Do most employers make you wait three years before you receive your first raise?

Question

I have worked for a company for four years and just received my first raise and it wasn't much (they tell all employees they have a three year rule) is that fair?

Answer 1

In my working experience 3 months then you get a raise...

Answer 2

not fair, practical or common
most companies have a 90 days intro period.
If you make it that long they give you a review and a raise at your 90 day anniversary. Then you should receive regular raises and reviews every year either at the end/beg of the year or on your anniversary. Thats how it has been at every company I have ever worked for including my current one.
Also the raises should be at least 3% of your salary at the time. If you are an hourly paid employee - the raises can be significantly less.

Answer 3

I've only had to wait longer than a year for a raise once, and that was two years.
Your company is either cheapskates, or it's not doing well financially.
Sometimes your biggest and most rewarding raise comes when you leave and find a new job...
You might find out that you are underpaid by a lot, for the same work.
It's good to maintain a history of higher pay, because you can be trapped in a lower wage because your pay history is almost as important as your work/responsibilities history.

Answer 4

It depends on a few things..

1) If you were already making $300,000 a year then they arent too concerned with cost of living increases

2) It depends on if they can afford to give you the raise

However, with that being said, Ive never seen a 3-year rule before. Ive always gotten a raise at either 6-months or 1-year after I started.

Answer 5

Depends on the company

I worked for a startup for over a year - received three promotions and four raises in that time

Answer 6

Most companies that I have worked for have at least annual reviews (if not more often). After each review you would receive a raise (assuming you had done well in that time frame).

Answer 7

Sounds like a bunch of cheap-skates to me. Usually 3-6 months on the first raise.
Fair or not, companies can do pretty much what they want as long as the don't break federal or state labor laws.

Answer 8

I got my first raise after 1 year of employment and it was only a percentage of my hourly wage.