just got my first ever "boss decided I needed one" raise

[id10t]

Only got raises for high school job by changing job.

Worked 9 years at a hospital, raises were fixed across board - no merit raises, etc. Want more $, get a new position...

Worked 24 years here at the college. Raises are state controlled, across board, etc. Occasional salary studies gave me a few percent bump here and there. This years raise was a $500 bump on base, then a 2% raise on top of that, and then in November a one time bonus of $1k that isn't added to our base salary - typical based on history. That kicked in with new budget year (July 1).


Just got called to bosses office, was told they thought I was doing really well, they did some fudging with accounting and HR budgets and such, and gave me a $3k/yr raise. Not a ton of money... but considering they didn't have to, etc. it is great.

Even better is they told me that I had them (a director and AVP/CIO) fighting for a raise for me, but two VPs over different areas (academic affairs and student affairs) as well as the provost were praising me to the president and the board of trustees.

Kinda makes up for the 24 year wait....

[mgatepi]

Great job!!
Congratulations!!!!
The only way I ever got a raise was to threaten to leave......

[Racerbvd]

Congratulations..

[GH85Carrera]

It does make one feel great to hear the boss tell you I like your work, and I want to give you more money.

My boss at the aerial photo company would invite me to lunch, and as we ate tell me how much he appreciated my hard work, and all that I did, and tell me he is giving me a raise. I started with him at the salary I was making at a photo lab, so every raise was just gravy, and encouraged me to work a bit smarter and harder. He gave me several raises that he just decided I needed.

Congratulation on finding a boss that understands the number one motivating factor in most employees.

[masraum]

Nice, congrats! I have no doubt that it was well earned, deserved, and likely inadequate and overdue.

[LWJ]

I am in commission sales for the last 18 years. I give myself raises all the time.

(I also got a paycut last week when a huge account left me...)

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I am in commission sales for the last 18 years. I give myself raises all the time.
(I also got a paycut last week when a huge account left me...)

Do you have the SACKY-J bonus program?
"sell a contract, keep your job"

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

It does make one feel great to hear the boss tell you I like your work, and I want to give you more money.

My boss at the aerial photo company would invite me to lunch, and as we ate tell me how much he appreciated my hard work, and all that I did, and tell me he is giving me a raise. I started with him at the salary I was making at a photo lab, so every raise was just gravy, and encouraged me to work a bit smarter and harder. He gave me several raises that he just decided I needed.

Congratulation on finding a boss that understands the number one motivating factor in most employees.

But that's probably just how it worked at a tiny, private company. When the boss thought you deserved a raise and he could afford it you got one. In bigger more structured environments, that usually doesn't happen. For instance, at my company (enormous bank, >250k employees world wide, if you change jobs or are promoted to a new position that should result in more money, you don't usually get a raise until the following Feb 1 when all of the raises are handed out. Raises outside of that normal time are very, very rare.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by masraum

But that's probably just how it worked at a tiny, private company. When the boss thought you deserved a raise and he could afford it you got one. In bigger more structured environments, that usually doesn't happen. For instance, at my company (enormous bank, >250k employees world wide, if you change jobs or are promoted to a new position that should result in more money, you don't usually get a raise until the following Feb 1 when all of the raises are handed out. Raises outside of that normal time are very, very rare.

Yep. Every single paycheck I ever earned was at a small family owned business from age 16 to the day the last company folded, and I had to start my own business. The first place was really my "college education" and he taught me a lot, but refused to give me a raise to 12 grand per year.

Now as the owner of my own company I have a real slave driver, jerk for a boss. He made me work most of Labor day for no overtime money. He makes me mow his yard, wash his cars and all sorts of work helping his wife in her garden. I get even with him by drinking his beer, and sleeping with his wife.

[Danimal16]

Id10t,
Congratulations!

[Rikao4]

congrats..
was cleaning out my desk..
we got bought out..up..
fellow by the name CL walked in...
seems he owns a bunch of BLUE trucks and trailers..
me doing it right by his drivers got his attention..
had carte blanche till he died..
and so another 10 years went by fast..

Rika

[LWJ]

Oops. Forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Oops. Forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Same here. Good on ya.

[rwest]

Congratulations!

Smart bosses gives raises (and or promotions) to great employees when deserved as most people won’t ask for one they will just go work for another company and by then it is usually too late.

[A930Rocket]

Well done, it10t!

[Baz]

Congratulations - great story about how dedication and being conscientious at your line of work can yield positive results!

A life lesson for all.

We are all humans and like a little recognition once in a while. Well done, sir!

[billybek]

Nice! Congrats.

[id10t]

Thanks all, I appreciate it, love being able to share great news.

And while 3k/yr is a nice little bump the fact that I had the #2, #3 and #4 people in the college's administrative hierarchy campaigning for me to get the raise will have me rather gruntled for the next while

[berettafan]

Man that is fantastic.

My boss is an ass. My suspicion is he drinks too much during the week.

[KevinTodd]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I am in commission sales for the last 18 years. I give myself raises all the time.

(I also got a paycut last week when a huge account left me...)

Sales can be so great and so painful at the same time. I used to follow the mantra "fish where the fish are", and it works very well overall---but there's a necessity in having many smaller accounts mixed in with your big ones, and you just called it out--that way you have less impact when you inevitably lose a big one. Almost everyone gravitates to the huge accounts--when truthfully the smaller ones typically appreciate you more, and you have fewer competitors vying for attention!

When I first went in to commissioned sales after a career of steady salaries and being self-employed, it was a staggering shock--until I realized that for the most part--I was very much in control of what I earned.