If you haven't had a raise in 10 years and make a comment to your employer about it and they throw back in your face the fact that you should be grateful that they pay your health insurance for you and your family and have given you bonuses over the years and maybe a few times over the years have contributed to your 401K plan, does that negate the argument that you still deserve a "pay" raise (that you have not received in the last 10 years and, on top of that, have had your "salary" sliced 7 1/2% three years ago)? Is there more credence on the employers side of that argument or the employee's side of that argument?

The employer seems OFFENDED at the appearance of UNGRATITUDE of "how good they are to you" simply by bringing up the topic (given the above scenario)

You are compensated with a variety of things. Pay is but one of them. Has your total compensation increased over the past 10 years?

Absolutely NOT - it has remained the same. (I guess the employer can make the argument though that it maybe has because health insurance premiums do go up).

Then it would seem you have a legitimate reason to discuss your value and how you are compensated with your employer. Of course he has no obligation to increase it and you have no obligation to continue to provide him your services for that price he's willing to pay.

I asked for a raise a few months ago, then we got our hours cut back to 36 a week. Sucks

You absolutely have a reason to complain. The price of living has gone up significantly in 10 years. And even though health insurance premiums have gone up, that also affects your take home pay as well (because you have to contribute to that each paycheck, too).

10 years is a long time to go without any type of raise. Good luck, man. Your boss sounds like a dick.

Scarlet_Buckeye;809602 wrote:Absolutely NOT - it has remained the same. (I guess the employer can make the argument though that it maybe has because health insurance premiums do go up).

Health insurance is certainly part of that compensation.

Havent had a riase in over 10 years either. About 4-5 years ago they instituted a bonus structure which is much better. I stopped getitng the bonus for over a year and I went to the owner about it.

He was pissed. Pissed at the employee who was supposed to be submitting the bonuses to be paid. He owns several businesses so he is no where close to the operations and to him basically no news is good news. When I told him of it I did get the back bonues within 2 weeks for the past 13 months.

I feel ya tho....no raise really would suck balls and how they play it off to ya is BS. They should at least be sympathetic and then feed ya some BS lines about economy and such.

Has your area of responsibility within the company increased over 10 years?

Yes my responsibility has increased.

Scarlet_Buckeye;809597 wrote:If you haven't had a raise in 10 years and make a comment to your employer about it and they throw back in your face the fact that you should be grateful that they pay your health insurance for you and your family and have given you bonuses over the years and maybe a few times over the years have contributed to your 401K plan, does that negate the argument that you still deserve a "pay" raise (that you have not received in the last 10 years and, on top of that, have had your "salary" sliced 7 1/2% three years ago)? Is there more credence on the employers side of that argument or the employee's side of that argument?

The employer seems OFFENDED at the appearance of UNGRATITUDE of "how good they are to you" simply by bringing up the topic (given the above scenario)

Go start a UNION and close the company, or better yet the company will cut the total number of employees and you could be unemployed . Go look for another job a see how green the other side may or may not be..
Hey! You're a decision make ...make the call

Scarlet_Buckeye;809667 wrote:Yes my responsibility has increased.

What is your line of work?

sherm03;809610 wrote:You absolutely have a reason to complain. The price of living has gone up significantly in 10 years. And even though health insurance premiums have gone up, that also affects your take home pay as well (because you have to contribute to that each paycheck, too).

10 years is a long time to go without any type of raise. Good luck, man. Your boss sounds like a ****.

"Complaining" is not the answer. If you believe that your contribution to the enterprise warrants additional compensation then you discuss the issue with your employer. If that does not bring you satisfaction you have a decision to make. Many employees are failing to realize that their employer, i.e. the business they work for, has most likely had a severe 'pay cut', i.e. their sales revenue has probably plummeted, and thus there is no way they can afford pay increases. Many in manufacturing had revenue cuts of 30 - 60% and thus had to do everything possible just to survive, including lay-offs, reduction in hours, bonus eliminations, salary cuts. Much of that will not be re-instituted until businesses regain confidence in the economy, and that is not going to happen until the jackasses in the current administration are sent packing in 2012. Good luck.

