The Results Are In

Well the results of the work performance reviews are in and as usual, my hopeful anticipation was crushed once again. What did I really expect to happen? Well I was hoping for an increase in pay that would be "reflective of industry levels". This was the promise when the new human resources director specialising in pay was recently appointed. And after months and months of industry research, what should be the results, the same as every other year. Most people got the inflation percentage increase, and some got 1% or 2% more.

I was one of the "fortunate" few who got 2% more than inflation, as a few people kept jokingly reminding me. Well I aint happy about it at all. I truly believed that I am being underpaid as opposed to industry standards. I think it's time to start assessing other options should my request for a pay rise not result in any actions.

It's a sad situation that companies think they should pay you just enough to keep you in a job rather than rewward you for staying in a job. This type of culture does not reward the loyal who do a great job each year, but instead encourages people to jump from job to job. People who are not loyal and skip jobs every year are actually rewarded with higher and higher salary. Why can't you do a better job each year in your current position. You may do the same job, but you can do it more competently and contribute a lot to the company. If say you do your job to a 9/10 level each year, does this mean that you don't deserve a pay rise?