It’s a dark day for managers, employees and HR when the annual pay discussion goes awry and the person on the receiving end sitting in the boss’ office is blindsided by the news. This situation arises even when employees think the company has been doing well and they’ve been doing all the right things. Yet a low single-digit merit increase and lower-than-target bonus leaves them frustrated and feeling like Charlie Brown trying to kick that darn football. What makes it seem even worse is that based on the company’s proxy statement, the top of the house seems to be doing just fine. Heck, they even got equity grants. Maybe it’s time to call the head hunter.