I don’t want to editorialize, because I don’t want to sway anyone in a particular direction.
What is your opinion?
No. It’s not even equal to the rise in the cost of living.
No, it is right in the ho-hum average range. I have actually pointed out to two reviewers over the years that such an increase isn’t a true “raise”. It is simply an inflationary correction and there is no honor (nor true shame) in it. They didn’t seem to be amused but that is a basic concept that many fail to take into account.
In general, no. However, if very few people in your company are getting any kind of raise, and you got 3%, you can perhaps take that as an indication that your management values your work/ you are recognized as a top performer. However, if the best they can do for their good performers is 3%, the company might not be in the greatest of shape. This year I suspect some businesses closely tied to the housing industry will be struggling to give 3%. Sometimes companies will share what the overall raise pool was, to give people an idea of where they fall in the mix.
Given the state of the economy this year, it’s probably about as good as you are going to get…
It definitely depends on your salary and company. I noticed that as my salary grew (through changing jobs, moving up the ladder, etc.), that raises got somewhat smaller, even though my ratings are always good. Some companies have more flexibility in that regard, as well. I work for a gov’t contractor, so whether or not and how much of my raise can be passed on to the client definitely plays into the decision.
I’d say that if you’re a well-paid professional, senior in your field, 3% is probably average.
Totally ho-hum average. It doesn’t suck, but it sure isn’t anything to write home about.
It’s what the University gives out around here.
One year it was .03% and we got some fancy office chairs instead.
In our case it’s not a good raise, it is merely what one should expect.
The pay raise structure for the company I work for is typically 4 - 12% depending on your performance. There are provisions for a 0% raise, but usually you get canned before that card gets played. I got the 12 once, but usually get 8%. I do brilliant work most of the time, but then Mr. Depression knocks me for a loop for about 4 months out of the year which really eats up the kudos.
I’d seriously consider quitting if I got a 3% raise.
It also depends where on the pay scale you are. I’m at the tippy-top of my pay scale, so 3% is about what I’d expect, 4% is what I’d hope for. Which sounds bad, but in terms of actual dollars it can be a good chunk of change.
At the bottom of the scale, there’s all kinds of room for growth where you won’t end up with different employee’s pays all out of whack with each other, and a, say, 5% raise isn’t all that much in real dollars for the company to be giving out.
In my company, 3.5% is about what every hourly employee can expect. If you’re a truly exemplary employee you might get 4% They seem proud of the fact that they don’t give COL raises. The philosophy seems to be that if you want your earnings to keep pace with inflation, you have to continue to get promotions every 2 years or so. So basically, you can expect to get poorer every year, in terms of how you can actually live. And we’re supposed to be happy (and grateful) about it.
StG
Due to layoffs in high-tech and the strengthening of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar, I have had one 3% raise in the last 3 years.
Prior to that I took a pay cut of about 26% after getting laid off and rehired elsewhere.
I expect about 2% to 3% this year again, that is if I survive the latest sale of our company to a larger U.S. parent.
I love working in high-tech. :rolleyes:
It beats a sharp stick in the eye. Other than that…
It’s not good, but it’s what I’m used to getting. This year, everybody got a four percent raise instead. I can hardly contain my excitement. Others are right; it doesn’t really keep up with the rising cost of living.
We tend to get 5%, assuming County Council approves it. It’s “merit based” which means if you don’t fail your evaluation you get it. There must be people who do fail their evaluations but I can’t quite imagine it. Come to think of it, we should be getting that letter any day now.
For more than five years, my wife was getting a 1% annual raise, which was more than offset by the increase in her health insurance payments.
That’s the main reason she took retirement.
3% kinda sucks, to be honest. I tend to work my ass off and benefit the company directly by doing so. If I ever got a 3% raise after a full year’s work, I’d find another job. There are companies out there that value their employees and you don’t need to stay with one that doesn’t. A 3% raise means one of three things usually: you’re doing just enough to stay employed, your company is financially hurting, or your company is run by cheapskates.
I haven’t gotten anything less than 5%, and that was a really lean year for the company. My average is 7%-10% annually, but last year I got a 21% raise.
3% blows…unless you are in a shitty teacher’s union. Apparently the teachers where I live think it’s a great offer.
Living expenses went up 21% in one year where I live. Our 4% raise was a slap in the face. At least I voted against it.
If everyone got a 7 to 10% raise annually, all companies would go out of business.
I think people are being a little extreme in their expectations. Right now 3% is a bit low because the cost of living increase over the last year (in the USA) is 4.2%, largely due to fuel and food costs. However, 2-3% is the usual cost of living increase - the last year has been unusual. It’s what you should expect **unless you got promoted or did an unusually good job. **
If an employee just does his job well enough, why should they get more than cost of living?
Well, not necessarily. He didn’t specify how many people get shitcanned by his employer.
I got 6% this year, but it was the end of my first year. I imagine after 10 years I’d have to do something really special to get that sort of increase.