After a wage-freeze of one year, last year I finally got a raise

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

It had been two years since I had gotten a raise, and in the meantime, I had received three outstanding reviews. Because of my high rating, I was supposed to get a 6 percent increase. But at the last moment, corporate decided that across the board, all employees with a rating higher than 1 would only get 1 percent. I had a 4, the top rating. My raise was the exactly the same as the "average" rating.

Here is what my raise amounted to on my paycheck. It was enough to buy one gallon of gas every two weeks. That's it.

I was bitterly disappointed, and letdown, and I posted about it on DU. I was quite surprised at the reaction of so many who said I was lucky to have a job at all in this economy and that I should be grateful for my 1 gallon of gas every 2 weeks. I was shocked by those who said that one percent was better than nothing. No it isn't. 1% pretty much IS nothing.

The epic unemployment problem is a disaster, no doubt. My heart absolutely goes out to all who are caught in it, and this includes my 33-year-old son who is a 99er, who believe me, I help as much as I possibly can.

But here is the cold cruelty of the workplace right now. One person is doing the job of two or three. Raises are non-existent, but health-care costs keep going up. We are asked to work harder and faster. At my age, 55, I dare not complain. I'd never find another job in this environment, so I'm trapped with what I have. I'm fortunate in one way, for I like what I do, and I love my boss and he appreciates the hard work I do, but I do feel like I am a slave to the corporation.

So I look at all of the protesters, teachers, nurses, janitors and the thought that they are lucky to have jobs does not cross my mind at all. Nor should it.

But it did get me thinking about how many folks told me that I should have been happy because I'm still employed. At this point, I'm just hoping that I'll get to retire before I'm 80 or die first.

See? What corporations expect us to do is shrug it off and smile and keep working till we can't anymore. And to just shut up. And to say "Oh THANK YOU!" for our one gallon of gas every two weeks. I drive an efficient car and fill up every two weeks. That one gallon of gas lets me drive to work (not round trip, just one way) for one day. Crumbs. That's what they give us, crumbs.

I am not grateful. I'm glad the Wisconsin state workers aren't grateful either.

[LooseWilly]

1. Bravo.

The bosses will, generally, sell you out for a couple of bucks. Best to always remember, as a worker, to keep an open mind to returning the favor...

Loyalty and thankfulness are for suckers.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

3. I asked my boss if I could put a tip jar on my desk

He laughed.

He only got 1%, too.

[Inspired]

2. You are telling my story as well. 3 years since last increase.

But I'm supposed to just be happy I have a job at all. In other words, quit your bitching. Everything you said is exactly how I feel.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

4. You know what is really pathetic?

I have hope that my increase will be better this year. Why on earth do I think it might be better?

[Inspired]

7. I'd forgo dreams of an increase

if I could hand off the extra work I've been expected to take on in the last year. I now have the work of 3 employees on my desk. With no increases. Serious bullshit going on in the corporate world.

[Suich]

5. I used to do payroll at a business and one year

the boss said to give everyone a ten-cent-per-hour raise. I said he could do the payroll himself then. He ended up changing it to a twenty-five-cent-per-hour raise and I did the payroll.

In 1960, I got a five-cent-per-hour raise and thought it was a good deal!

:crazy:

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

6. That's what I do - payroll (nt)

[TheOther95Percent]

8. I hear you.

I put in so much extra time that I figured out my "bonus" which is supposed to compensate me for the OT amounted to just about minimum wage. That and my "raise" (2%) brought me to the point I was five years ago. Add in my increase for commuting and health insurance costs and my income shrinks even more. I don't feel "lucky" to have a job. What I feel like is pressed to produce so much that I have no time for anything but work, taking care of my home and my elderly in-laws. My weekends are spent "catching up" on work issues. I work 70+ hours a week.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

9. Income shrinking, expenses mounting

But thank goodness we have jobs.

Right?

[beyurslf]

10. Three years since a raise here. We had this pow-wow with the Chief of our department and could ask

about everything. When someone asked her about all the new work being transferred to us and how high our workloads have gotten, she said we should be thankful for all the extra work. I think the whole room went quiet and just decided to shut up and not ask anymore questions.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

11. Oh Yay!

More work, more responsibility, more stress, but not more money. Then told to be thankful.

[beyurslf]

12. Before she said that, she bemoaned how she has these meetings every quarter so that staff can have

access to her and ask questions, but attendance is always low. The meeting before, only about 10 people came. (of course, she didn't mention they changed the date and time twice so a lot of people were busy.) She asked what she could do to help attendance. One of the supervisors said it would be helpful if a reminder email could sent out a couple of days before the meeting so people could double check their calendars to make sure they can get there. The Chief said that she could not do that because she doesn't have an executive assistant and she would not have time so we needed to just keep our calendars up to date. And she wonders why people don't come.