Company Says You Should Thank Us, Employees Barf

An envelope stamped CONFIDENTIAL arrived in my home mailbox today from my company’s Human Resources Department.  Inside is a “Personal Earnings & Benefits Statement,” a pamphlet that lists my annual salary, 401k contributions and the cost (to them) for all of my benefits.

While a convenient “stat card,” I’m not sure what the purpose of this mailing is.  Oh wait.  I think I DO know.  It’s propaganda.

The final page includes my “total compensation,” a figure that adds items like my 12 vacation days and 10 paid holidays to my salary.  The number is displayed in bold at a larger font size than everything else.

The point they are trying to make is you think you make X but you’re really making Y.  You should be grateful.  Look how generous we are.

And I AM thankful to be gainfully employed, making an honest living.  However I’m not a child.  I don’t need to be reminded that my “compensation does not mean salary alone.”

Is this a foreshadow of miniscule raises?  Or perhaps no raise at all?  I’d bet on it.

Ironically, this compensation snapshot has had the reverse affect on me.  

1) I’m actually earning less a year than I thought!

2) I realize that I am less of a drain on the company that other people.  I have declined their medical insurance and started work after the pension program was frozen.  I wonder if these points can be used in salary negotiations (thoughts?).

3) I don’t appreciate the fact that all of this sensitive data is sent via mail.  There’s no need to risk my neighbors learning what I earn, what my job title is, or how long I’ve been with the company.

Should I expect everyone to have a little extra pep in their step after this reminder of how generous our employer is?  I can already see the line forming outside of HR to thank them for their generosity.

I also find the timing of the mailing quite random.  With tax season winding down in a few hours, it seems odd that this type of thing wouldn’t be sent along with W-2s at the beginning of the year.

I’m grateful for benefits, but our benefits package is nothing extraordinary.  And I appreciate the reminder.

Does your job do anything similar?

P.S. – Most employees arrived to work angered over the pamphlet. I was approached by a handful of people who vented about their dislike of the tactic. Looks like an HR backfire!