So no pay rise this year, with inflation and supply chain problems making everything so much more expensive this feels like a big middle finger.
For context I work as a health service support worker at a drug research site in Australia. Like quite a few professions here it has its own minimum wage called an “award rate”. Well about a year and a half ago they were going through severe staff shortages so they bumped the pay about 10% to incentivise more people to work, which somewhat helped but I still get 2 texts a day on average asking to fill in for this or that.
This time of year the award rate is increased but since the current rate they pay is higher than the new award rate the company legally does not have to increase it at all…. So they are not going to. Unlike most companies, Covid boosted the business in a way it never would have without it so it's not like they can't afford it.
Sorry if this post is a bit whingey. I know there are much greater worker injustices going on but wanted to just get this off my chest.