We just had our raise cycle at work. I was, how shall we say, dissapointed. 1% raise following a positive performance review. Average raise was around 4%.
My boss said the quantity was not a reflection of my performance. Apparently I got such a good offer when I jumped to this company that I'm now at 72% salary band penetration. Far and away the highest band penetration of the group. So in that sense I really can't complain about my salary. Also, apparently there were folks who were rather underpaid and since he has to rob Peter to pay Paul my raise was sacrificed to give those guys what they certainly deserved.
I'm eligable for a promotion based on years experience and I've met nearly enough, if not all, of the subjective requirements to qualify for that promotion. Trouble is, my boss wants to see how I perform under a high-stress situation and the nature of the program I've been assigned to hasn't really provided me with that opportunity.
Once I get that promotion my band penetration (assuming I got no raise with the promotion) would be 48% and would bring me back in line with the rest of the group.
My first reaction was to see what areas I specifically needed to concentrate on to get that promotion, and also to volunteer to take on some extra work and responsibility. But, my concern is that it may well take until the end of the year to achieve that promotion, and that it may well come with little or no financial advantage. Or if it does, it'll be the raise I should have gotten now but wind up disqualifying me from a raise next April due to the timing. So essentially I'm looking like I'll be rewarded for doing a good job by getting screwed out of an entire annual raise.
Perhaps if inflation weren't seemingly going up so much (fuel, groceries, insurance, etc) it might not bother me, but I'll definatly have less money for most things this year compared to last year. If I had been a slug I'd see the issue differently too. But I've been getting *expletive deleted*it done, and for the part people have been happy (can't please everyone, and I did make some mistakes, but nothing beyond what's considered normal).
Anyway, after stewing on it for a bit I've decided to give it until January to get that promotion. Reason I say January is that there a big test that I'm supposed to lead that won't start until November and should wrap up sometime in December, if there aren't anymore schedule slips. I have been figuring that doing a good job leading that testing is the milestone I'd be looking for if I were my boss. If I don't at least hear that I'm being put in for it by then, I might just look to Monster.com.