Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

It's not about giving everyone the same thing or more of the same thing. But to say only those who deliver "above-average performance" (not everyone can do that at the same time, even if they are good) or get promoted receive more money ... that is targeted demotivation of the employees. The economic situation can certainly be taken into account. If the company has no money, there is little to negotiate. But there are certainly some ways; currently, for example, an inflation bonus can be paid. Since it is tax-free, it costs the employer significantly less for the same net salary. Our situation right now is rather meh, and agreements like those from IG Metall are definitely out of the question. But in the end, you are competing with others, and an employer who does not make an effort will surely lose their people if salaries rise by 8-10% elsewhere.

Then I expressed myself unclearly. By additional performance I do not mean more compared to the average of the company, but compared to my own previous performance. So what have I done to improve my personal work performance? Have I developed myself or my area of responsibility in any way? It can be something as simple as creating a new Excel sheet where everyone enters their vacation, so that there are no times when no one is available as a contact person (just to give a silly example). That’s what it’s about.

Then I expressed myself unclearly. By additional performance, I do not mean more compared to the company average, but compared to my own previous performance. So what have I done to improve my personal work performance. Have I developed myself or my area of responsibility in any way? It can be something as simple as creating a new Excel sheet where everyone enters their vacation days, so that there are no times when no one is available as a contact person (just to give a silly example). That's what it's about.

And at some point you have fully developed and can't get any better. Will your salary then be cut? Because you haven't improved compared to the previous year. Reminds me of Amazon’s subcontractors who first give their drivers 80 packages per route—well aware that it’s impossible to do that in 8 hours. The driver does unpaid overtime at the beginning to complete his routes. The supervisor then says: great, you are really good and fast! Starting tomorrow you’ll have 90 packages in the sprinter. If you try a little harder, you can definitely manage that!

We mainly do mental work, so improvements are always possible. Improvements can be qualitative as well as quantitative. It’s understood that such a guideline can be abused, but that is not the case with us (at least not in my line).

Do you know more than I do? Welcome to reality. Not all companies are bound by collective agreements or pay more according to inflation.
But I will now tell my boss that MisterD said that I should get a raise.

If you haven’t gotten 25% more pay in 10 years, then I sincerely regret that.
However, it is reality that the average gross monthly earnings rose from 3391 EUR in 2012 to 4100 in 2021.
That’s already 20%...

The 8.5% from IG Metall are not even included in the 25% yet, those will come only in the middle of this year.

Maybe you should ask your boss if he values you so little that he won’t even compensate you for the inflation of the last 10 years.

However, it is a fact that the average gross monthly earnings rose from 3391 EUR in 2012 to 4100 in 2021.

Now remove the top 5% from that... Then you probably still don't have the average of the general population.