No raises or low raises

[Anonymous]

I received no raise this year. A colleague who makes about 20% less than I do, received a 1.5% raise. We haven't been at the company for 12 months, more like 8 months. Performance evaluations are given in March along with annual raises. My other colleague has been with the company for 6 years and has received a 1.5% raise each year. He switched roles to my team about 6 months ago. He is still making more than my other colleague and about 18% less than I am.

My boss is giving me my performance evaluation today at 9 a.m. I am not sure if no raise means I am being fired. Bonuses are distributed in June.

[Anonymous]

You may have maxed out?

[Anonymous]

I have only ever gotten a COLA adjustment unless I was promoted. My husband has only ever gotten COLA over the past 8 years. No one I know gets raised anymore. That is why you have switch jobs/companies.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure this varies by the field and employer. My experience has been in government consulting and engineering. Companies tend to give very small, if any, raises to people staying in the same role. Adding tangible skills and moving up is one way to get a raise. Even better is to move between companies.

Inertia is one of the strongest forces in the universe and employers have little reason to give someone a raise to stay; you're probably going to stay anyway.

[Anonymous]

Why would that mean you're getting fired? Are you magically worth more to your employer today vs. yesterday? Are you worth $18K more than the other worker? I wouldn't prioritize your raise either as a leader under those stats, unless you were a top performer.

[Anonymous]

My boss told me at my performance review that I couldn't get a merit raise since I was brought in above the pay grade for my current position. He had to give me a promotion to the next level to give me a pay increase.

[Anonymous]

We don't give raises for people who have been with the company less than 10 or so months.
We are a small sod contractor and we do give raises. But usually about 3%. More for more junior staff starting out low. This hear those guys got 5-6% but they're all making well under 100k. Three guys making $140k got 4%M because they did really well and brought in business and two of them got bonuses as well. It's actually challenging since we don't want to lose staff after a couple years since it takes time to train etc.

[Anonymous]

OP, they probably aren't giving you a raise because you've been there less than a year.

[Anonymous]

Also, what's the deal with the bonuses? Are they considered a substantial part of your compensation?

[Anonymous]

I've worked at two very large corporations, both household names. Average annual raises for those staying in the same role were around 3% both places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've worked at two very large corporations, both household names. Average annual raises for those staying in the same role were around 3% both places.

Was there a defacto cap or if you stayed in same role salary kept marching up?

[Anonymous]

My old job 3 percent is standard raid.

[Anonymous]

You have to jump to different companies to increase your income significantly. Don’t waste your time at the same company. You are in charge of your life and career.

[julie73]

How did everything go for you, OP?