Annual Salary Increases - What % does your company give?

[nooneshome]

I work for the LA DEQ and I get a 4% merit increase each year. Since I have been at the agency (16 years) we have never received one "pay raise" while the teachers (who b**** and moan all the time) have gotten several. Thanks to all the extra money the state has (Katrina) we lowly state workers will get a modest $1500 "pay raise". Of course this never covers the increase in our health care premiums and the reduction in services.

True story. An employee of mine comes in to my office and tells me she is resigning to be a teacher. Seems they are going to pay off her student loans if she commits to teach at a not so desirable school for a couple years. Then she gets to go to a more desirable school of her choice. After she leaves from my office I can see the teachers protesting at the state capitol for more money.

I should have been a teacher like my sister and my grandmother.

​

 

[blanq]

I work for county government where you get a yearly 4% step for the first 8 years of employment (provided you start at the bottom of the pay scale). I also can get contract-negotiated COLA's, and merit (performance) pay as I am a part of the management group.

I have been at the top of my pay scale for quite a few years. Our 2006 COLA was 0%. The unions at my work have settled for 2.75% for 2007, 3% for 2008and 3% for 2009, but the association I am a part of has not yet settled their contract. Historically, our COLA's have been quite low; we have had many 0%and 1% years over the course of my employment. I imagine my association will settle for what the unions settled for. Merit pay is a lump sum payment, that is not added to my base, based on my performance, and can range between .5% and 4%.

 

[LadyyRedd]

It has to average out to 3% at my company. You can get as high as 5%, but then that means some people will have to get as low as 1%.

Kimya

 

[ticktock]

Things in MI are pretty slow, most people I know arent getting raises. We are just happy to have a job that hasnt left the state yet!

People are shocked to see some of us arent getting raises, why?

As our personal bills go up so does the companies plus there are hundreds of people willing (and applying) every week to do your job for less, alot less! Its a mess out here!

If the Immigration bill goes through there will be even more people willing to work for even less.

It won't just be unskilled labor jobs that will be effected. Since we are already giving scholarships to illegal's kids I'm sure scholarships for the parents won't be far behind. Just because someone is from a third world country doesn't mean they're stupid. Those people will jump on any help they can. Then they will be more than happy to do your job for half your pay.

Whenever the Dems and the Reps get together on something be afraid! The Dems want the poor vote, the Reps want cheap labor. I heard that big business has estimated it will save 400 billion in labor costs the first year this goes into effect.

 

[virgojmk]

My DH's company has froze raises this year. Normal raises are .5%-5%, but they are given a max amount for their region, so if someone gets above 2.0%(the norm) they have to take it from another employee in that region.
He did change divisions last August, so he did recieve a raise then. He's in sales, so his bonuses are based on how much new business he can bring in, which is extremely slow the first year or two.
I'm in retail, and just got 2.9%, the highest possible is 4%. Really feel lucky to get that, until this year the raises were .05-.15 per hour.

 

[LindaBabe]

major employer here = cost of living raise, and I use the term loosely, only because tecnnician pay is tied to the union (hourly scale). so we get a 3 cent an hour raise and then they raise copays on everything by 5$ so what's the gain? But the CEO and his ilk are making millions. We must have a couple hundred directors - making more for attending a meeting than I make for working all year.

I'm betting real inflation is about 10% because I can see over the last ten years, we're losing ground faster and faster. Thank heavens we bought a modest house and have been frugal since we started working.

 

[luv2nascar]

3% is about standard at big insurance co I work for. We had some years where it was only 2% but we are doing better. Our dept can qualify for a bonus every year of up to 4%. Last two years we have gotten 4%. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

 

[Kycha]

Well, at my company, if you are a woman annual raises are between 2 - 3 %. If you are a man, it is 10 - 50%. I know, because I do the payroll and see everyone's salaries and pay raises.

 

[Ally_DeVille]

At the University where I work, they recently changed the performance evaluation rating, this has severely impacted what mid-range staff get in terms of percentage increase and bonus. To frame this, each department receives a bonus pool for the senior managers to divide up among staff with the leftovers being divided among themselves. The bonus pool has never been decreased but has actually increased by several thousands of dollars each year.

Before a rating of 3 (average) got you a 4% increase and a chance of a bonus up to $1,000, a 4 (above average) earned you a 5% increase and a chance of a bonus up to $2,500, and a 5 (excellent) earned you between a 6-7% increase and a bonus up to $5,000. A rating of 2 got you a 2.5% increase and a workplan to improve your performance rating; training and coaching. A rating of 1 and they were actively trying to get rid of you.

Now, a 3-5 rating equals 4% raise and bonus up to $500 for a 3, up to $1,500 for a 4, and up to $2,500 for a 5, additionally a 5 is encouraged to find another job as they have outgrown their current one, seriously, that is what is written. A rating of 5 earns you a talk in HR to discuss and plan your transfer to another job somewhere else more challenging. How's that for motivation? A 2 gets a 2% increase and a coaching plan and you'd better be a 3 within 6 months or else.

