Better Off-Cycle

I am a little disappointed this week.

I got a pay rise.

It wasn't much.

Yes, it is better than no pay rise at all, but it definitely doesn't come anywhere close to matching the rising changes in costs of living over the last two years, and it is the second year in a row that I have been a little shafted by the system. I am not completely upset though, because this pay rise was part of a company-wide, cyclical increase, where a percentage of the team total was distributed. I am pretty sure that I got the smallest increase.

I am more interested in an off-cycle increase, where it isn't company wide, as in those, there is more bargaining room, and therefore more opportunity for a larger increase based on performance. I feel that I am performing relatively well, in a high-performing team, but the incentives need to align eventually, in order to keep that drive going.

Money of course isn't a very good motivator longterm, but it is something that is required to increase in order to at least keep spending opportunity to keep from sliding backward. When that happens, it becomes a demotivator, and therefore a more important focus, which has implications on the overall quality of work, as life pressures will also start making an impact. The more financial pressure we feel at home, the more it is going to affect our work processes, which is why salary has to be adequate for the job, and appropriate for the economic situation.

I had a discussion with my supervisor today, where I was informed about the raise, though I knew about it on Monday already, due to an error in a new payroll system that just launched. Not that it matters. However, as said, I am more interested in an off-cycle increase, because that should be more reflective of the impact of my role. So, I also want to discuss career path opportunities and the tangible requirements I would need to meet for different paths, and incomes. I like the company I work for, and the people I work with, so I want to be able to build into it, and upon it.

While I understand that people will move for money, personally, I would prefer to be able to make money working for a company I believe in and with people who will also benefit alongside. Companies often talk about building culture and effective teamwork, and part of that is the remuneration policy. Ideally, there should be decent profit-sharing processes, where a company wins together. In general, this company is pretty good at rewarding people, and creating high value teams, but at an individual level, there is something to be desired in terms of recognizing good work.

But, it is very hard to find the right balance, especially in a world where people feel that they are entitled to reward, even if they are not performing. This is something that I have to reflect on going forward too, as while I believe I am making a positive impact, I need to ensure it is more than just a belief, and I actually am enabling people to be better, perform better, and return better results.

Am I deserving of a bigger raise? Not this round at least, because it was a small pot that was capped, and from that, it had to reward everyone in the team, and they perform incredibly well too. And this is why these cyclical, company-wide increases don't always make sense, because the same percentage for distribution is given to each team, regardless of the teams performance, or impact. A high-impact team gets the same percentage, as a mid-range team, or under-performing team. Off-cycle, it is individual-focused.

While the increase was small, what, it is going to go toward is our mortgage, as even the added value of a couple pizzas difference per month, can shave a year or more off the total. The faster we can get rid of that debt, the better. I have been adding more each month, even if it is only slightly more when things have been tight, because it is good to keep the habit. Adding this small amount on top each month means that it will have a future impact, rather than just getting absorbed by life expenses. I would rather wind things back, than make things a tiny bit easier financially.

While I think the value of our work life is a major part of our wellbeing and more than just a means to an end, ultimately, it also has to be an adequate provider. Since my daughter was born and over the last years since the stroke especially, it has been increasingly important to at least build a foundation for my family, just in case something happens to me. Every increase in income, helps me meet that need - every decrease in purchasing power, puts it a little further out of reach. There has been a lot of going backwards over the last years, it would be nice to get a sense of heading in the right direction again.

Maybe next time.

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]