Skimpy pay raises still rule -Houston Chronicle

[Rose Siding]

NEW YORK - A rebounding economy and improving job market aren't translating into big pay raises for U.S. workers, who'll get an average 3.6 percent increase this year.
...
Results of a survey released Tuesday by Mercer Human Resource Consulting show the size of the average raise this year is little changed from 2004, when pay hikes averaged 3.5 percent. But the increases are generally helping workers stay ahead of inflation, which has risen at annual rate of 3.1 percent so far this year.
...
This is the third straight year that employers are granting raises under the 4 percent-plus level common in the 1990s, but many individual workers are actually doing better because the use of one-time compensation such as bonuses has increased, said Steven Gross, a senior consultant at Mercer who specializes in looking at employee compensation.

"This is not bad news, this is good news," Gross said. "In aggregate, employers are providing more compensation; it's just not directly in base pay."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3273618

[gratuitous]

1. "More compensation, just not more pay"

Thanks, Pinhead. But I can't use my increased employer-paid insurance premium (and decreased coverage) to pay my mortgage.

[PunkPop]

6. You just need to get sick more.

That way you can start enjoying the benefits of this rebounding economy!

[mbperrin]

2. Who's getting these raises?

The state of Texas and our school district have reduced retirement benefits by more than a billion dollars, and our health stipend has been cut by $500 a year in the last year. Last time I checked, that's a CUT>

3% inflation? Please.

Milk - last summer $2.97, now $4.74
Electricity - last summer 8 cents, this summer, 10
Gasoline - last summer $1.38, this summer $2.29
Local property taxes - last year, $2400, this year, $3600


Where the hell is the 3% -looks like 20 to 50% to me (and feels like it, too)

[Talfen]

3. I got 4.5%

I must of been lucky, of course my company had an record breaking year, they are one of the few companies I have worked for that has taken great care of their employees.

[bluestateguy]

4. That's about the percentage I got

and it is going straight into the gas tank.

[Talfen]

7. check into Hybrids

Hybrids, Toyota has some, I recently bought a Prius. Nice car going to buy the Highlander soon for my wife and as a travel vehicle with the kids. The Prius gets 51 mpg in the city and the Highlander is said to get 30+ have to look first though. Ford has some coming too, along with the other big three in the works. I feel I am doing my part in taking money out of the oil companies by not having to fill up my vehicle more than once a month. Maybe twice a month if I do some traveling to see family up north. The Prius is a bit small for a child seat and baggage though, so the Highlander or maybe the Escape by Ford will be nice to take the drive. Either way driving a Hybrid is not only economically sound but better for the environment too. I hope to see full electric soon or even hydrogen. Unfortunately the Big three in my state doesn't seem to want to have the market broken on gas guzzlers.

[musette_sf]

5. as I used to say when at work in Houston

where I had to keep it clean (as opposed to SF where I now work, where the Eff Word is casually tossed around)...

this is a bunch of Bull Whack Doody.

Everything goes up except workers' salaries... and the Corporatocracy keeps us owing our soul to the Cumpny Store.

[Delphinus]

8. Not bad news?

Sorry, dude, but I call your thinking "This is not bad news, this is good news," Gross said. "In aggregate, employers are providing more compensation; it's just not directly in base pay." bullshit.

[Zorra]

9. YAY! "War is Peace!" ("This is not bad news, this is good news,") n/t