Same thing with housing, people didn't look up other peoples' home values nor brag about their own like they do today
Today you can do that while on your couch watching TV, just scrolling Zillow. Since it's now all but public knowledge, I'm not sure one if one is bragging or not if they talk about their home's increase while at the water cooler. It probably is bragging, but it's still kinda public knowledge now.
Social norms do change with time, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, sometimes between. Talking about house prices might be in that middle. To look at it differently, no one thinks twice talking about what they paid for a car, right? They might not like admitting to what they lost on a trade in (depreciation), but, usually they will admit to that. What's the difference here between cars and houses? Just shiny objects that most need/want/lust after, something else to talk about around the water cooler.
hey have on purpose priced the PPO out of your reach and steered you into the HSA. Other observation, people don't stay at that co. despite free daily catered lunches and unlimited sick (he has a colleague who is out 6 days per month sick). none of it is anything but bragging. Paying 90% of employees' healthcare
Unlimited sick and paying 90% of healthcare? It's been a while since I job shopped, but isn't that a decent perk?
8% increase plus 5 figure bonuses, sounds like they work their people hard. Not sure if the pay matches the expectations, which may be why people are leaving. That said, pay like that, if they aren't striving to stash it away while they can, then leave when something better comes up (or they burn out), no one's fault but their own.