Exempt employees receiving high performance ratings earned merit increases of 4.6% in 2013, according to a recent Towers Watson Survey featured by CCH.This figure is significantly higher than raises earned by average and low performing employees, who were given increases of 2.6% and 1.3% respectively. Such an approach is being implemented by employers seeking to encourage retention of highly skilled workers through pay increases, larger incentives and discretionary bonuses. Read more.