[M2Ys4U]

I don't think his reply runs contrary to your post, if you include the last part of that sentence:

> To keep you from being effectively paid less (because the cost of living keeps going up), and to make sure you feel satisfied with how much money you're making.

[PeterisP]

It does run contrary, given "pick a percentage number, preferably one that's above COLA, and just give everybody that" which explicitly doesn't (a) differentiate improvement from non-improvement; and (b) doesn't address significant salary increases due to professional growth and changing responsibilities.