'Her business is doomed': Boss is dumbfounded when worker quits to work for themselves following pay cut

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Mar 1, 2023 9:00 AM EST

When your business is essentially employing people who could be easily contracting for themselves (without the need for your siphoning off their earnings), it's probably best to treat them with a bit of respect. This goes doubly if they're your best performer and highest earner. Sure, by employing them, you're providing them the security they might not otherwise have, but as soon as that security is compromised, they will start questioning their situation.

Sometimes reducing wages may be a necessity in times of financial hardship, but then you need to take a look at the viability of your business. If you can't afford to pay your workers a fair wage… do you deserve to be in business at all? Does your business deserve to survive? There's so much love amongst business owners for the "free market" when times are good. Still, as soon as things get financially tough, they're happy for the government to get involved and give them the same handouts they deride workers for taking, making every excuse under the sun as long as it is to their benefit. Even if that handout is for the expressed purpose of paying employees, they'll probably still cut wages and pocket the difference.

Take my cynical view with a grain of salt, but it's very much something that happens.

This worker shared their story to Reddit's popular r/antiwork workplace community; if you've been here for a while, you'll already be aware that this community often discusses workplace and employment problems, sharing stories and sparking discussion about employers' actions. The worker explained that a recent pay cut had prompted them to leave their business and work for themselves, shocking their boss. Readers congratulated the "new business owner" and chided the boss for the pay cuts.

Keep reading for screenshots of the original thread.