When it comes to financial matters, "more," happens quite a lot these days. More costs I mean.
Of course, "more often comes with less". I'm talking about shrinkflation, that fairly common thing where products become smaller but stay the same price - it's a price increase. And more doesn't usually relate to more income either.
We expect it I think, the higher cost of living, we've been conditioned that paying more and shrinkflation is the norm but sometimes more is unexpected and not a bad thing at all...when applied to the right thing.
On my return to work in 2026, and after a very productive first week, the Director of the organisation came to my office and pulled up one of the chairs I keep there for meetings - he had a sly smile on his face as he handed me a sealed envelope and we chatted about something that had occurred that day then he left. A bit weird.
Curious, I opened the envelope and found an official letter and in the text found some numbers...10.5%. Yeah, you see where this is going? I received a 10.5% pay increase annually effective immediately. I did some quick calculations taking into consideration my tax rate and sat there looking at the in-hand figure I'd be left with thinking it was pretty decent. Very decent.
What was really cool was how the letter was worded.
The pay increase wasn't a programmed or expected increase, it was given to me based on effort, performance and what they felt I "brought to the company" which wasn't just results but "a dynamic that improved culture all-round" apparently. That was very pleasing to read because I work hard at that.
My salary is very solid and I get paid fairly hefty bonuses so to receive an additional 10.5% on top of my annual salary, (a condition that now cannot revert), makes me feel pretty happy and sort of justifies all the effort I put into my job which is considerable. It was a nice way to start the year.
Have you ever received a pay rise?
Was your pay rise for effort and results or one of those programed incremental pay increases? How did you feel about it? Was it enough or too little and did you feel grateful or somewhat short-changed? Did it make you work harder or did you maintain the same rate of output? Did it change your life for the better?
If you want to talk about it, make a comment below.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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Great to see they're recognising the value add. When you consider workcover, super, payroll tax; it's costing the business a lot more than 10.5% more, to do this. Congratulations, mate.
They're a good mob, expect results, but do the right things to help achieve them.
You're right on the add-on costs to them and that's why the figure blew me away; they already pay me well and then this? I'm super happy.
See these are things that make you appreciate the company you work for and make you like put effort on things, you get appreciated and rewarded!
Here I only got once a level increase to be equal to all the others in the office, many many years ago, just cause I whined then the only wage increase has been some years ago when a colleague of mine threatened to resign and they paid him more and he then warned that all the others in the office were pissed off and wanted to leave, so to keep us, they increased by 25% the wage... Now nothing more except for national contract renew where I get the amazing value of 15€ per year for 3 years
I knew they were very happy with how things are going in respect of my performance and results but never expected an unscheduled pay rise. I'm pretty happy.
I always work hard, smart and effectively and my results are solid so this sort of thing doesn't generally lift my performance, but it certainly makes feel like my efforts are being invested in the right organisation.
I think the best part is that they acknowledged the all around improvement, so not only on you but all persons and things around you, like you even influenced around
Do you have programmed pay increases in Italy or does it come down to the specific employer to determine it?
Kinda both, there is a "national" contract for every category and inside that, for every level you have for that type of category (ie. Factory workers with level 1,2,3 etc...), those contracts determine the minimum salary per level, the yearly increase until an expire year, after that the conditions of pay remain the same but no more yearly increase until the next renew of the national contract (and the renew can wait years)
Then it's up to the employer increase and give more above the minimum, it's his choice to do it or not
Ok,interesting. It's similar here, regulated pay structures called "awards." Depending on the job/industry the structure will fall under a different award. It is different with professional roles, but the majority of Australian works will fall under an award.
Yep sounds pretty similar, there are freelancers also but they pick their own tariffs, on the other hand they don't have sick days paid
Congrats! Well done. Sounds like a great organization you work for. Of course your team has to be great too. It does give me hope when I hear about companies that treat their people like that. Especially ones who deserve it.
They're pretty good mate yeah, makes going to work feel less like work. There's challenges of course, but that's business in a nutshell and having owned two (still own one) myself I understand. Good people is the key.
Yay that's freaking awesome XD I think companies kind of need to do that but I think a lot of them are hoping that people will be too lazy/scared of change to find another job.
