Are Skimpy Raises the New Normal?

Lam1969 writes "Computerworld just released their latest salary survey, and it finds that IT worker bees have once again only received small raises. The article notes, "IT raises still lagged slightly behind the average of about 3.2% for all U.S. workers as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the majority of respondents (69%) said their 2004 base salary increased from one year ago, 31% experienced either no change in salary or had their pay cut." It goes on to quote LAN specialist Stephen Noisseau as saying, "I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles ... I'll take 4% over nothing. We're getting basically cost-of-living raises.""

Sorry, I got a 10% raise... no doom or gloom in WA

[RentonSentinel]

I often wonder about these surveys... who is an "average"? Who is an "average" slashdot poster? A bot?!

Re:Hard Times

[ackthpt]

Deriving an equilibrium wage using supply and demand curves has nothing to do with Keynesian economic theory. Economists (and mere mortals) understood the effects of supply and demand on wages long before the mid-20th century.

Do tell me, now that Web Design is a commodity skill, who still makes six figures designing web pages?

The last person I knew who was doing that is now living in his parent's house.

Hopefully

[t_allardyce]

I give my Chinese sweatshop kids a raise now and again, usually about a cent a month extra, sometimes a dollar bonus if they've been churning out consistently good shoes. It keeps moral up and gives them the belief that they might one day make enough money to break free of their shackles. I would warn bosses against so called 'perk raises' for example taking the number of tardiness lashings down might seem like a good idea but I've had problems when the workers start boasting about it and eventually UNICEF or someone finds out that we actually _are_ lashing them. That was a pretty costly lawsuit. In all I would say treat em mean and keep em keen. Its far better to threaten a wage reduction for poor work than to offer a raise for good work, instead just tell them that you're only paying the Pakistani kids half the price and that will get them feeling pretty good.

Re:Pay Raise?

[Nimloth]

You think that's bad, mine was last millenium.

Re:Welcome to reality....

[HermanAB]

What? Some people have jobs?

This will change when .......

[Anonymous Coward]

This will change when upper management looks around and says:

      "I see the problem. It's me!"

I'm sure that will happen any day now.

Re:Welcome to reality....

[Anonymous Coward]

"Feel free to discount this."

50% off?

Re:IT=cost center

[ozmanjusri]

once worked under a very intelligent person. One of his pearls of wisdom was this:

"A companies IT infrastructure is like a highway. No one really notices it when everything is smooth. However, just add one pothole..."

Ah yes, you've worked with Captain Obvious as well. Now there's a guy who gets around...

I dunno...what kind of printer?

[PFactor]

subject says it all. Guess I enjoy getting modded down.

Re:Welcome to reality....

[uncqual]

We may have oppertunities to earn more from overtime...

Please explain this concept of "earning more" by working overtime. I'm very confused. :)

No joke

[paranode]

Sometimes I wish Princess Leia was my boss...

"If money is all you love, then that's what you'll receive." Yes ma'am!

Raises?

[Nephroth]

What is this word "raise" that you speak of? I know not your foreign language.

Re:No joke

[geminidomino]

"No Ma'am. I also love captive princesses in metal underwear."