I don't know about that. My last job, awful awful company, flat out refused any semi-decent raises. 1.5% was a common yearly raise (only after we were bought ou

I don't know about that. My last job, awful awful company, flat out refused any semi-decent raises. 1.5% was a common yearly raise (only after we were bought out by an international pharma, prior 5% was pretty standard). I asked for a large raise, 20%, but I had the numbers to back them up. For 1.5 years I completed 2x the work everyday as the average person in my department. I was pulled around for awhile before they refused and said they would evaluate at the next raise cycle...and I managed a 4% raise (which included a promotion). It was pathetic. If I was in sales it wouldn't be a problem, but I didn't have the leverage so they screwed me over. I left a few months after and even a couple years later the company is in a downward spiral (they sold off the division I used to work in - guess fucking over all your employees and forcing all the competent ones to leave results in lower profits over the long term). So, I think "people don't ask for raises" is a very dubious claim.