Let's face the reality of the situation:
A substantial dividend is going to be paid to shareholders
Performance bonuses will be paid
Senior managers will get significant pay rises
And we'll get offered a modest increase... 2.5% rumour sounds quite likely to me.
If you look at that from the outside what you see is a successful company, making good profits. That's fine... So long as they stop bleating about how poor we are and how tough times are going to be.