Just me complaining again......

[tink20]

DH works for the city and has not had a cost of living or merit raise in almost 8 years, due to the economy. He has earned 3 raises on his own by taking online college courses and he now has been promoted twice (once just recently). The new mayor's proposed budget for 2015 includes:

2.5% cost of living raise- effective Oct. 2014
2.5% merit raise-effective April 2015

and.........Higher employee health care contribution, which will take effect in Jan. 2015, (we will have to pay 4% more for our insurance)

Gee, thanks for the raise.

 

[OurBigTrip]

DH works for the city and has not had a cost of living or merit raise in almost 8 years, due to the economy. He has earned 3 raises on his own by taking online college courses and he now has been promoted twice (once just recently). The new mayor's proposed budget for 2015 includes:

2.5% cost of living raise- effective Oct. 2014
2.5% merit raise-effective April 2015

and.........Higher employee health care contribution, which will take effect in Jan. 2015, (will have to pay 4% more)

Gee, thanks for the raise.

Try to remember that your DH is luckier than many. He's getting close to a 5% raise, when many others have and will continue to get no raise at all.

 

[MissManda]

I know it stinks, but at least they are essentially giving a raise to offset the higher insurance costs...they could have just increased the costs with no raise at all. Better to have a little something that nothing at all.

 

[carrie1626]

DH works for the city and has not had a cost of living or merit raise in almost 8 years, due to the economy. He has earned 3 raises on his own by taking online college courses and he now has been promoted twice (once just recently). The new mayor's proposed budget for 2015 includes:

2.5% cost of living raise- effective Oct. 2014
2.5% merit raise-effective April 2015

and.........Higher employee health care contribution, which will take effect in Jan. 2015, (we will have to pay 4% more for our insurance)

Gee, thanks for the raise.

I hear you!

Nothing gets cheaper
and no merit increase in years
increases in healthcare costs take the raise right out of your wallet.

I still believe the USA is the greatest nation to live

 

[OurBigTrip]

I know it stinks, but at least they are essentially giving a raise to offset the higher insurance costs...they could have just increased the costs with no raise at all. Better to have a little something that nothing at all.

Offset it and then some.

I agree that it's not a great raise, but it's better than nothing at all.

 

[TAX GUY]

DH works for the city and has not had a cost of living or merit raise in almost 8 years, due to the economy. He has earned 3 raises on his own by taking online college courses and he now has been promoted twice (once just recently). The new mayor's proposed budget for 2015 includes:

2.5% cost of living raise- effective Oct. 2014
2.5% merit raise-effective April 2015

and.........Higher employee health care contribution, which will take effect in Jan. 2015, (we will have to pay 4% more for our insurance)

Gee, thanks for the raise.

Question, if I may.... what percent are the employees paying towards the plan? I ask because around here most government (local and state) pay a very minimal percent compared to the private sector.

 

[tvguy]

Try to remember that your DH is luckier than many. He's getting close to a 5% raise, when many others have and will continue to get no raise at all.

And given it is a public sector job that tends to pay more than comparable private sector jobs, you're probably ahead of a lot of people. 42% more if you are a Connecticut state worker.

http://www.aei.org/files/2014/04/24...public-employee-compensation_112536583046.pdf

 

[niclodn]

I consider him lucky! I haven't had a raise in 8 years; yet, my rent, healthcare (not provided by my employer), food, utilities, etc. have all increased dramatically. And I have many family and friends who have taken pay cuts in the past few years in order to keep the jobs they have. Count your blessings!

 

[tink20]

Question, if I may.... what percent are the employees paying towards the plan? I ask because around here most government (local and state) pay a very minimal percent compared to the private sector.

It is 16%, will go to 20%, I know that's probably low. I just get so frustrated, my DH works so hard (has a second job, because we can't make it with first "real" job)

I just figured it up, and I don't guess the increase in the health will take all the raise. I was at first thinking 5% raise - 4% health increase = 1% raise, but I now see that isn't the case.... duh! We have just had a rough year financially and I just wish things would turn around soon.

 

[eliza61]

Also does he get a pension? My job I get a pension and it's based on my highest 3 year salaries, so even if my raise isn't spectacular it helps in the long range.

