What, no jelly? 

What Is A “Peanut Butter” Raise and Why You Might Get One This Year

Many companies will offer a “peanut butter” raise for employees this year. 

According to research, 44% of companies are opting for the “peanut-butter” approach, which means evenly spreading pay hikes across the workforce rather than merit-based raises.

Companies are moving away from performance-based pay increases due to concerns about subjectivity and bias, as well as for administrative ease.

Pay hikes are expected to remain at 3.5% in 2026, with 48% of organizations still planning to rely on performance-based raises.

Experts warn that peanut-butter raises can demotivate top performers and suggest using bonuses or promotions to reward them.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pay-raise-2026-peanut-butter-style/