[opk]

Companies are always finding ways to justify lacks of pay rise. The company I was working for got acquired by a much bigger company with all these complex procedures in place and they intentionally allocated all the acquired employees much lower "career levels" so that they can justify no pay rises by pointing out that we're over-paid for our level. I've got 25-years of experience but am on the same level as new graduate hires. They also know that because I'm a foreigner and do have a family to worry about that I'm not going anywhere in a hurry. The industry is also quite badly ageist. Trying to even get a new job once in your mid-40s can be a challenge.