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> In short, there’s a lot more corporate bureaucracy in giving a raise than there is to giving a higher offer to a new hire.

As an IC, it’s hard to sympathize with this argument. This is corporate bureaucracy that a company *chose* to create. How they got here is a matter of debate, but this doesn’t feel like a good justification for not rewarding loyal, high level performers.

This argument always stuck me as a weak appeal to (an ambiguous) authority.

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While that is true. It's also not helpful. You are working for a company with a corporate bureaucracy. It's not going to disappear just because you think it's unfair, so you have to get your raise within the bounds of that system.

You're both right, this is an is vs. ought problem

It is a fact of life. You don't have to like it, or embrace it, but it remains true.

It is generally easier to get a raise than to get promoted. It is generally easier to get a new job than to get a raise.

On balance, if you want to maximise earnings as an IC, you are gonna change jobs more often than you get an above-inflation raise.

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