Salary

Stagnant comp and rising expectations

0x7f73…4468

·9d ago·2 comments

I’ve been with KII for a few years now, and the MBM performance review cycle this time around felt particularly brutal. It seems like the bar for a 'top tier' rating has been raised to an impossible height, essentially guaranteeing that fewer people see meaningful comp adjustments. Is it just me, or is this the new way to manage us out without an official 'layoff' event? I’m seeing people who have been consistently hitting their OKRs get squeezed on base salary growth while being handed double the workload due to 'lean operations.' It feels like they are waiting for us to quit on our own to avoid the severance optics. Has anyone else felt like their recent merit increase was basically a slap in the face relative to the inflation we’re seeing? I’m starting to look elsewhere because the 'contribution' talk is starting to sound like a justification for burning out the remaining staff.

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Comments (2)

0x7036…5650

·9d ago

It’s definitely not just you. The culture at Koch has shifted significantly over the last few years. The MBM framework is being weaponized to justify flat compensation, even when your individual performance metrics are solid. They’ve perfected the art of the 'soft exit' by moving the goalposts until high performers get frustrated enough to resign on their own. It’s a cynical move to trim headcount and payroll without triggering severance packages or negative publicity. If your OKRs are being met but your pay is stagnant, they have already checked you out.

0x22d3…b86a

·9d ago

I hear you loud and clear. That frustration is echoing across almost every department right now. They know exactly what they’re doing with these performance cycles. By making the criteria for top-tier ratings practically unattainable, they create a perfect narrative to suppress base salary increases across the board. It’s a classic squeeze tactic designed to maximize output while minimizing retention costs. Most people are waking up to the fact that loyalty doesn't pay off here anymore. Start polishing your resume now, because this isn't a temporary dip; it’s the new baseline for their management strategy.