If the money isn't there, it isn't there. Well unless you're the US Government, then you will just print more money.

Consider your self lucky, because in my experience they aren't pretty standard. I have worked for companies that have even instituted across the board pay cuts because they realized they couldn't lay off anymore and remain competitive. This happened despite record profits. The problem was said profits didn't meet the forecasted goal for the year.

I have worked at others, and currently work for a HUGE company that will give raises, but only if you cross some moving invisible line to separate you from achieving expectations over to exceeding expectations. From my 14 years in the civilian workforce, COLA raises just flat out don't exist.


Now like I have already stated, as far as your typical unelected govt employee stands, I see both ends of the argument here. They haven't got a raise for two years I am sure there are plenty who deserve one. On the other hand, is it really the responsible thing to do?

But them leeches in Congress and Joe Biden? OH HELL TO THE NO! They haven't earned a raise. Worse yet, they are already making PLENTY of money. Obama really pooched it when he didn't exclude them from the raise.

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Member formally known as AC59

Honestly, It's such a small amount (raise to congress/biden/obama) compared to the national budget while I don't think they deserve it I don't really care that much. It's like arguing about what color you're going to paint the ceiling in coat closet.

~13% of the budget goes to federal employees. That would mean a at maximum .13% total raise if everyone got 1%. And if we try to cut some of these workers in the next budget then the raise wont even be felt.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

"A penny saved is a penny earned."

There are no small amounts, only pieces of a huge deficit.

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That's weak sauce!

We aren't grandmas cutting coupons. Trying to create a sustainable and intelligent budget. Just because not giving people deserved raises is easy doesn't mean it's right.

Why don't we just cut out our military? That would save us a ton of money, plus the scrap metal from all the warships would bring in a small fortune. What the hell is our military doing that they need to have so much money? Scared China's going to invade? Good! We have 300 million civilian firearms. What do we need a military for?

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

I think you should be careful what you wish for. I'm not paid anywhere near a market wage for a degreed electrical engineer specializing in control systems. I get my job satisfaction from doing a pretty cool job for 'adequate' pay (meaning, I'm not going to starve), but I'm paid WAY less than my friends who graduated with me!

Having had 'normal' jobs for 30 years before I went back to school and got a degree, I'll tell you how 'normal' jobs work in good economies and bad, in periods of high inflation and low: Pay increases are normally factored in as an overall target % increase in the total pay budget. In a union shop, everyone gets an equal % raise (which is negotiated beforehand). In a 'merit raise' system, each individual gets a raise based on their relative performance, but the 'no raise' category is saved for the very worst and those who are targeted for eventual dismissal. The next category up gets a small bonus which leaves their base pay unchanged. If the economy really sucks and they're trying to avoid layoffs, there is an across-the-board wage freeze.

Way to go to a complete extreme position!!!

Why not cut 8-10% from military, why not cut 3-4% from pork spending, why not freeze 1-2% pay increases.

It all adds up. (But feel free to argue cutting just the one thing you don't like).

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That's weak sauce!

Yeah. I'm not against the military. Just was going extreme because it is an interesting thought to cut the military significantly.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

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GO HAWKS!!!

Visit my Seahawks blog at 17power.blogspot.com!

Follow me on Twitter at @17power

Says a lot for the people who voted them in.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

Exactly.

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Tanzania¹²

I too am paid less while working for the government then I would be making in the private industry. I only work for the government because of the job location. My wife didn't like our last location.
I've had yearly raises every where that I have worked since I got out of the minimum wage world.

Airline pilot - $200k
Fighter pilot - $80k

And what experience do the majority of Airline pilots have?

Any extra benefits along with the fighter pilot?

Fighter pilots get laid off?

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That's weak sauce!

Airline pilots are unionized, fighter pilots aren't.

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Talent can get you to the playoffs.
It takes character to win when you get there.

Most airline pilots don't chance getting shot down.

You must have a really nice job. Yearly cost of living increases went out years ago in our industry and I am willing to bet in most others as well.

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I work for a private company and even during the bad economy and a freeze on pay increases, all employees received a cost of living increase to their wages. It is different than a performance raise.

Like I said, you must also have a really nice job.

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Geez Dom, are you in fast food or something? WalMart? Most employers of repute have NOT stopped with the cost-of-living adjustments, they've only made them really small since inflation is near 0%.