All true
1. We can’t pay you more.
This may be true. You can be paid what the market will bear and probably no more. If you are exceptional you probably can’t be paid what you are worth.
2. Your raise is above average.
Probably a lie
3. We’re one big happy family
On par with be happy in your work. Forget it. It’s business.
4. There’s no truth in the layoff rumor.
Biggest lie here. Where there is smoke there is fire. If you hear it and feel it it is true. Plan on it and plan on it hitting you.
5. My hands are tied.
Sometimes but usually a cop out. The truth would be better.
6. You’ll be working forty hours a week.
If you’re salaried you’ll probably never work 40 hours per week and figure on the balance of overtime being against you. Eventually you may be paid for your knowledge and not the time you put in but probably not unless you become so valuable you can invoke this. Probably never.
7. Your response will be confidential.
When two know a secret it isn’t a secret anymore.
8. Your participation is voluntary.
But not participating will eventually be held against you. Probably when it matters the most.
Before I opened my own business I worked at a place where the boss lied all the time.
I do hobby electronics and this was the early 80’s. I whipped up a buzzer box with a light on it with a remote control. I told everybody it was a voice stress detector and kept it around all the time.
Every time I heard BS I’d hit the button. I’d set it on the table for meetings. After a while the boss pulled his head out.
I finally got fired for no real reason. Funny his computer system never worked again after I left. Oh he was a liberal too and I kept Rush on the radio.