All my jobs have been temp/casual/contract (including my current one which is technically casual) so never had a pay rise that wasn't a "cost of living" one. I think I told you already how I'm "supposed" to get one with my new accreditation level but they decided that people should have to reapply for their jobs to get the pay rise instead of just giving it to them so I'm still on my old rate which does annoy me somewhat but my fault for choosing to stay there I guess (I love my boss and my workmates and the kids I coach and their parents).
Loving what and where one works has a value in itself, not monetary but emotionally and mentally and that can flow on to other aspects of life enriching it. Of course, some more money is always welcome right?
I won't complain about getting more money though I always feel weird about receiving it.
Weird? I guess that may happen depending on how it's delivered (news of it) but I think if it's given, it's earned unless it's simply a pay increase cycle.
I have an "interesting" (probably unhealthy) relationship with money (I hate it and just kind of tolerate its pervasive existence because I apparently need to swap it for other things).
I also have a neverending battle with imposter syndrome where I'm pretty damn certain I don't do any given job well enough to get paid actual money for it even if that makes no logical sense.
Hmm, ok I know others who are similar. What I'm certain about in respect of them (and you) is that they're worth the polymer tokens that are handed over for the job they and you do.
I most definitely try and certainly hope so ^_^;
Hmmm, I've never really worked a salaried position!
I work on a job by job (event by event,, show by show) freelance basis.
I set my rates, and about every 18 months, I set a new day rate.
The only equivalent, to what you describe, is, when the client is particularly happy, and gives out a bonus or tip. It's not very common. (well, it is for the lower levels of workers, but as a Production Mgr, or Production Coordinator, no) so, when it happens, it really does stand out.
A nice little bonus now and then is nice indeed. I'm waiting for a bonus payment from the last quarter of 2025, sure to put a smile on my face.
I'm in a position where I am considered a "non-affiliated" employee, so commonly I would ask for what should have been a reasonable 5 or 6 percent raise and they would deny it because although I am not in the union they were only giving the union employees a 3% raise, so how would that look if I got double what they got. I finally went to my boss (after way too many years of just taking it), and said when they can do the job I can do, then you can feel bad about me getting a bigger raise than them. It's never been an issue since then :)
Scarcity of skills, always a good way to leverage better terms.
Lol.
Great! I'm glad that such a thing exists somewhere in the world and that you're one of the chosen ones for it. I'm sure you deserve it.
It felt good, I work pretty hard so nice to have that recognised.
Once or twice a year, according to Merit's calculation, I can expect an increase in earnings (most often it is only once a year).
In addition, at the end of the year, I receive an annual bonus, which depends on the company's results during the year.
And what happened to me in December?
I had a dispute with the service where I left the TV of the owner of the company back in the days before corona.
I didn't want to go to court, because the costs of the trial would exceed the value of the TV, but I didn't give up and after 5 years, I got a replacement TV.
When I told the owner the news, he was so happy and praised my perseverance and steadfastness, but the biggest reward for me was his admiration for my actions.
On the other hand, he told me that he was giving me that TV (top model 65" 8K) as a gift, as a "Thank you" for the mindset and real household attitude I have in the work I do.
It's not an envelope, but a big box for which I have to figure out what to do, because I have nowhere to put such a large TV diagonal 😀
I agree, the better reward here was the recognition of your effort and not the TV. I'd never see a second hand piece of shit TV as much of a reward and wouldn't take it in the first place.
Oh, no. It's not really used, and it's not a wreck 😀
Factory packed, top model for 2025.
That's awesome dude! Well done!
A bit of a surprise really, but a pleasant one.
2.5% payrise with the expectation of ~17% more productivity for me. Sheer bliss.
Lol...sounds about right.
Meanwhile inflation ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️
Like a balloon
The company values you and appreciates your effort and dedication to your work. Well done, and congratulations!
In self-employed work, salary increases have depended on a rise in the cost of living. I set my prices, but sometimes there were clients for whom I did design work who wanted to pay more because they loved the work.
In jobs with a boss, raises were due to scheduled things. I was always grateful. It didn't always pay off, sometimes it did, but I was always grateful for the goodwill.
Indeed, it's often different.
Yes, it is!