There is a balance though. The company I work for is stable, but money is always tight. That means raises are few and far between. Other factors balance that o

There is a balance though. The company I work for is stable, but money is always tight. That means raises are few and far between. Other factors balance that out and make it a reasonable place for me to work, but being aware of the fact that "exceeds expectations" does not lead to more money is important and I'm sure not unique to my situation. I'm happy to go above and beyond, but I'm also aware that it's unlikely to be rewarded and take that into account in my decisions.