When I was hired on in fall of 2019, I was told there would be a 5% pay increase that January. That increase, the 401K match, the company vacation days, and the work from home capability was what made me accept a pay offer that was a little lower than market.
January came and my raise was pro-rated to my time there—something that hadn't been told to me. I ended up making $20 more a paycheck. Okay, I figured, it isn't ideal but I still have the other stuff and a raise in 2021. Then with COVID we lost our 401K. Okay, it's a downturn those things happen but eventually it'll come back. Then we're told it's only coming back to 3% permanently. Now I start to get frustrated. I'm making less money than I should at my level and my 401K is actually less than it was at all my previous jobs.
Then we're told company holidays are decreasing, which makes it harder to take PTO even if our total days aren't changing and no raises in 2021. Now I start to wonder if I made a mistake in leaving my old job as all the reasons I came are disappearing. I'm told even if I get the promotion I've been working towards, I won't see any raise due to the pay bands.
Then I find out that people with experience commiserate with mine are being hired on at higher pay levels than me. Now I'm questioning staying long term. I love what I do, but I feel like I would be more valued if I quit and came back in a year.