American workers' wages stagnant, even in a great economy: why?

[RoadRunner79]

Much like a purchase decision, wage is a negotiation based on supply and demand, what it's worth to the consumer and so on. On both ends, you can ask for what you want, but you also have to keep in mind what the guy down the street is selling or buying.

LOL.  Largely it isn't because of enormous differences in negotiating power between employers and employees.

Personally, I'm being asked to do more and more (we rolled more than one eliminated department's responsibilities into my group AND laid off part of my department).  Each of my engineers contributes more to the bottom line than ever before.  We're more profitable year over year.

Yet, our wages are stagnant.

Where's this trickle down that conservatives are always on about?  Hasn't been happening, isn't going to happen.

I would agree that trickle down economics has been oversold in the past, however I also believe that if the company doesn't have extra money, that it is also difficult to get a raise. I believe in balance, I also believe in the free market.  

We had a large increase in benefits with the initiation of Obamacare (increase in cost, quality went down).  And we where told that this was our raise.   I did receive a pretty good raise this year (along with tax decrease).  I was also willing to go somewhere else if things where much better there (either more pay, or less work for the money).

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It may be difficult In a larger company, and perhaps they don’t care about turnover (poor management). However, I would be bringing it up often, if you are doing more work, getting paid the same, and the company is doing well. If you do it respectfully, it never hurts to ask or remind them. And if it’s better elsewhere, then leave.