Don't get me wrong. My bosses know every single day that I am gratful for employment. I NEVER call in sick. I am extremely dependable and reliable and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. I run errands with my own vehicle and my own gas without compendation when required (which is usually weekly), etc., etc.

I guess if you re-read my original post it goes back to the point, if you get a "bonus" (in the area of $1,000 - $2,000 a year ----- basically given because the employer comes into some money) does that supersede an actual pay raise and can/should an employer consider that basically the same thing.

QuakerOats;809673 wrote:"Complaining" is not the answer. If you believe that your contribution to the enterprise warrants additional compensation then you discuss the issue with your employer. If that does not bring you satisfaction you have a decision to make. Many employees are failing to realize that their employer, i.e. the business they work for, has most likely had a severe 'pay cut', i.e. their sales revenue has probably plummeted, and thus there is no way they can afford pay increases. Many in manufacturing had revenue cuts of 30 - 60% and thus had to do everything possible just to survive, including lay-offs, reduction in hours, bonus eliminations, salary cuts. Much of that will not be re-instituted until businesses regain confidence in the economy, and that is not going to happen until the jackasses in the current administration are sent packing in 2012. Good luck.

This.

I work for a print company. We print signs for advertising, big business's too. We feel the heat when these companies are not spending money on advertising. Thus the reason for the hours cut, layoffs and no raises right now for us. It sucks too.

QuakerOats;809673 wrote:"Complaining" is not the answer. If you believe that your contribution to the enterprise warrants additional compensation then you discuss the issue with your employer. If that does not bring you satisfaction you have a decision to make. ....

Great post.

Again, I'm talking 10 years with no raise - not just 1, 2, or 3 years. PLUS three years ago they took away 7 1/2% of everyone's pay which has never been recouped.

Again, I was not complaining about my job per se (it wasn't that I went up to the boss and point blank demanded a pay raise or anything remotely like that), but the subject just happened to arise in a random conversation and one thing led to another and now I have been made to feel like crap/ungrateful simply because of the way the random conversation veered because I voiced my opinion on the subject.

Scarlet_Buckeye;809696 wrote:Again, I'm talking 10 years with no raise - not just 1, 2, or 3 years. PLUS three years ago they took away 7 1/2% of everyone's pay which ha never been recouped.

7 years ago my company put a freeze on raises, and cut 15% of wages, with still no recoup here as well. and now we are down to 36 hour weeks for the floor and 4 day work weeks for the office. plus we have quite a few still laidoff. Its bad here.

This is still America. If you don't feel you are being compensated for your services, then look elsewhere.

Off topic, but the way you guys talk about payraise freezes, cuts, layoffs, etc; it makes me glad I got into healthcare. With many of the Dayton-regional hospitals switching to EPIC, they can't hire fast enough.

You're technically taking a pay-cut because of inflation.

If you really wanted to make a point, crunch the numbers to see how much money you're "really" making compared to 10 years ago, and at the very least demand a cost-of-living adjustment.

It's fine (and reasonable) to ask for a raise. It's also fine (and reasonable) for an employer to say "no," if he doesn't think you're worth it and could replace you at lower cost.

dlazz;809807 wrote:You're technically taking a pay-cut because of inflation.

If you really wanted to make a point, crunch the numbers to see how much money you're "really" making compared to 10 years ago, and at the very least demand a cost-of-living adjustment.

Don't forget to include those increases in insurance cost the employer is paying on your behalf along with any 401K matching and the bonuses you spoke of.

My wife is going through this now. Her work load has doubled since she started, and her pay hasn't moved much. The director keeps saying they don't have the funds. Meanwhile, he goes out and buys brand new computers and furniture for the building thats not needed, a "company" car so he can drive it everywhere, golf every day on the companies dime, etc.

GoChiefs;809949 wrote:My wife is going through this now. Her work load has doubled since she started, and her pay hasn't moved much. The director keeps saying they don't have the funds. Meanwhile, he goes out and buys brand new computers and furniture for the building thats not needed, a "company" car so he can drive it everywhere, golf every day on the companies dime, etc.

Write off's are wonderful, aint they?!