I got every raise I deserved too, but there is no way businessmen will give away that extra. It will be years before they climb back out of the hole they’ve been shoved into. They won’t be giving that money to their employees (other then to keep them employed). I don’t know if you know how bad it is out here.
I know how bad it is out there. Jobs are scarce every where.
But I gotta tell you this actual factual incident. I worked for a medium sized outfit and gave my 2 weeks notice because I found a job 10 miles away instead of my 25 mile drive each way. The owner (2 levels up from my boss) calls me in his office, and explains why raises are not being given out. The business cycle was at low end. And if I got a raise, whileevery single person was frozen out, it would not go over well. So, he pulls out his personal checking book and wrote me a check for 15% of my annual wages. I decided to stay!