June 25, 2004 5:41 AM

In case you're wondering where your raise is
Posted by Jason Butlerat 5:41 AM

This morning's Globe tells us that the insane increases in health benefit costs preclude raises. This makes sense, although it doesn't make me especially happy. Your company can only afford so much in total compensation; if health care costs rise dramatically, there's just nothing left for cash raises.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday that spending on benefits by private-sector employers rose 24 percent from March 2000 to March 2004, primarily because of escalating healthcare premiums. The bureau said that came at the expense of wages, which increased 15 percent over the same period but are a declining share of the total compensation employers pay to workers.