My Reaffirmation That I'm In The Wrong Business

My wife works for a bank. She's a teller. Ok, head teller. So she oversees three other tellers and still performs teller duties herself.

Anyway, yesterday, she received a three per cent raise and her annual bonus: More than $2,000. For being a teller.

Know what we got? Nothing. Not a card. Not a gift certificate. Nothing.

Our raise in January, as per our collective agreement? Less than two per cent.

Unreal.

 

Lots of people aren't getting raises, or paychecks. Could be worse.

 

Very, very true. Which is why today we spent some of that bonus on toys we donated to a mission I'm fond of in town.

 

I am 42 and make $7.36 an hour while putting myself through college.

Pick your battles.

 

Of course, we all know I am not in the business, so I really can't comment here.

But I'm just saying ...

 

There's a lot people these days who find themselves "in the wrong business", I'm sure.

 

Yeah, but even in good times, Pete's situation probably wouldn't be much different I'm afraid.

 

That's why she wears kneepads.

 

Exactly.

This isn't new. It's just magnified during a recession. Journalism/newspapers couldn't/wouldn't do it in the best - ok, average - of times.

 

I got a 3 percent cut this year. And with all the furloughs going around, I consider myself lucky. You should too.

 

We had a salary freeze this year, and another one is all but certain for next year.

 

Seriously. You have a job. Be grateful. When I was employed, I didn't get a raise for 4 years.