. I feel for you, and I know how bad you feel for your dh.
My Dh has been at his job for about 7 years. Where he works, everyone in his position makes the same wage regardless of performance, seniority, etc. So Jo Schmo coming in is making the same wage and benefits as my Dh, and the same as the guy who has been there for 20 years. Very frustrating if you let it be, but he agreed to work for the company with the wage they pay and we are grateful for it. In times past, American workers got used to powerful unions giving them what they don't deserve. Now that the economy is viewed as bad, even companies making a ton of profit are able to cash in on the public's perception as well as the over abundance of skilled workers out of work. Unions are not as powerful as they used to be. In my opinion, the playing field is beginning to level out between employers and employees and we will probably see more situations like the one you have described.
Brooke, I think you are right on this one, many employers just don't see their employees as valuable anymore because they are so easily replaced right now. However, if/when the economy levels out again and unemployment rates do down the tides will again shift to the employee's benefit. Some employers know this and are still compensating employees as in past years (though maybe with a little less of an increase) to prevent the employee from jumping ship so to speak. Unfortunately, until good help is once again hard to find the employer holds all the power. Having said that, I personally am just grateful hubby has a job and got any raise at all right now. I was so scared when he lost his job a year and a half ago, I was terrified we'd be without because of the economy. By the Grace of God he got this job and it's been an answer to prayer ever since. They are reasonable with people, pay well, take care of employees and it's just an all around great place to work!
My dh loves how raises are at his work. They are yearly and based on review/interview over the year. If you recieve and excellent review -5% Good-4% Standard-3% Anything below that/bad is - 0 Now hiring pay is a different story and not a good one. If you are promoted within they give you only 10-15 % raise for that postition, if you are an outside hire that give you the maximum pay scale. So lets say he got promoted within they would give him $79,000 a year plus perks/benefits, outside hire would make $90,000 plus perks/benefits just to hire them. Ugh !
Having sat in on over a dozen interviews in the last month, I can say that, at least around here, good help is hard to find. And in the rare event we find it, they don't pass the credit check (a practice I despise, btw). Case in point: we had three interviews yesterday. 1. Showed up 45 minutes early (because she didn't know how long it would take her to walk) and couldn't understand why we couldn't drop everything and interview. She huffed and puffed around the store irritated that she had to wait. 2. A mid-40s woman who went on and on about how she couldn't find a job because she was a woman. Then demanded we hire her because, after all, it was her birthday. 3. A man who never made eye-contact with DH or I. He answered all questions in as few words as possible. When DH asked how the man would enjoy serving customers (it is a store, after all), the man replied, "I'll manage." This is why we're still short-staffed.
I really believe everyone should get rewarded according to their effort. Dh has a review every year, and gets a raise based on that...which doesnt really amount to much...but his boss implied he should be very grateful for that, since most of is colleagues didnt get anything...and this is a multi million dollar computer company they work for! I see ads for childrens sports, and most of them say "children can participate in a stress free non-competetive environment". Reminds me of that girls team that had to apologize to the other team, for crushing them at the game (I dont remember what game it was). Whatever happened to "yaaayyyy...we won, you lost, better luck next time, guys!!" How can you teach your children sportsmanship if there are no winners and losers???????
Lol, Actressdancer, that third guy sounds so shady, like straight out of some movie. I have a mental image of him now But still, in thsi economy, I would imagine every "hiring now" sign would generate a long line of prospects!
Hahahaha. I think he was just really desperate for a job but didn't like people. He was very anti-social. Yes, but... (see above)
LOL...that 3rd guy, Amie, with the "I'll manage." Cracks me up! Anyway...nope you are not out of line..I would be irked too. I also agree it is sadly a sign of the times.
This part would be me. But I'd also be the one hiding out in my car or at a nearby McDonalds until abt 10 minutes before the interview. I'm paranoid about being late, especially when trying to make a good impression. You would think so, but the "menial" jobs tend to get the shaft. We kind of went thru this when then-dh was laid off; he could make more money on unemployment. Ultimately, we decided to heck with unemployment (we didn't actually complete the paperwork), and he found other random odd jobs that paid better, but there are people who don't. I play Warcraft and one of my friends there talks about how his unemployment is about to run out. Five kids in the house, and he's playing Warcraft all day - seriously, no exaggeration, all day - while his wife, also a friend of mine, is working her fingers to the bone and stressing about money. Some people....
Amy, too bad there aren't any hs'ed teens you could hire! I have one who is looking for a job righ now, but the commute's a little too much, lol!
Actually, if we could hire younger than 18 we'd be set with all the HS'd teens around! But because of alcohol sales, we can't go younger than 18.
The reason that there are not lines at all the help wanted signs are because of the unemployment checks being sent out. I know of 5 people who are not even trying to find work, because they can sit at home for a long time and not work and make the payments.:x Want to see me blow my top!!! We can talk about how much taxes me and dh pay, and how many people we know are not even trying to get a job. Sorry for my little off topic rant, I just set up my quarterly tax payment that is due this month. :twisted: As for the pay raise. I am against the % of income raise across the board no matter who it is for. It should be based on performance instead of just everybody gets one. If they are giving a raise this year I would be happy with a flat amount. They could have just said anybody with an income about x amount doesn't get any raise while the lower brackets get a cost of living increase. I like that the fair doesn't have to be equal. Because really that janitor probably thinks that it is fair, not equal but fair. Just because he is janitor doesn't mean he hasn't worked their longer then anybody else. There is a janitor that has worked out our local high school for over 25 years. I think that is longer then any of the teachers. He would deserve a higher percentage raise then the teachers if you are going off of longevity. As a side note, they may of looked and tried to get everybody up above the poverty line. My dh worked for the state and they would do that, move the bottom pay up a bigger percent to keep them above the poverty line. It was just a political move. They wouldn't have given anybody a raise except it would make the low guy to close to the next guy on the ladder.
