Patrick - I hear your argument, but the reality of life is that at your very first interview with the prospective employer they should tell you where your office environment will be, and that constitutes your employment place of work. if you live klms from your point of employment then that is not the employers problem but yours. You have to make a decision if you accept their employment offer that you either move closer to your work operation or commute, both events are normally for your account unless they agree to a relocation award.
Further your salary is totally work related and performance based against a set of rules, normally the only way of incrementing your income is through above and beyond the call of duty (though I have seen people advanced not based on performance but because of personal connections, and legal dictates) so if your emoluments stagnate one needs to self reflect and then make a judgement call as to whether you wish to be employed by the current company
Another aspect which has no Rand value that you can apportion to it is:- 1) how much you enjoy your job 2) how diverse is the job and does it present challenges daily and how do you solve these problems 3) how little interference you have from your boss (es) 4) are you trusted and are you permitted to commit the company even in the realms of capital and direct operating costs 4) are you an architect for change
Chances are that if the benefits above are real, one should enjoy ones job and progress relatively well within the company
To me there are 3 elements to working - your own self worth; the companies perception; and the reality
