Yearly raises were often miniscule and strangely, regardless of when you are hired, raises for everyone were done at the same time every year (February or March - felt like a way to get a few extra months of initial pay rate out of people during their first year.) Some employees who had close connections with management would often be unreachable when working remotely or they bullied newer coworkers with no repercussions. They definitely frown on coworkers talking to each other about wages.