'Would you forgo a payrise to help stop inflation?' Poll discussion

MSE_Martin

sammyzue wrote: »

I do the poll quite often but this is my first ever post as it made me very angry this week.

I think this poll is fundamentally flawed, obviously no one's going to turn down a pay rise unless they're the head honcho of some company turning down their 5 million pound bonus that they can well afford to live without in order to avoid public outcry.

We should be thinking about whether or not its responsible for our employers to offer us one. Nobody could expect someone struggling on 15k to turn down a payrise to 16k that would help them heat their home in order to keep inflation down, in my opinion anyone who says they would is lying to appear socially responsible. At the end of the day a worker's responsibilty is to themselves and their family.

I think this is the kind of thing that has to come from above. MPs need to lead by example with their own wages as do those in the utility and banking sectors.

This is a site for consumers - and therefore the poll is phrased that way. Of course the govt focus is also for employers not to offer them - yet when that happens we often see government action.

My hope is the poll will crystalise people's thoughts on our role in wider society, in many ways this is the classic prisoners dilemma. As for no-one would take a pay cut - interestingly the poll result suggests otherwise.

My aim with the polls is a mix of quizzes, discussion points and opinion surveys that'll be fun and make people think. The speedy and interesting discussion above is a good example that hopefully this poll, that firmly fits in the second category is doing its job.

And of course, we could never give an option that suits everyone - hence why we ask "which is nearest" and then link to a discussion on it.

Martin

sammyzue

Thanks Martin.

I didn't mean the poll made me angry, more the situation really. I'd love a pay rise and I'd jump at one if it was offered, I couldn't afford to do otherwise!

I love the polls though, I think it's really interesting to see the spread of opinion.

Tronic_2

People should take their pay rise when they can as the firm I work for has not given a pay rise in over 10 years even with a 20% year on year profit so I would love a pay rise as I have to support my family on my pitiful wage.

globalds

Offering a standard across the board pay rise.Rather than a percentage of your present salary pay rise .
The response to this kind of proposal would be interesting to see.

donaldtramp

The real problem this country has is the sheer number of people employed by the state. I don't know what the actual percentage is but it is way up there in terms of all our neighbours in Europe.
For the public sector to complain and strike about below inflation wage increases makes me so angry I can't tell you.
They have a guaranteed final salary pension paid for and guaranteed by the taxpayer and get to retire at 60!
They also have incredibly safe jobs.
The strain they already put on the taxpayer is HUGE!

I work in the private sector, my pension is invested in the stockmarket, I will probably not be able to retire until I'm seventy looking at pension predictions and my pension or continuing employment is by no means guaranteed.
I have no option to strike as they do, I just have to get on with my life and not to complain about it.

psychodave

No, of course I wouldn't. Because I'm a greedy sod, mainly, but I can't see a company awarding me a pay rise unless I deserved it. They're not my friends, they're probably afraid of me sodding off elsewhere unless they keep my pay competitive.

Contributing more to the economy (ie being better at your job, more efficient, whatever) gives extra productivity and drives inflation down. So basically, if you've earnt your pay rise, there's no reason to feel guilty about it.

If you've gone on strike and demanded a pay rise regardless, however..

teddyco

People who reject a pay rise thinking it will stop inflation are the same folks who believe in the man-made global warming myth.

Clowance

I work for the NHS and the pay award for the next three years is 7% - less than 2.5% per year; our wages are already pitifully low, not being in London and being on the clerical side. In fact only a couple of quid over minimum wage, and I am not on the bottom grade either.
I personally would like our pay rises linked to the politicians (including their expenses); the same percent as them would do very nicely.
I constantly feel that politicians and pundits (not Martin) are under the impression that people are as rich as they are and have no clue what its like to bring up a family on just enough not to qualify for any benefits.

rag31

I couldn't tick anything. I am on a fixed hourly rate and in over 4 years have never had a pay rise.

:cool:

Beck

pjvenner

The government have such a nerve - They ask normal people who are struggling already to accept wage increase below inflation [ie: become even poorer in real terms] whilst accepting increases many times the rate of inflation to their already generous salary & expenses.

In much the same way they ask arabs to drop oil prices when the vast majority of the price paid at the pumps [75% or so last I heard?] is tax and duty.

Like most other governments. this one is waving us all 2 fingers and saying "Do as I say & not as I do".