Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries

Author

where's my raise

Bernie

2002-02-06, 11:14 am

If your company failed to give you an annual raise of salary, one year and four months after the start date, would you demand back-pay of the salary you missed? I thought I was due for a raise in Jan but it was really Nov. I asked my boss about an employee review for the raise and he stated they are really busy now and will continue with employee reviews in a couple of weeks. I’m Ok with waiting unless I don’t get back-pay. If your company did the same, did you get back-pay or did you get the shaft?

Nicole

2002-02-06, 12:11 pm

Depends on the company and it's policy. Look in the employee manual for the official policy on reviews. If it states that a salary review and/or takes place at such and such a time, and your review takes place after then, you may be able to get back pay retroactive to the official date in the employee manual. The policy may even state that you get it.

Retro checks are very nice. I got a check with retro pay for over a year and a half once

Of course, I collected my check and went out to the parking lot and my truck didn't start... which effectively sucked up my retro pay. Cest la vie.

Many companies have reviews for everyone at the same time. Here, for example, reviews are in February. Period. If you have been with the company more than 6 months come February, you get a review. If you have been with the company 5 months and 29 days come February, you have to wait until next year.

cross36

2002-02-06, 12:13 pm

The raise comes with a review of the employee and the work that you have accomplished in the past time that you have been there. Not all the employer's are subject to gives raises unless stated otherwise.
Best of luck you

Bernie

2002-02-06, 2:47 pm

This prompts another question. Say I do get retroactive pay, my hire date was Nov and they do the review (let's say March), give me the retro check....when will my next review be? In Nov like it's suppose to be or in March b/c they gave me a retro check therefore the date has been moved back?

darthw

2002-02-06, 3:31 pm

First, as stated, be sure to look in the employee manual, or check with HR. If retro pay isn't an option I would request that the review be done ASAP with your manager, explaining why. Note in the current job market I would "request" the review, in the previous job market I would have been much more assertive.

Most importantly, before you make yourself a pest about any of this, make sure you have been above reproach in your job function. Are you reliable? Have you met most or all of the goals set in a previous review cycle?
Do you call in "sick" often, or come in late as much as possible? Determine how much "weight" you may have with your manager depending upon the questions to which you answer "yes". If one is considered expendable because one is often tardy when one shows up at all, then one's manager not really going to care how long you wait.

When I've had late reviews, the review date has still been my hire date anniversary.

Nicole

2002-02-06, 5:35 pm

I hate doing employee reviews. The only nice thing about having to fire your entire staff and do their job, too, is not having to do their annual reviews.

I just walked out of MY annual review. There was lots of fawning and attempts to subtly find out what would happen if I didn't get a raise (again) or an annual bonus this year.

Apparently, (although they were noncommittal) they don't want to give anyone raises or bonuses this year. Be forewarned -- I think most everyone will be hearing it this year, whether your company is in good shape or bad.

I also remained noncommittal. I casually remarked that all of MY bills have gone up and reminded them that the "we're in a recession" argument doesn't fly when I know exactly how much we overpay our (useless) non-IT contractors up to and including luxurious apartments that cost more than my entire salary per month.

We shall see. I have this office convinced, but I don't know what will happen when it hits the corporate office. I think it probably helps that I am currently doing projects for executives at our corporate office and our New York office -- at least it gets me on the radar screen!

*sigh* I don't want to go job hunting right now, but I really don't know if I can let them get away with this two years in a row.

Pavlov

2002-02-06, 5:46 pm

Nicole - If I were in your position I might start putting my resume out there and see if anyone bites. We all know the best time to get a job is when you have a job

That way, if your current employer remains non-commital, then you may have another card to play. Especially if the new company has better benefits and salary structure. Two consecutive years there without a raise, on top of having to do more than one job due the recession is unacceptable!

Nicole

2002-02-06, 6:47 pm

Honestly, I have awesome benefits. No pension or matching funds on the 401k, but they carry everything else at their own expenses, even a generous life insurance policy. I've never had benefits anywhere near this good before.

I should know about the raise by next Friday... I don't know about the bonus.

As I am planning on moving to Australia is the near future -- but I don't know exactly when -- I was hoping to hang out here until then. I would feel really uncomfortable taking a job and then leaving it after a couple of months.