 

[swanmom]

I've worked the same job for 12 years. The company went through a major contraction in 2012 and laid off many workers. More than 400 friends and colleagues of mine lost their jobs. Many are still looking for work that is even roughly comparable to what they lost. Many spent several years on COBRA - having to pay the entire cost of their health insurances themselves. Many had to spend all of their savings and a lot of their retirement money to hang on. Many have had to combine several part-time jobs which, of course, don't have benefits. I guess this will seem unsympathetic but I don't mean it that way. Just want to point out that I know a good many people who would give everything to just have a job that offered health insurance - let alone a raise to help cover increased costs. You could choose to look at it as unfair or you could choose to look at your situation as one that many of the people I know who lost their jobs would take in a heartbeat!

 

[tink20]

I've worked the same job for 12 years. The company went through a major contraction in 2012 and laid off many workers. More than 400 friends and colleagues of mine lost their jobs. Many are still looking for work that is even roughly comparable to what they lost. Many spent several years on COBRA - having to pay the entire cost of their health insurances themselves. Many had to spend all of their savings and a lot of their retirement money to hang on. Many have had to combine several part-time jobs which, of course, don't have benefits. I guess this will seem unsympathetic but I don't mean it that way. Just want to point out that I know a good many people who would give everything to just have a job that offered health insurance - let alone a raise to help cover increased costs. You could choose to look at it as unfair or you could choose to look at your situation as one that many of the people I know who lost their jobs would take in a heartbeat!

I know, you are right. I am currently searching for a job myself.

 

[mom2rtk]

DH works for the city and has not had a cost of living or merit raise in almost 8 years, due to the economy. He has earned 3 raises on his own by taking online college courses and he now has been promoted twice (once just recently). The new mayor's proposed budget for 2015 includes:

2.5% cost of living raise- effective Oct. 2014
2.5% merit raise-effective April 2015

and.........Higher employee health care contribution, which will take effect in Jan. 2015, (we will have to pay 4% more for our insurance)

Gee, thanks for the raise.

In this volatile age for health care costs, lots would take that 4% increase and dance a little jig. Our annual renewal is 6/1 and we just got hit with a 70% increase. Can't wait to see what next year brings.

 

[Saphire]

I understand! I haven't received a raise in six years. My husband hasn't either, and our health insurance has gone up every single year. And the insurance doesn't cover as much! We now have higher deductibles. Ever since the current president came into office....

 

[Happy Snowman]

In this volatile age for health care costs, lots would take that 4% increase and dance a little jig. Our annual renewal is 6/1 and we just got hit with a 70% increase. Can't wait to see what next year brings.

70% . Did your company cut their contribution level?

 

[superme80]

Vent away!

 

[scrapquitler]

DH works for the city and has not had a cost of living or merit raise in almost 8 years, due to the economy. He has earned 3 raises on his own by taking online college courses and he now has been promoted twice (once just recently). The new mayor's proposed budget for 2015 includes:

2.5% cost of living raise- effective Oct. 2014
2.5% merit raise-effective April 2015

and.........Higher employee health care contribution, which will take effect in Jan. 2015, (we will have to pay 4% more for our insurance)

Gee, thanks for the raise.

You are ahead of where we are in my job. We haven't had any raise at all in 5 years, and our contributions for health care have increased substantially (more like 10%)

 

[tigercat]

My husband has worked for the same company for 41 yrs. now. He is paid the same amount (if you put in his salary from 77 and ask for the equivalent salary now) as he made in 77. He has 4 weeks vacation but he isn't always allowed to take it. The amount he was paid in 77 was just above minimum wage so he hasn't gotten very far. He figures he at least has a job I guess. I just wished that he would have changed jobs years ago. It is a family business but he isn't the part of the family that is getting the money. THe others are and did.
tigercat

 

[aprilgail2]

DH works for the city and has not had a cost of living or merit raise in almost 8 years, due to the economy. He has earned 3 raises on his own by taking online college courses and he now has been promoted twice (once just recently). The new mayor's proposed budget for 2015 includes:

2.5% cost of living raise- effective Oct. 2014
2.5% merit raise-effective April 2015

and.........Higher employee health care contribution, which will take effect in Jan. 2015, (we will have to pay 4% more for our insurance)

Gee, thanks for the raise.

That stinks- we just settled a contract - we had been without one for 4 years and the company wanted us to back pay into our medical for the past 4 years- eventually it got settled that we would start paying into medical now but not back pay into it(never did before) so now we have to pay 2% but we did get a 17% raise so the 2% isn't really going to hurt. But they also have to pay us retro money for the past 4 years we have been without a raise.

 

[manning]

I can hear my dad now.

"Son, sad as it is but the fact is you are not entitled to anything. It should be better but that's how the world is."