GolfHos

Just looking to take the Hos economic temperature.

We're plugging along, neither up nor down over last year.  Serious, serious attention to operating expenses, though -- even capital expenditures.  Happily, no one's pressed me to slow down my profligate spending.  Yet.  A few people have been tasked with tracking the time spent on various matters through their days.  Not so much to see which customers are commandeering them, we cynically think, but to see who's working hard and who's maybe a little expendable.  I haven't had that task come down my chain of command yet, either.

Overall, I'm not nervous, but I'm keeping close watch nonetheless.  I'm fairly well plugged in to the network here (I'm not really in any one department or functional group, so I can float among them and hear stuff from everyone), which is helpful.  You?



On the raise/bonus front, my predictions are: 3.47% raise, 5.21% bonus.

Employer doing terribly. People want new cheaper energy but refuse to pay enough to fund the research for it adequately.

Job: no potential for raises or bonuses.

Morgues, Bars, and outpatient MRI imaging centers.


The downside is, not only am I not getting a raise, a month ago I had my pay rate decreased.  May take at least a few years to get back to that point.

So I got that goin' for me.

We're relatively recession proof, so we're doing okay. I have no reason to believe my job or my organization is less stable than it was a year ago. The organization has taken a pretty significant hit in investment income, so budgeting has become a major concern. We've been encouraged to reevaluate our budgets and tighten 4th quarter spending, which traditionally is where the bulk of the spending happens. (I have no plans to not spend up to my budget. Went down that road once before and found myself with a much smaller budget the following year. Stupid accounting games FTL.)

Despite my stellar review, I've been hearing rumblings from fairly high up that bonuses and increases will be meager. Since it's my job to communicate these things to the employees, it would be nice if I could get more than vague answers, but alas, that's not how we roll as an organization. Good news tends to get touted early, and often which leads me to believe the news isn't good.

I predict a 2.2% raise and 3% bonus.

We recently laid off about 10 employees.  They were all out of towners.  They were  offered the opportunity to stay on if they could relocate to our corporate location.  All declined.

Raise, probably 3%, and 6-8% bonus.

What was the point?  Do distant employees cost your company more than do locals?

Stock price is half what it was a year ago. The company is trying to save money anywhere and everywhere it can. Plants are shutting down for Christmas. Everyone in our plant is being asked to take 5 days vacation. We have already taken 3 weeks mandatory time off this year. There will be no raises. We are expecting to get between 7% and 8% bonus still.

Overall I am not too worried about my job or anyone else in our plant. However no one should be careless. Our company is pretty big and we still have a strong cash flow so no worries yet of anything big. Especially where I am at as we are one of the cash cows of the company.

My particular industry is pretty recession proof.  No layoffs planned, we have just hired 3 new employee's at my site.  I have been virtually guaranteed a minimum of a 3% raise.  I'm guessing closer to 5%.  No bonus in my current postition.

As an overall comment the General Insurance Industry here is reasonably robust due to the high degree of Regulatory Influence and Compliance, however most companys' ROE has taken a battering as a result of the current economic climate. Subsequently profit forecasts for F09 have been revised, even though the domestic economy is still relatively insulated from the rest of the world.

Certainly Climate Change and other associated emerging risks are having an impact on Large Single Losses and Catatsrophe Claims and this is reflected by Re-Insurance Companies reviewing how they invest their capital which has a flow on effect in respect to the cost of Re-Insurance and associated exchange commissions. Re-insurance Treaty negotioations have therefore become a little more involved.

At a micro level we've been able to acheive an 8% growth in GWP as a State to about $140M GWP, partly due to some acquisitions.

Even though our total loss ratio has increased, the combined operating ratio remains steady.

Suffice to say I've been able to acheive a 20% Bonus and 5% CPI salary increase.

 ;D

I guess this holds true for me also.

Don't know, don't care. Just glad to have a real job again.

I'm in a union for the first time in my working life, I think we signed (or are working on signing) a new two year contract.

I'll pretty much echo twoiron's comments.  My insurance company is doing well.  Although 6 months ago this was going to be our best year ever.  Now it is just going to be a good year.  Our investment income being the major cause for the lower projections.  People are still buying insurance products so sales have done well.  We also have a law suit pending where we have 10 million tied up in limbo so we can't take the income tax hit just the loss in extra reserves.  Fortunately, my area does the financial reporting and what not so I know the numbers as soon as the bosses do. 

Still in line for close to a 20% bonus.  Could have been 30% if we did as projected early in the year.  My raise will be around 5% as usual.  Overall I can't complain other than the fact my job is boring as hell. 

I'm a manufacturer's rep, supplying products to the US manufacturing base. Business is off significantly for every company I represent (7) and for nearly every customer I deal with. After record breaking increases in metal prices over the last couple of years, we're currently experiencing a dramatic pricing retreat. Layoffs and plant shutdowns are commonplace, and credit problems and bill collections are occurring much more often. My income is tracking nearly 50% off of last year.

Bonus or pay increase at the end of the year? Don't think so. In my business, one is wise to plan for the rainy day. Well, the freakin' tempest has arrived.

The firm I work for is just fine, but we are looking at limiting spending for next year.  Hiring has slowed to an almost freeze, but no layoffs.  Our bonuses are handled on a trimester basis so its hard to compare to X% annually.  Last trimester it was down from the previous one, the next looks like a 'no bonus' trimester at this point.  But I treat bonuses as they should be treated; a bonus - I do not plan for them and am therefore not affected when they are smaller or go awol.

