Last Year we got zero merit increases across the company. This year we got raises and small bonuses. Then we were told benefit prices were going up (but not how much). Then we were told there would be lay offs (next week sometime) so naturally everyone panicked. Then we get the costs this morning --- cost of family went up 500$ per pay check on the best plan, and it is worse insurance than what we had before!
This year, anyone who isn't able to switch to their spouse insurance is going to bring home significantly less money than last year even though raises were given.