Getting poorer

[XennoX]

I know a company that had 4 rounds of retrenchments last year. So everything is not "fine" as you put it.

The flip side to your argument is, "One company is not a representative sample. Thus statements such as yours can be construed as anecdotal at best and trite at worst." You need data and facts. There are many variables to take into account. Primarily which sector (industry), followed by which area.

I will not dispute the fact that the cost of living has seen a spike in during the 2015/2016 period.

 

[TofuMofu]

I know a company that had 4 rounds of retrenchments last year. So everything is not "fine" as you put it.

Nope, he's being a moron. I've had 2 friends unemployed last year due to retrenchments. One technically still is, but he's started his own thing.

 

[Jehosefat]

Wish people would stop talking rubbish about the economy being bad. It is not. When entire industries can shut down for an entire month or longer to go on vacation, the economy is just fine. When the majority of companies give the level of service which has become a trademark in this country, the economy is just fine.

Perhaps they "can shut down for an entire month or longer" because there is just not enough work to justify staying open?

Our economy is really not doing that well and your flawed assumptions and anecdotal "evidence" don't change the facts.

 

[skinndeep]

Why not ask for an increase?

 

[KleinBoontjie]

This is a solid idea. I get junior guys approaching me every now and then, complaining about being underpaid and demanding double their salary. I tell them that that's not doable, but if they bring me an offer from someone else, I'll try my best to beat that offer.
I'm yet to have anyone bring me an offer, or even leave the company on grounds of renumeration, while reporting to me.
It's important to know what you're worth, and you're worth whatever someone is willing to pay you.

So you can, but you're not willing? Why do employers always want the employee to be willing and eager, but they never return the favour?

 

[Messugga]

So you can, but you're not willing? Why do employers always want the employee to be willing and eager, but they never return the favour?

It's not always a case of being able to. The fact of the matter is, I can't justify paying a guy with 1 year of experience the same as someone with 3 years of experience and who is a much more valuable resource. I need to be able to go to the powers that be and motivate why this person needs to be paid significantly more.

We normally pay our staff well, and they get excellent increases if they perform, especially the junior guys who can get 30+% annual increases if they're really good. But for many people, this simply isn't enough. By telling them to get an offer of whatever their outlandish demand is, I'm forcing them to go get some perspective.

Also let's not forget that it's a business. It's there to benefit everybody, but primarily the owners of the company.

 

[XennoX]

Damn, Messugga beat me to the chase.

beans100 - it just makes business sense to keep costs low, and the biggest cost is usually the human. That's just the reality of the world. Business isn't there to make sure you can afford your house, your car, the private tuition of your 2 kids and your annual December holiday. Business is there to make money.

 

[Messugga]

Oh and just to add, I actually try my best to take care of my staff. I want them to be happy and get the most out of life. That means a good work/life balance, job satisfaction, opportunities and a good income. I get nothing positive out of depriving them of any of the aforementioned.
Unfortunately, sometimes my hands are tied in terms of options, however.

Not all managers are bad people out to screw over the little guy.

 

[IziWhatNow]

It seems to me that if you're young, the biggest increase in salary will come from job hopping. If you stay at the same company for years and don't get the increases (and promotions) that seems to be the norm in your field, you will soon be earning less than the industry average.

If you're underpaid for a few years, chances are that no company is going to take you on and bring your salary up to standard.

 

[HavocXphere]

Its pointless comparing percentages. Towards beginning of career they'll be much higher and could be off a low base

 

[cguy]

Its pointless comparing percentages. Towards beginning of career they'll be much higher and could be off a low base

True. I just got my first 0% increase in about 10 years. No complaints though.

 

[RVQ]

This industry has taught me one thing, don't expect companies to pay you want you worth, they will demand loyalty but fail to give you a reason to be. If you want to stay ahead of the curve then always be learning new products, technologies etc, work hard at your job to earn a name in the industry, market yourself before the company and every two years see what the industry is paying for someone with your level of experience and certifications. If you underpaid and overworked then move on...

 

[Randy_The_Squirrel]

Apart from the company undervaluing you, you really have to start looking at getting alternative income streams. Even if it is small amounts every month. Passive income looks to be the only real way of moving forward in life. And it has a snowball effect. The more you invest/buy in to small companies/etc the more you will be able to invest and supplement your income.

This, I am doing this... because I have to.

 

[Kilgore_Trout_Redux]

Don't blame you employer. The South African economy is in the toilet. Noticing myself getting poorer and poorer every month was one of the reason I left.

Most companies are also under strain for the same reason as you do.

Inflation is a bugger.

 

[Mila]

top earners is going to cry with an extra 5% coming their way.
That plus Medical aid.

With the rand in the toilet our cost of living has surged.

 

[Randy_The_Squirrel]

Don't blame you employer. The South African economy is in the toilet. Noticing myself getting poorer and poorer every month was one of the reason I left.

Most companies are also under strain for the same reason as you do.

Inflation is a bugger.

Its hard not to blame one's employer when they give a shyte increase, and then brag about how much money they have, and start acquiring other companies.

As for experience, this statement here intrigues me:

It's not always a case of being able to. The fact of the matter is, I can't justify paying a guy with 1 year of experience the same as someone with 3 years of experience and who is a much more valuable resource. I need to be able to go to the powers that be and motivate why this person needs to be paid significantly more.

I have got no degree. Yet the degree fail is used as a justification, every single time, to pay me less than the graduate twirp from Uni, because, reasons...

Getting back on topic though- I have seen the trend, the slide started in earnest around 2009 already, well it did for me...
Salary increases since then were poor, or nonexistent... I have been stuck in the same payscale now for over 4 years, even if I change jobs I get maybe like a R100 increase, in some cases I have to take a R6k knock, that's what happened with my previous job..

If the economy is in the toilet, I can understand that, but clearly it isn't in the toilet, or close enough to the toilet if these people I have worked for have had it so good they can brag about it..

 

[Kloofvreter]

Yeah, companies have the 'be glad you have a job' attitude. It's simply not that easy to go find another job.

 

[TheChamp]

Yeah, companies have the 'be glad you have a job' attitude. It's simply not that easy to go find another job.

Not just companies, seems to be the general mentality in SA, how many times have we seen "they should be glad they are employed" here on MyBB every time there is an industrial action from one of the unions?

 

[Hamster]

Not just companies, seems to be the general mentality in SA, how many times have we seen "they should be glad they are employed" here on MyBB every time there is an industrial action from one of the unions?

Not all job sectors are equal. IT and financials have a shortage of qaulified professionals. How difficult is it to find a replacement truck driver, petrol station attendant or any manual labourer?

 

[TheChamp]

Not all job sectors are equal. IT and financials have a shortage of qaulified professionals. How difficult is it to find a replacement truck driver, petrol station attendant or any manual labourer?

If it was just those sectors I would understand, it's the same when workers in Eskom, Mtn, Transnet, Telkom and others go on strike for better wages, it's like an assumption has been made that unions represents people who are not educated or qualified, as you've just shown in your post, look at the first jobs you thought about when I mentioned unions....