I Was Fired for Quibbling Over My Raise

Dear Stanley,
I've been working for a company for two years. They gave me a raise that I didn't find reasonable, so I explained to them that I would like to get fully evaluated for what I do. Three weeks later they fired me due to the restructuring of the company. What does that mean and can I take legal action against them?

Ready to Rumble
Dear Rumble,

Next time, take the raise and shut up. I'm sorry if that sounds rough, but you have no idea how many times, in a tough environment, I've gotten somebody a raise for which they were insufficiently grateful. And in the back of my mind, as I look at their droopy little sour face, I think, "Next time get your own raise."

It's pretty hard for a boss to get any raise for an employee now, do you know that? And while 2 percent sounds small â€"- because it is â€"- managers often have to fight to get even that. I know. It makes no sense. The top guys are earning more in an hour than your raise is worth for a year. But that's sort of the way it works.

Secondly, my personal opinion is that one should never ask for a full evaluation. If you're getting along well with everybody, and you feel good on the job, and you think you're worth a raise bigger than the one you got, why in the world ask them to look at you so hard? I have the same feeling about people who get a full body scan when they're basically feeling okay. Huh? Whose body can take a total scan without revealing some hidden warts, bumps, lumps and suspicious blotches? Why call down that kind of scrutiny on yourself?

I have to feel that your truculent attitude contributed to your demise here. The managers sit down during a restructuring. They look at a list. One person or another speaks up for individuals on that list, saying things like, "Nah, don't take Maury, he's working for me on the Bratislava project right now," or "Hell no. Take Edna off that list! She's totally necessary to me and has a terrific attitude." When your name came up, your boss probably said, "I like him. But he's a pain in the ass sometimes. I gave him a raise and now he's demanding a full review." And that was that. In your next job, try to play things a little more smoothly, huh? You'll do better. And if you don't like your raise, by the way, the thing to say is, "Thanks, Bob! I really appreciate it. I know it was hard to get any raise in this environment. If it's possible, I'd like to revisit my salary in, like, six months? Obviously, I'd like to do better if business starts looking up. But thanks. Really. Love your tie."

And no. You can't sue the company for defenestrating you during a restructuring. If you could, every company in America would be out of business.