5 ms·

A lot of companies don't even pretend to do COLA raises anymore. Purely performance based raises. "Your pay is not tied to any cost of living index." "Our cos

A lot of companies don't even pretend to do COLA raises anymore. Purely performance based raises. "Your pay is not tied to any cost of living index." "Our costs have gone up so we're raising our prices." Sigh

tyingq 4y ago
I wonder what the likelihood is that this comes home to roost for them. It felt like things were headed that way in the early parts of the pandemic, both for lower wage workers and tech workers...when everyone was having trouble hiring.
- falcolas 4y ago
  Low. The likelihood is low. Even the government is more willing to fight inflation by harming workers than a company's profits. We'd need more unions - groups with some power over companies who will speak for worker's rights. And while they are starting to proliferate after decades of FUD, their power is also being cut off at the knees by laws that prevent strikes. It's critical that the jobs be filled, yet those who fill those jobs have no power.
  - tyingq 4y ago
    >Even the government is more willing to fight inflation by harming workers I see that, though it's interesting that Social Security is getting an 8.7% COLA. Edit: Which is unusual, and new.
    - falcolas 4y ago
      Well, Social Security isn't for workers... Opinion time: One might even say Social Security is primarily used by the cohort with the most time to dedicate to political ventures. Bluntly, it's a bribe for the Baby Boomer generation to remain loyal to their politicians.
    - mrguyorama 4y ago
      My understanding is that the COLA for SS is codified into law basically and can't really be toyed with.
tristor 4y ago
Tails I win, Heads you lose. - A tale as old as time.
rendang 4y ago
If every company had a policy to increase wages by at least the CPI, would it not become much more difficult to stop a wage-price spiral?
- falcolas 4y ago
  Bluntly, who cares? It's better than people being forced to work multiple jobs just to provide the basic necessities for life. Employee wages are already lagging behind every measure of a employee's worth (productivity, revenue per employee, etc) over time... why do we think it's good policy to fuck them over even more? Morals matter, even for businesses. Perhaps especially for businesses, given the power imbalance in their favor over ordinary citizens.
  - unmole 4y ago
    > Bluntly, who cares? Literally everyone should care about an inflationary spiral.
    - falcolas 4y ago
      Can it really be that much worse than people who are working full time or more being unable to afford things like food and a roof?
      - unmole 4y ago
        Bluntly, yes.
  - rendang 4y ago
    There's a difference between policies to increase working-class wages over the long term, & a tight immediate feedback loop. Runaway inflation is a serious deal Plus if everyone is auto-raising every employee, that would include lots of well to do professionals, not just those struggling
    - falcolas 4y ago

tyingq 4y ago

I wonder what the likelihood is that this comes home to roost for them. It felt like things were headed that way in the early parts of the pandemic, both for lower wage workers and tech workers...when everyone was having trouble hiring.

falcolas 4y ago
Low. The likelihood is low. Even the government is more willing to fight inflation by harming workers than a company's profits. We'd need more unions - groups with some power over companies who will speak for worker's rights. And while they are starting to proliferate after decades of FUD, their power is also being cut off at the knees by laws that prevent strikes. It's critical that the jobs be filled, yet those who fill those jobs have no power.
- tyingq 4y ago
  >Even the government is more willing to fight inflation by harming workers I see that, though it's interesting that Social Security is getting an 8.7% COLA. Edit: Which is unusual, and new.
  - falcolas 4y ago
    Well, Social Security isn't for workers... Opinion time: One might even say Social Security is primarily used by the cohort with the most time to dedicate to political ventures. Bluntly, it's a bribe for the Baby Boomer generation to remain loyal to their politicians.
  - mrguyorama 4y ago
    My understanding is that the COLA for SS is codified into law basically and can't really be toyed with.

tristor 4y ago

Tails I win, Heads you lose. - A tale as old as time.

rendang 4y ago

If every company had a policy to increase wages by at least the CPI, would it not become much more difficult to stop a wage-price spiral?

falcolas 4y ago
Bluntly, who cares? It's better than people being forced to work multiple jobs just to provide the basic necessities for life. Employee wages are already lagging behind every measure of a employee's worth (productivity, revenue per employee, etc) over time... why do we think it's good policy to fuck them over even more? Morals matter, even for businesses. Perhaps especially for businesses, given the power imbalance in their favor over ordinary citizens.
- unmole 4y ago
  > Bluntly, who cares? Literally everyone should care about an inflationary spiral.
  - falcolas 4y ago
    Can it really be that much worse than people who are working full time or more being unable to afford things like food and a roof?
    - unmole 4y ago
      Bluntly, yes.
- rendang 4y ago
  There's a difference between policies to increase working-class wages over the long term, & a tight immediate feedback loop. Runaway inflation is a serious deal Plus if everyone is auto-raising every employee, that would include lots of well to do professionals, not just those struggling
  - falcolas 4y ago