[skj]

Regarding the bean counters, keeping promos down doesn't help their budgets as much as you might think. The bonus you get for "exceeds expectations" brings you approximately to the "meets expectations" total compensation of the next level up.

Or so I've been told anecdotally ... personally I have yet to be promoted or experience a bonus cycle where I hit exceeds...

[walshemj]

Tell that to HR and bonuses can be taken away a lot easier than pay.

And reducing the pay increase quanta by 1% is a lot in a large company.