Thread regarding Cigna layoffs

My salary is below the lower limit of the market value. I complained about it twice and was put on a PIP months later. Went through straight up illegal BS. Anyway I say this because the biggest mistake a lot of folks on here make is thinking they care. They do not care and if they do, you wouldn’t even need to question your salary cause you’d be set up for success. Switching jobs is the only way ur gonna get more money. Also, complaining about your salary they take as you’re not happy and people who aren’t happy aren’t as productive.

I was told there’s a policy of no more than 15% pay increase in one year (which I later found out was a lie)

I got the same song and dance, and yes it is a lie and also illegal in most states. Even for internal roles a promotion to a new role cannot be based on a previous salary, but your current qualifications and experience. The hiring manager should not be aware of your current salary. But hr does have access to it and surely break that rule all the time, as poster pointed out, HR interest is the company not ours.

I don't know about the leaving and coming back part, but in a past role I was up to the 105% of salary range. That's when my managers (really good managers) started pushing me to apply for a more advanced role because raises aren't given once you max out the range for a role.

1. If you leave, there is no guarantee that you'll be rehired, especially since the only employee hiring is happening in India (we are laying higher-paid US employees and contractors off to hire cheaper labor in India).
2. HR isn't there for the employees, so don't both going to them. You won't get rebalanced, won't get a raise, and certainly won't get a promotion.
3. The market ranges are across the industry. It has been well known for years at Cigna that you have to leave to get a promotion and raise. Band 4 is the glass ceiling that you only break through if you are popular - yes, your promotion is a popularity contest that must be voted on and approved by the senior leaders to get to band 5. HR has nothing to do with it.

asked in the other thread but what is HIH??

Only regret is not leaving sooner!

If you quit and your role can go to HIH, so be careful if you decide to quit. May be that’s a cost saving opportunity for your manager.

High band 4 here.

1. Why would you leave to come back to an employer that didn’t take care of you when they already had you!

2. A lot of this rebalance work is left to your manager/director. If you go this route give data why you have earned the pay increase you are requesting.

3. I think this depends on the hiring manager not HR. I was offered a promotion yet it paid $18k less than industry standard. HR tried selling me the idea that it was a great opportunity for me. I responded that I’m not on clearance and would need the offer to be closer to the industry going rate. They said they could increase another $1k but I told them no. They told me to think about it for 24hrs. I immediately responded with - I know my worth and it’s unfortunate that you don’t..no need for the extra time. They literally ended the call and called me back a week later telling me if I had thought about it. Wild experience and I’m still glad I didn’t accept. Even though I work less and less everyday I still outperform my colleagues!

High b4, I got my biggest raise through leaving my Cigna role for another Cigna role. Negotiate HARD, don’t take the “we can only give a 15% raise” lie recruiters give on the first negotiation attempt.

There are different levels with in the same band. So being a high band 4…. If you align to business operations you make less than aligned to technical business positions.

1. Yes. You might find a better employer as a side perk.
2. No. But not exactly. I tried this when negotiating with HR when I transferred to a new higher band position internally. I was told there’s a policy of no more than 15% pay increase in one year (which I later found out was a lie) and I had 4 hours to take the offer or it was revoked. It’s worthy a try, but you have to start with your direct manager first.
3. The role I just mentioned was listed at a range and my offer was $12k lower than the bottom of the range. It is all fluff as far as I’m concerned unless they are desperate to hire you. With current job market they are likely using that to lure candidates in and then offer much lower stating “regional market value” and some other BS.

Best of luck. Based on the millions the ELT pay themselves they could easily give many of us a decent raise and still have plenty left over for themselves. But that’s not how corporate greed works. Profits over people.