A graphic designer was told by her marketing firm that she was not going to be receiving a salary increase, despite her stellar performance because her husband "makes good money."
The story was posted to the r/antiwork subreddit by the woman's husband, who uses the username u/DLS3141.
The ordeal took place after his wife's company completed their performance reviews. She received "glowing reviews from her boss," as she did every year. It wasn't until she didn't receive a raise, as she had in previous years, that she thought something was amiss.
u/DLS3141 shared his feelings on the issue, "I was completely gobsmacked. That's just so f**ked up. It just makes me so angry. I mean, I am an engineer, and I do make good money, but that's not a reason to sell her short."
There are just so many reasons why it's easy to agree with u/DLS3141's sentiment on this that it's hard to know where to start. So let's start with the primary, glaring issue here… Sexism and gender discrimination.
Flip the situation on its head; what would the companies approach be if one of the men's partners earned a high wage? (And how are they sure they don't.) Are they just assuming that the man is always the breadwinner? What is this 1953?
I'd be willing to stake a considerable chunk of cash that they would never use that argument for not giving one of the men a raise, and that makes it a classic case of gender discrimination.
Other commenters have raised issues regarding what this would do if a member of the relationship depended on securing financial independence to escape an abusive partner. That is a niche, but still valid, point too. Although, the core of this issue is still that nobody should ever be discriminated against in opportunity or compensation for any reason. Those things should be solely determined by what you bring to the role.
Head here, to our "antiwork" tag, for more work stories about people's terrible treatment from their employers.
Thumbnail Image: Andreea Avramescu
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