Life Is Not Purgatory
Thursday, January 16, 2003
One Dime, One Nickle, Four Pennies - What Can I Buy?
It is the time of year for our yearly salary adjustments, and yes, the title of this entry is correct… I am worth an additional nineteen cents (extrapolating my salary to a per hour basis). Factor in this previous entry, and it has been an abysmal week.
“Due to the financial realities of the company…” that is how it started. A phrase that I had to then turn around and give to my staff, along with knowledge of their 1.5% pay ‘raise’. I figured I was going to be front-page news ‘Hotel Manager Slaughtered’. Fortunately, it has not happened… yet. However, I have only informed less than half of my staff.
One of my employees remarked that the raise was a complete “slap in the face.” I would have to agree with him. The ‘raise’ does not account for the fact that inflation in Canada was at 2.0% this year, so in effect, I am paying them less this year than last. We had the most productive and profitable year in the history of the hotel last year; in fact, we were one of the top performers (if not the top) in the entire hotel portfolio of our management company and ownership group.
I voiced my concerns to my boss, and he informed me that his hands are tied. He stated that the salaries and wages would again be reviewed by July (pending the financial realities of the company). I believe him, but given that the previous GM promised I in April 2002, I am more than a little skeptical.
I am the lowest paid person in my position in Alberta (of those who participated in the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association Wage Survey). They got me at a bargain basement price when I took the position in September 2000. Since that time I have learned a great deal, and I am not being compensated sufficiently for my experience and skills.
I was denied my opportunity to speak with the Regional Director of Operations today; he postponed his interviews with the department heads until the month (year) end reports are completed so they can be reviewed with the GM. It will be a defining day. I quite simply cannot accept this token ‘raise’ as it stands. I understand that the company is not doing well, but fairly compensating one’s line staff (let alone the management) should be a priority especially in the Alberta job market where unemployment is at an all-time low. If we cannot afford an actual cost of living increase, we cannot afford the cost associated with the attrition that will surely come of this asinine corporate decision.
It is the time of year for our yearly salary adjustments, and yes, the title of this entry is correct… I am worth an additional nineteen cents (extrapolating my salary to a per hour basis). Factor in this previous entry, and it has been an abysmal week.
“Due to the financial realities of the company…” that is how it started. A phrase that I had to then turn around and give to my staff, along with knowledge of their 1.5% pay ‘raise’. I figured I was going to be front-page news ‘Hotel Manager Slaughtered’. Fortunately, it has not happened… yet. However, I have only informed less than half of my staff.
One of my employees remarked that the raise was a complete “slap in the face.” I would have to agree with him. The ‘raise’ does not account for the fact that inflation in Canada was at 2.0% this year, so in effect, I am paying them less this year than last. We had the most productive and profitable year in the history of the hotel last year; in fact, we were one of the top performers (if not the top) in the entire hotel portfolio of our management company and ownership group.
I voiced my concerns to my boss, and he informed me that his hands are tied. He stated that the salaries and wages would again be reviewed by July (pending the financial realities of the company). I believe him, but given that the previous GM promised I in April 2002, I am more than a little skeptical.
I am the lowest paid person in my position in Alberta (of those who participated in the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association Wage Survey). They got me at a bargain basement price when I took the position in September 2000. Since that time I have learned a great deal, and I am not being compensated sufficiently for my experience and skills.
I was denied my opportunity to speak with the Regional Director of Operations today; he postponed his interviews with the department heads until the month (year) end reports are completed so they can be reviewed with the GM. It will be a defining day. I quite simply cannot accept this token ‘raise’ as it stands. I understand that the company is not doing well, but fairly compensating one’s line staff (let alone the management) should be a priority especially in the Alberta job market where unemployment is at an all-time low. If we cannot afford an actual cost of living increase, we cannot afford the cost associated with the attrition that will surely come of this asinine corporate decision.