(And once in Australia I will have 6-8 months to be unemployed before my visa gets processed!)

Kasor

2002-02-06, 10:47 pm

If the company real that bad and u think you can get another job!

Move on.. ..

Most of the time, you get better pay for new job and be careful. Look at the current IT people rate salary.

Good luck

Matt1999

2002-02-07, 3:05 pm

On the same subject, I have a situation that may arrise.

At my current job I have been here for 5 yrs in March. I know my job well, I am very dependable (probably the most dependable person here) , and am on good terms with everyone(as far as i know)

.

But, as so many other people, I received a very small raise this year. My review was the best it could be, but the raise was the smallest it's ever been.

Well, I've put my resume out there and had some bites. So my question is, is it worth it to change jobs right now? It seems to be a huge risk. What if it doesn't work out? How much more money should I need to get to take the chance?

These might be questions only I can answer, but maybe someone has gone through the same thing.

chodan

2002-02-07, 8:47 pm

What I don`t understand is going through the trouble of the review proccess and then saying "everyone will get a flat raise this year".
What is the point in that
OR saying to you "I can`t give you 5 out of 5 on your review even though you deserve it because you have to have somewhere to grow to next review"
What a crock, just stamp "DUMBASS!!" on my forehead if you think I believe that logic.

Things are finally looking up where I work though since we got shed of our last CEO.
Hard work, Merit, and value to the company are being rewarded more and the dead weight are being let go more often.

Nicole

2002-02-07, 9:46 pm

Even if there are no or low or flat raises on the horizon, reviews are a good thing for YOU, however nerve wracking and annoying they may be. I have used past reviews to be better at what I do, whether it was addressing real issues or addressing they way people perceive me. For example, you might think your customer service is great, but everyone else thinks it sucks, or they think you're a really nice guy/gal but you come off as a clueless bastard even though you really do know all the technical stuff.

But I agree: flat raises are stupid. It might as well be a union -- you can be utterly worthless, but as long as you have seniority... What exactly do they think employees are motivated by?

darthw

2002-02-07, 11:05 pm

I worked for a school system that gave flat raises to all support personnel. Yech. It was OK to work while I went through college, but regardless of your individual performance or work ethic, everybody got the same.

I really don't believe anyone can get 100% on a review. We all need improvement or growth in some way somewhere. But someone in the 80 to 90 percentile ought to be getting a raise in higher percentages than someone in the scoring below the 80s.

ComputerMan

2002-02-09, 6:27 am

Hi, Not that many IT people were given raises this year no matter what you know or accomplished the previous year. The job market is very tight right now.

Just be glad you have a job!

I know a lot of MCSE, CCNA, N+, A+, types etc. working at Help Desk positions making a measly $6.00 - $10.00 /hr! (They were making $60,000.00 before the Tech sector took a plunge).

mrfixit

2002-02-09, 8:23 am

quote:
Just be glad you have a job!

Believe me, I am thankful every day! (Even if I do complain about it.)

Although I don't know how long my job will be there, as the company is getting ready for another round of lay-offs. (Oops, I mean "position consolidations".)

TechSpeak

2002-02-10, 9:29 pm

Here's my story:

I have worked for a company for the past couple of years. I needed a job real bad at the time so I didn't do much salary negotiation (which later led to a LOT of frustration). Recently I "had" to put in my two week notice because I was certain to get fired by letting them know what I really thought of their operation. Yes, I know it's not the brightest thing to do but I'm sure some of you can relate to my frustration.

The bottom line was I was doing a great job of helping the customers (which apparently is not considered a valued skill by management) and doing more than my fair share of work. I can handle not being appreciated on the whole as long as I am making a wage commiserate with my contribution to the company.

That's two jobs in a row where the people in charge have no problem at all with not giving any credit where credit is due. I'd love to know how decisions are made and how companies can be successful when they treat competent employees with what almost borders on contempt.

For those of you who wonder about leaving since a)the job market is tight and b)you have a steady job, I recommend looking BEFORE you get fed up. That way you can keep your options open. IMO all I "owe" the company I work for is my best effort. Under no circumstances (which I seem to keep learning the hard way) do I owe them loyalty.

darthw

2002-02-11, 9:29 pm

No loyalty. Each of us is just a layoff away from the street, and no company will think twice if the money is tight.

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