A raise

Seoige

Hi, not sure if anyone can advise me, well its actually a friend (really is!)

She's been working in a job for the past year, won't say what area but its a professional job, she's got a degree in the area and all that. She's a really hard worker and is a model employee-always on time etc.

She was recently given her yearly review which was to include a raise given that she now has a years experience rather than just being a graduate. She was shocked to find it was only 4%! I reckon that that only covers inflation! What are normal raise percentages and should she demand more? Thanks!!

magpie

4% is good for anyone not tied into Public Sector pay agreements.

Seoige

Ok! Don't think her work is tied to anything like that. Just thought after a years hard work that you'd be entitled to expect more!
Thanks

uberwolf

magpie wrote:

4% is good for anyone not tied into Public Sector pay agreements.

but in effect her pay has remained nigh on constant then? i.e no recognition of a years experience/loyalty, etc.

magpie

Not wishing to downplay it, but a year's experience/loyalty isn't worth a whole lot. Especially if its your first job, which seems to be what we're talking about here.

Expect to spend 3-5 years in a job before you start getting noticed, until then take what they offer you and be grateful, as you're not going to get any better elsewhere until you've got about 5 years experience under your belt.

Eoin

There could be a few factors involved:

1) When she joined the company, was it with an industry standard wage or did she expect to get a big hike after the year?

2) You won't say what industry / area of work but this could be a big factor. If it is I.T. then any raise is good. believe me. If it is accountancy for instance, then the yearly increments tend to be higher as experience is gained.

3) How is the company itself doing? Can they definitely afford to give out big increments.

Does her company have a formal performance rating system in in place? This may help her tell if she was seen to have worked hard, or if she got an average rating and therefore an average increase.

Eoin

WhiteWashMan

or, just becuase you work hard, arent tardy, are a role model employee, doesnt mean you get a pay raise at all.

if youre friends company has an appraisal system, then they probably have an appraisal complaints system as well.

as for the questions....

Seoige wrote:

She's been working in a job for the past year,

so what?

Seoige wrote:

she's got a degree in the area and all that.

so what?

Seoige wrote:

She's a really hard worker and is a model employee-always on time etc.

the term 'good worker' is completely subjective.
and i dont think you should get a medal for managing to get into work on time to be honest...

Seoige wrote:

She was recently given her yearly review which was to include a raise given that she now has a years experience rather than just being a graduate.

and this means what?

Seoige wrote:

She was shocked to find it was only 4%!

why?
is this higher or lower than her colleagues? does she feel she should be getting more?
why?

Seoige wrote:

I reckon that that only covers inflation!

bingo!

Seoige wrote:

What are normal raise percentages and should she demand more?

it depends on who the company is, what they do, how the market is, how the company is doing etc etc etc.

ive been in a company, where not getting made redundent was a good appraisal.
ive also been in a company where i have received 17% pay raises.

why dont you get her to tell us why she thinks she should get more.

but really, i suspect this is more about the niavity of being in the workforce. if everyone in the company is getting 4%, then i dont see why your friend should get more.

why dont you ask her?

magpie

The phrase 'better than a kick in the arse' springs to mind.

She should be grateful she doesn't work for WWM

uberwolf

my take is N00b - here's your pay.

cut to year later, you're no longer a n00b, you've experience and talents that have been refined during the year - better employee. Move up a rung.

Otherwise you're running to stand still?

magpie

Yeah, but like I said a year means nothing. No offence but college leavers these days seem to think they're entitled to the 5 series and all the perks the directors get after a year. You don't like it, set up your own company and see how far you get with your year's experience.

case_sensitive

sheesh WhiteWash, that was a bit harsh..

I'm in IT, been here 2 years, and I recently got a collosal 3% raise.
It's not that unusual; at my last review, through my gags of disbelief, they told me I was lucky to get anything at all.
In real terms, your friend is going to have slighty higher buying power, because though inflation is about 3% (unless you want to buy a house..), tax credit increases and band widening will usually mean you break even, even if you don't get a pay increase.
True, public sector emplyees get a higher percentage raise then us private sector folks, but they starts off on pretty woeful salaries; 5% of 15K a year is still pretty bad.

In some form, I agree with other posters, if you're doing essentially the same job you were (not taking on extra responsibilities above and beyond your original contract) when you started, you can't really expect to be getting 10%.

magpie

they starts off on pretty woeful salaries

Erm, sorry but that's bull****. From http://www.rte.ie/business/2005/0429/cso.html

The average public servant earns €3,500 more than the average worker in banking, insurance and building societies, €5,600 more than the average worker in the construction sector, and over €12,000 more than the average industrial worker.

From http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2005/0430/2036778305HM1PAY.html

The average public servant was paid €42,302 at the end of December, compared to €38,731 for financial staff and the average industrial wage of €30,000.

calhob_ie

Personally I moved job to job a lot just after I graduated. Usually spent about six months or so in a job before I moved on. The fact is that graduates are pretty interchangeable and your not going to get anything for the fact that you've been at your desk a year longer than the guy next to you. Now shes got her year up sticks and go to the next place, talk yourself up a bit and go up a grade that way. Thats how I did it.

The amount of people you meet who trudge in and complain non stop about how crap their job is then trudge in again in the next morning. No need for that at all, especially in the current market.

WhiteWashMan

now hold onto youre knickers there

for a start, if she worked for me she would be the happiest worker in the world, and would be paying me money to come to work

besides, im not saying that i am like that, what i describe is generally how it is.

and secondly, if you think im being harsh, well, in what areas?

it may be harsh, but is it inaccurate...?

ionapaul

calhob, I think you have hit it spot on, the job market is still amazing here, anyone not satisfied with job recognition has the opportunity to pick up and move to another job for a nice increase in pay. Particularly after the all-important 1st year of experience under the belt. Unless she started on an above average salary, if she honestly put in the effort, is dedicated to the job and willing to put the head down in the future, a 4% raise is poor after a year.

That said I don't work in an IT position, so my viewpoint may be different to others here.

nesf

Eh, a years experience in an entry level job (from the sound of things) isn't going to get you big raises.


Personally, I really cannot understand why people get so worked up over raises. The job doesn't change, the work doesn't change, but you expect more money? Yes, to adjust for inflation, but you are not entitled to anything.

If you want more money, move up the promotion ladder. Expecting to be getting substantial raises for just doing your job isn't very indicitive of a bright individual. Yes sometimes you might get a lovely raise. If your work is generating a large amount of revenue for the company over and above what is required, then yes you have a case for a raise.

But just expecting a substansial raise for being professional and being in the job for a year?

Welcome to life, it's a bitch.

Trojan

Tell her to count herself very lucky that 1) her raise covers inflation, and 2) that "raises" exist in her company.