Belgium is at around 11.57% of inflation currently. In January I will get 11.57% more salary per annum. This is not a raise though, it's purely meant to match the purchasing power consumers had prior to the recession. Depending on which labor union you belong to, you get it immediately added to your salary every month, or once a year if you are in a larger labor union. Does automatic indexation of salaries also happen in the private sector in the US? Or only in the public sector (gov)?
Generally, no. Some organizations might have cost of living increases as a norm, or might have them built into collective bargaining agreements, but they tend not to keep up during inflationary times. (Same with the public sector.) Generally speaking, American workers are on their own to fight the effects of inflation.
No, but it's typical for salaried employers to get an annual "cost of living adjustment" that reflects CPI.
From what I experienced and my colleagues, last years adjustment is partial 2% to 5% even if inflation is at 7% or 8%. Still something and better then not getting an adjustment. Also I don't think the calculation of inflation is reflating the real increase in the cost of living. Elderly on SS pensions and people with low income feel the pain when essential produce like eggs, bread, poultry and other meet, etc all doubled and some tripled in cost. Rent in many big cities also rises much higher then the inflation. Preowned vehicles rise in price from what I see like 30%. Its like your life savings buying power was slashed in half.
LOL, you have no idea how lucky you are. The US is not the only county were automatic indexation of salaries does not happen. The same is true for Belgium's eastern neighbor Germany and every EU country east of it as well.
I have never heard of such a thing at all. I also have never been part of a union or worked a government job. Not sure if it happens there.
I had no idea Germany didn't partake in automatic indexation. I thought it applied everywhere in Europe.
To be honest, that doesn't surprise me at all. I have noticed that most Europeans do not realize how big the differences between different EU countries are. The differences between Belgium and Germany are still fairly insignificant. The differences are really big when you compare Northern and Southern Europe or Western and Eastern European EU countries. In the vast majority of cases, this is because people just assume certain things are the same across the EU without ever checking.
Yes, I am in the US. I doubt it varies much from state to state. Employers often decide what they want to pay. Some offer a “cost of living raise” but that is usually like 2% or something like that. But that is not a guarantee.