11.   The Legislature last year granted Rylander the authority to find money for merit raises for higher education faculty.

12.   The News, under the terms of a contract it has imposed, wanted to issue merit raises to some reporters.

13.   The solution for many companies is to hold automatic pay raises to a minimum, thus punishing mediocre employees, while lavishing merit raises and bonuses on the superstars.

14.   While experts say broadbanding is new, it is in many ways a variation of the old merit raise.

15.   With merit raises, a percentage of salary becomes a permanent part of paychecks, is factored into pensions and is announced at the end of the year.

16.   The district proposed a plan under which teachers would receive merit raises only in those schools whose test scores improved.

17.   The Times decided to cut the supplements rather than resort to layoffs, buy-outs or a freeze on merit raises.