had lunch with
i have been doing performance review and salary increases all week for my employees. we have a very limited float to work with. there is a 3.5% TOTAL allocation for the salary budget, to cover both promotions and wage increases. not-for-profits rarely have cost of living increases. basically, it is a merit-based increase system. 1% means you better get your shit together, or you won’t see another increase. 2% means you are doing ok, but definitely have some things to work on. 3% means you are doing your job very well, and have exceeded expectations here or there.
that was what i was given to work with for my people. i’ve given all 3’s and a 2 (i was budgeted all threes). i just had MY salary increase meeting, and the motherfuckers gave me 4%! i know on a bad mathematical level that the extra % was the 2 that i gave, but the reasons they gave me for giving me the 4% were all super-ego stroking. basically, it was the best verbal blow job i’ve ever gotten, and it was coming straight from the big boss, and my boss. I know 4% sounds like shit, but in not-for-profit world, this is like getting a christmas bonus (something else that never happens).
this has been a great frigging day, even though i am still way behind on work.
