U.S. salaried workers can expect raises of 2.8% on average in 2012, human resources firm reports; since recession, many companies have been opting to give employees occasional bonuses instead of raises

Cindy Allen

NEW YORK , August 22, 2011 (Associated Press) – A new survey says salaried U.S. workers can expect another year of modest raises in 2012.

After increasing salaries by 2.6 percent this year and last year, companies are planning a 2.8 percent bump in 2012, Towers Watson reported Monday.

Many companies are sitting on huge cash stockpiles. But they're being conservative with permanent salary hikes, says Laura Sejen of Towers Watson. Uncertainty about the economy and memories of the deep cuts during the recession are holding back raises, she says. Instead, companies are using occasional bonuses.

The human resources company conducted the survey in June and July, polling 773 U.S. companies with more than 1,000 employees.

© 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.