In the almost 35 years I we NEVER got compensated like you should have been. Old-timers remember the $100 leather jacket? And the turkeys? But other than those two, NADA. Even when we got "participative pay"–ie a pre-MIP bonus–we had to "fund" it ourselves by giving up 3% of raise pool over a couple years.
In Aero pre-Allied Signal, the excuse always was that some other HON business was hurting and we had to send a cut of the action to the other business. Funny, but it never worked the other way.
And when times were bad, they were bad. Can't believe all the layoffs I survived. Grateful to be able to jump into medicare when my severance ends.
I'm in a position where I don't need to work but am getting offers. Why? Because I studied new tech on the side. But why put myself through another company's set of values and platitudes? Plus I figure those younger than me need the job more because they are still raising kids etc.
I had a great run. Got a raise every year except one, and that was the year I got a lump sum payment. Never got a PIP. Made choice to NOT do mandatory OT while my kids were young that I am sure hurt me but learned to play the game.
Life is short.