Just a thought, but someone's supervisor does not necessarily (or probably) have a free hand with raises. I could write a glowing review of a subordinate and have my manager tell me that we are not doing raises this year. Or any of a hundred other things. My manager always thought that their opinion on pretty much anything, including my subordinate's performance, was better then mine by definition. If I really knew anything of important, then I would be THE BOSS. Since I was not THE BOSS, by definition I did not know anything.