However, because we are such a prestigious place to work, their standards of work have suddenly gotten very high, staff who used to get 4's and 5"s are now getting a rating of 3, those who were a 3 are getting a rating of 2, those who were lower are still around.....

I used to get rated between 4 and 5, and got bonuses upwards of $2,500 but no longer. My supervisor isn't unhappy with my work at all, I still get commended, my reviews are highly positive but because our standards are all of the sudden higher than anyone else's, I am now average and have been told it would take a lot to get me above average. (If I left to work somewhere else, I would be an excellent employee, in theory at least).

Since I work in finance I know what everyone, especially the senior management, make and what their bonuses are; staff bonuses have gotten significantly smaller while upper management bonuses have gotten significantly larger. And they wonder why the employee satisfaction rating is below 50%!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Well, at my company, if you are a woman annual raises are between 2 - 3 %. If you are a man, it is 10 - 50%. I know, because I do the payroll and see everyone's salaries and pay raises.

just curious -- are you male or female? and how does that make you feel to know that is the way raises are calculated?

 

[candykisses]

I work under a contract. I usually get 3-4% per year for years 1 and 2 of the contract and cost of living in the 3rd year of the contract. The cost of living year can't be lower than 2%.

 

[mrsklamc]

Well, at my company, if you are a woman annual raises are between 2 - 3 %. If you are a man, it is 10 - 50%. I know, because I do the payroll and see everyone's salaries and pay raises.

I know the law is not necessarily what happens in real life, but seems like you would have glaring proof to bring this to the labor board.

 

[Kycha]

just curious -- are you male or female? and how does that make you feel to know that is the way raises are calculated?

I am female and it certainly doesn't make me feel good.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

I work as a legal secretary/paralegal/notary and just received a 10% increase in my pay - no raise for the last 3 years though. And my 19+ yr. co-worker just quit - they may be replacing her in August after a big trial is over.

Yes, I do not like litigation work, but I guess I will be doing it until after August! But I don't have to like it...

My DH works for state government (LA) and they do get merit and cost of living raises every year - thank goodness! Our family health insurance premium is only $136/mo. through Blue Cross - although our presc. drug coverage has a $100 deductible per person and the drug copays are on tier levels.

I will post this again separately, in case there are other LA citizens out there who may qualify for this. It's called the CHAP program (Children Heathcare Assistance Program) and it's through Children's Hospital in New Orleans. They take your family income and the number of people in your family and if you fall in the income limits, you can get free dental care for your children (on the Toothbus that travels around). My 19 yr. old college son still goes and everything is free. They get 2 checkups per year and free sealants, fillings, xrays, except not orthodontic work.

The letter arrived yesterday that the Country of Qatar (due to their contribution after Hurricane Katrina) is paying for our coverage through 5/08 if we need any medical care for the kids through Children's Hospital. I've called and made appointments for the dermatologist for 2 of my sons. Good news, that even with my "raise" I will still qualify for a family of 6 with their income requirements. PM me if anyone wants additional details about this wonderful program.... I will make sure my kids get all the medical care they need during this tiime. The only bad thing, the next dermatologist appt. available is 8/29/07 - the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina!!!

 

[Cindy B]

Other companies (non union) are using salary bands. The company uses all local competitiors for the same type of job and puts it in a matrix (on paper it is more ellipse shaped)

Then the HR departlment lines up your job with competitiors. Then the HR department determines if you are above market/lower than market/at market value. If you are above market, you won't get a raise. At market, you won't get a raise. If you are lower than market, you will get a raise.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I work for a municipality...my contract is negotiated with 3-3.5% yearly raises. And that's considered pretty standard around here.

 

[budbeerlady]

That is good advice for people who work in the for-profit sector, and who do not live in MI! I could do all the research I want and present my boss with the report of what others in my field with my experience are making, and they would laugh, as there is only a set amount of $$ in the budget, and unions can make any pay raises difficult! There is no such thing in my company as getting a raise! We're lucky to get a 1% increase each year!

And believe me, I look for jobs on a daily basis...there is nothing in MI. Hope to move as soon as we can sell 2 of the three houses we own...did I mention how horrible the market is right now for selling a home in MI??

You are a preaching to the choir, Delphi votes today and that might actually make things worse if it can for our area! I am glad to have a job here! (Howdy from the South Haven/ Holland area!) I drive 35 miles 1 way to have a decent job.

 

[jtoast]

My team was awarded a total of 3% of our combined current salaries to be distributed by our boss. Because I am already the highest paid in the dept, I got the smallest raise (1.4%)

 

[kinntj]

Pharmaceutical here and it's around 2%. My DH got 3% for exceptional work (highest mark). What helped was he got a bonus in March for 22% his pay. That's how we can afford to have our basement finished and take a vacation next spring.

We put all of his raise into our retirement funds.

 

[Benducci]

Ha!! We don't get annual salary increases. I haven't had a raise in 5 years.