We had ambitious plans to build 5 new buildings (6 to 9 floor, large office buildings) in three years, starting last year.  We are now considering stopping at 3 (one just finished, 2 are still being built) until we see where we are in 12 months.  But again, no layoffs or downsizing likely.  We execute a business model that can sustain down markets - its part of our conservative investment strategy charm.

Oh - I had my annual review last month - a paltry 2.x% raise (as I'm already well exceeding the mid-point for my position).  Oh well, paychecks are still coming in - that's plenty success right now.  One of the advantages of working for the man - consistancy.

i get my first real paycheck next week in the last 13 months and i am guaranteed a 10% raise at the end of the year. (http://www.pbxinfo.com/forums/images/smilies/3g2.gif)

Glad to hear it!  I must have missed the 'I got a job' thread.  The silly season had me only visiting occasionally.

thanks, i started monday.  ;)

Gratz dude,  I checked out during the 'lection season.  Must have missed it.

Not to be contrary, my goateed little friend, but my employer spins the bonus HARD as part of the overall comp package, in order to get the recruit to swallow a lower salary figure.  They are presented here as near-certain and the percentages puffed, as everyone (not an executive) learns after he's come aboard.

No bonuses here.  Had a raise the end of August, and another scheduled the end of February.  I would have to dig out my contract book to double-check the dates and figure out the percentages.

There is talk of layoffs after the first of the year, but I don't really see them in our area.  That said, I am the most senior driver in our building now, so I won't be affected.  Usually, when times get bad, business for "brown(c)" picks up.  We shall see.

What can I say - Jedi mind tricks don't work on me.

That is so my employer's MO too.  They'll even take up financing to ensure the basic bonus figures are met.  I would freak out if we missed bonus as would my fellow colleagues.

Yes, b/c we were leasing office space in San Diego and DC and paying them COLA because of their location.

Just got word.

2 % bonus.   :sad3:    *fudge*.  Keep it.*



*This is actually a response to a longer bigger argument where people that work for the same company I do, and do exactly the same job but work in a different building get 10%.  Has pissed me off from day 1.

http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.aspx?JobID=78019799&JobTitle=MRI+Tech&q=mri+tech&rad=20&rad_units=miles&cnme=dallas&sid=92&brd=1&cy=us&vw=b&AVSDM=2008-12-09+17%3a32%3a00&pg=1&seq=1

 [sm_thumbsup2]

If I could get Karen to go for it, I would move to Dallas next month.

I got more.

Besides Karen and Darla could go out while we take the boys to Hooters or something like that.

Mixed bag. 4% raise, but they've suspended 401(k) matching for the year, so I'm effectively getting no raise at all. Yes, I'm pissed, but what are you going to do? At least I'm employed I guess. No word yet on bonuses.

Just a bit of an update for me. Our plant is now closing from 12/22 to 1/7. A week and a half longer then originally. Also they came out with the early retirement package. They are also talking about another shutdown for a week in March.

Still not too worried but there is a potential layoff in the months ahead. We shal see.

The main factory in CA is shutting down the weeks of Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. Outside of the previously scheduled holidays you have to take vacation. No vacation days = no pay. Mandatory for everyone including salaried and field guys like me.

Manufacturing is on mandatory 32 hour weeks spread out to cover Mon-Friday. They are doing what they can to avoid layoffs.

Our bookings simply fell off the cliff in November. I've had multiple requests from customers to push out existing orders and some outright cancellations. 2009 is going to be a tough, tough year. I expect a lot of consolidation of companies in the industry. A lot of the smaller to mid-sized folks won't be able to make it alone I'm afraid.

With all that I'd be shocked if I received a raise or bonus this year.

I finally got my TV today. I consider that my bonus.

Talked with my boss yesterday.

All merit increases are on hold for 6 months. In an effort to reduce the number of potential "reductions" that may be coming.   :-\

Then he dropped the bomb that he is leaving for another position in the company. I'll be reporting to someone I've never met from another division by this time next week. Joy.

Oh well......

He found out about you watching tv.

 ;D

Got a 3% COLA raise.  Bonus is official but looking like a strong one at about 20-25% of salary.

However, I start my new job in Internal Audit tomorrow.  Had to take a salary decrease of about 5% to get my foot in the door.  But I'll gladly trade that for an office and a job I will actually enjoy.  I was really hating my current job the last year.  Love the people I worked with but no opportunity for advancement and becoming more and more technical with building and maintaining databases.  My new job will really open doors for the future not to mention offer interesting projects like acquisition valuations, business process risk audits, etc.  I was lucky to get it without any real accounting or audit experience and no cpa.  So i'm stoked. 

Turns out the State of Washington is somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 billion dollars under budget.

Bad time to be a new State employee so low on the totem pole. :sad3:

Advertising revenue is way down and the CTV Network announced back in December they'd be laying off people across the country.  Within a week, 105 employees were cut, all in the Toronto area.  The rest of the country was unaffected and things now appear to be stabilized.  We're the host broadcaster for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, so the general feeling is that the status quo will be maintained until after the Olympics are over.  If the economy recovers, and the network makes a ton of money as a result of Olylmpic advertising, that would be a good thing.

Still, at some point the network will decide to further centralize operations and more jobs will be cut throughout the network.

Our last collective agreement was signed back in October and we agreed to a three-year contract with raises of 4%, 4.5% and 4%.  When compared to other affiliates across the country we did quite well.  Most other TV stations in the network got raises in the 2.5% to 3% range.