Hacker News Reader

Comment by michael_vo | Hacker News Reader

Worked at BlackRock. Bonuses are announced in person with your manager in the room. I was told this is because they want to record your facial reaction to getting the number. If you were happy they knew they didn't have to give you more next year. If you acted upset, then they knew they'd have to tweak or patch the bonus.

I have friends who from then on always acted upset and asked for more :)

If someone is perfectly happy with their salary why should the employer pay them more for the same work?

View on HN

I have seen the same in FAANG. People who say they need/really want more money early will stick to the manager’s ear when comp planning season comes. I’ve had my biggest raise by simply printing out readily available stats for my cohort and indicating that comp is “important to me”.

Sometimes it’s just simple low barrier things like everyone who says they want X can have it. It’s still much cheaper for the company to give X only to those that ask (opt-in) than to everyone. Negotiating is sometimes as easy as insisting that you aren’t worthless, and it’s one of the best effort-reward activities you can do.

The thing that annoys me is that the same corporations that invest tons in their D&I image engage in these practices that have huge biases towards cultural and behavioral differences.

> If someone is perfectly happy with their salary why should the employer pay them more for the same work?

To keep up with rising costs of living, for one.

Basically to ensure that the employee remains happy.

Convincing employees that pay not increasing with inflation is “ok” is one of the worst things corps have done.

If they can’t match inflation you’re getting a pay cut and they are getting you for less than they did last year.

But that's why you leave when they don't increase your pay inline with inflation (at least).

If you can't leave or find a better paying job, then you are actually being paid the highest you could've already - as leaving would leave you worse off.

Yes.

Also just in general convincing employees that it's ok for them to act against the employee's interests but the employee acting against the company's interests is a fireable offense.

The balance of power has skewed towards employers for far too long and they have gotten really comfy in their spots.

> If someone is perfectly happy with their salary why should the employer pay them more for the same work?

Lot of times if you ask for a raise, hR will say now, if you find another job the same HR will come back with a small raise.

I made this mistake this year, I was pleased with my payrise even though given inflation it was a cut.

almost 20 years on the street, I've never acted happy in a bonus meeting

I mean, whats the upside?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com