Is this lawful...giving a raise to selected employees?

[MrGray]

Hard truth. A small company generally knows exactly who it needs to keep around and who it can afford to lose, and when budgets are limited they'll put the money into those they absolutely need to keep around. So, best advice if you want to keep working there, find a way to become on of those that they need to keep.

It's not just about hard work. Even if you're hard-working, if the job you do can be done by just about anyone who walks through the door, in a small company environment you will be last in line for increases when cash is constrained. Put yourself in the owners shoes - do you spend your payroll on support staff who are generally easily replaceable, or look after the cash generators?

Either go work for a corporate where increases are standardized and applied across the board, or become indispensable. If you already think you are indispensible but overlooked, tell the owner you need to move on as you need more money. They'll be forced to consider replacing you and at that point either they'll say bye have a nice life, or they'll think about it and realise it will be a mistake to let you go. Either way, you'll have your answer.

 

[Drifter]

Good advice ^^^.

 

[^^vampire^^]

Further to this I think the bar for that of a hard worker has definitely dropped over the last decade or so. Especially with the younger entitlement generation and the glowing example of a government many people are mistaken in their ideas that they are entitled to everything. I don't work very hard when I don't feel like it (which isn't very often) but at least I know my skills are rare so I get to set the precident.

Throw into that the fact that there is Google so no one actually needs to know anything anymore so it's cool to be stupid. Now we're stuck with a generation of kids that passed matric on no merit of their own and are too stupid to have any common knowledge who sit with their hands out "asking for christmas" every 5 seconds because they "deserve" and are "entitled" and at the end of the day you are entitled to absolutely zero. When your parents said you're special they forgot to say "just like everyone else". No one owes you anything!

This should help anyone who needs it along in life:
http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/why-generation-y-yuppies-are-unhappy.html

It's a great example - let me give you a particular excerpt:

"Paul Harvey, a University of New Hampshire professor and GYPSY expert, has researched this, finding that Gen Y has “unrealistic expectations and a strong resistance toward accepting negative feedback,” and “an inflated view of oneself.” He says that “a great source of frustration for people with a strong sense of entitlement is unmet expectations. They often feel entitled to a level of respect and rewards that aren’t in line with their actual ability and effort levels, and so they might not get the level of respect and rewards they are expecting.”"

 

[Electric]

Nice little site that.
True on so many levels.

Lower the entitlement and ask yourself if you really are working hard and deserve the raise.

 

[Bobbin]

Oh no don't go work for a corporate, you will regret it. I've been in 2 and both don't pay overtime, yet expect it, and are always out of budget. They milk people for all they are worth IMO

As for the entitlement aspect. Fair is fair. Remember that job loyalty no longer exists and people are more dispensable than ever. It isn't worth giving your heart and soul to a company but at the same time you must honor your contract and prove you're an asset as you should be. So both employer/employee must meet half-way.

 

[Electric]

 

[Bismuth]

From my experience, bonuses and raises are not only related to performance, but also the perceived value you are to the company. Note that perceived and actual value are not necessarily the same thing, but with a good manager, the two will be closely, if not exactly, aligned.

I spent almost 3 years at my current employer showing them that I add value to the business, and hopefully in less than a month will be appointed officialy to the post I am currently on 3-month probation in. I have former colleagues who I now manage, who have a rather large sense of entitlement for more money, bonuses and raises, and fail to realise that management does not perceive them as of much value to the company, hence is not willing to pay the higher salaries, better raises and larger bonuses.

That's just my experience on what is essentially somewhere between the first and second rung of the management ladder.

B

 

[neilronaldson]

Its called favoritism and nepotism

unless you suck up to the boss, you aint nobody there...no matter how hard you try work

 

[froot]

Oh no don't go work for a corporate, you will regret it. I've been in 2 and both don't pay overtime, yet expect it, and are always out of budget. They milk people for all they are worth IMO

If you earn over a certain amount you are not entitled to overtime pay.

 

[satanboy]

A number of years back (+/-8) I pointed out to my manager that I saved the company R17m on one issue (error I picked up). He said it was great but couldn't give me one measly extra point for it.

kthxbye


Last year I picked up over R100m mistake, got more points (new manager).

 

[GreGorGy]

If you earn over a certain amount you are not entitled to overtime pay.

Says?

 

[Bar0n]

Says?

Basic conditions of employment act was amended in 2012, I think. After a certain annual salary figure, you cannot demand certain things from your employer as stipulated in the act. I think the figure for 2014 was 205k annually.

One of these things you cannot demand is overtime pay and the overtime hourly rate. But it's a double-edged sword. If you're employer is not willing to reimburse you (or give you time off), then you may legally refuse to work overtime. If you earn over 205k annually, in 2014, you and your employer are supposed to sit down and negotiate overtime hours, reimbursement, etc.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Says?

Labour Law ... http://www.labourwise.co.za/labour-byte/overtime-pay-for-managers

 

[Venomous]

Says?

the labour laws


until salary X you must pay employees over time.

Beyond X it is at management's discreation but not compulsory....

 

[joeyhza]

Hey OP - since you brought up the word discrimination....quick question....are you perhaps based in Cape Town? And non-white?

 

[Bar0n]

Beyond X it is at management's discreation but not compulsory....

It's very important to note that if management does not offer any reimbursement or time off for overtime worked, you may legally refuse to work overtime. There are 2 sides to this law and often you only hear half of it.

 

[GreGorGy]

Interesting reads - thanks.

 

[Venomous]

It's very important to note that if management does not offer any reimbursement or time off for overtime worked, you may legally refuse to work overtime. There are 2 sides to this law and often you only hear half of it.

yip.

there are 2 sides to it. I responded to Greg questioning it. Posting with my mobile, so shorter answers are easier.

Thanks for posting that

 

[Magnum]

A number of years back (+/-8) I pointed out to my manager that I saved the company R17m on one issue (error I picked up). He said it was great but couldn't give me one measly extra point for it.

kthxbye


Last year I picked up over R100m mistake, got more points (new manager).

Had that exact same situation. Shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool me twice.

Second time they asked me why didn't I help out. I replied. not my responsibility. Sorry get the guy to do his job right. I have been allocated my own work.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I am livid as I know I'm damn good at my job.

I don't mean to sound like a dick, but everyone believes that they are.

You should have a discussion with your employer, using performance measurables, to try and prove that you are.