'The only reason I took it was for the raise': Boss begs their salesperson to cover their position while they're on maternity leave, then cuts their salary last minute, shorting them ~$200 per week

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jul 1, 2023 11:00 PM EDT

C-level management seems to forget that their 'family' of employees is really only working so they can get that money bag every two weeks. Despite their lofty claims that everyone's on the same team and needs to reach company goals, a lot of workers are starting to refuse to do more work unless they're financially compensated– as it should be! In this case, one employee got roped into managerial duties when her boss had planned to take some maternity leave. After agreeing on a reasonable raise for the employee's efforts to step up, they were trained to takeover management of their department. 

However, things went sour with only a few weeks left before the pregnant mama was out of there; upper management pulled their original offer to give OP a raise and actually offered them LESS money then they normally make in exchange for doing more work. Thus began a spiral of upper managerial incompetence, an egregious pay cut, and an employee reaching their limit over a $200 loss per week. 

For more boss-level fails, check out this library manager who got what they deserved after giving away all of the lost and found items.

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  • 01
    Font - r/antiwork Posted by u/you_enjoy_my_yoga 6 hours ago I was asked to fill in as manager while my boss is on leave, but now days before the due date, they decided the pay will be less than agreed. Should I tell them I won't do the position for less than agreed, even though it will screw them over?
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 02
    Font - Our GM is pregnant and she asked me to fill in for her while she is on maternity leave. Currently, I make a base rate of $16 and I make $1-4 more an hour based on my weekly sales percentage. With that, I currently make $18-$20 an hour, and it was agreed that as acting manager, I would make $2 more than whatever my rate was supposed to be for that week.
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 03
    Font - Our owner is trying to cut costs, and he's wanting to do away with the extra weekly pay based on performance and just do the flat rate of $16, or for me as manager, $18. This role comes with so much stress and responsibility, and the only reason I took it was for the raise. I will be making less as a manager than I was as a salesperson.
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 04
    Font - I've already been questioning my decision to take the role, as my GM has not been here enough lately for me to feel prepared for her leave in addition to our narcissistic owner, but this late in the game, it would really scr w them over to not take the position.
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 05
    Handwriting - But now that my pay is cut, I really don't think it's worth it for what it's doing to my mental health.
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 06
    Font - Should I just suck it up for a few weeks and try to find a different job? I tried to tell my boss that I didn't want to do the position for less than agreed, but she said there's probably nothing she can do bc it's up to the owner. Should I refuse to do i for less than agreed?
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 07
    Font - I've never even been promoted at a job before and I was excited for this opportunity but I feel taken advantage of because now it feels too late to say no
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 08
    Font - The thing is I kinda like my manager, and she will be the one that is screwed over, even though it's the decision of the owner. There's just no time because she leaves next week and no one else is trained enough to take this role except me.
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 09
    Font - Honestly though she doesn't seem too concerned about it which is frustrating. if I was going to tell them I'm not doing it, what would be the professional/most effective way to communicate that?
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 10
    Font - benevenstancian0. 6 hr. ago You aren't being promoted if you aren't receiving extra pay, you're just covering for a bad business owner who doesn't know how to run a business. I call it the Bad Businessperson Tax. Someone has to pay it, will it be you or the owner?
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 11
    Font - Refuse. If they refuse to budge, then decide whether to stay long enough to find another job or bail. I bet the extra funds will magically appear when you resign.
    via you_enjoy_my_yoga
  • 12
    Font - mechwarrior719.5 hr. ago Yeah. They'll hire some business degree who does nothing, knows nothing OP does, and will end up costing more, but it will be OP's fault for not BeInG a TeAm PlAyEr.
    via mechwarrior719
  • 13
    Rectangle - Working Park4342 - 2 hr. ago Let them eat pizza. The new version of Let them eat cake.
    via Working_Park4342
  • 14
    Product - tatang2015 13 min. ago How do you know someone is an a s? They keep using the term team player!
    via tatang2015
  • 15
    Font - tickles_a_fancy 2 hr. ago This is what people don't get... You walking out of a bad manager's job or not allowing them to exploit you even more than they already are is not you screwing over your team, or the business, or the owner. They are doing it to themselves and blaming you for it.
    via tickles_a_fancy
  • 16
    Font - YOLOSwag42069Nice 3 hr. ago idle Never take that offer from this kind of business. They just have contempt for the worker out smarting them and look for a replacement that they can go back to abusing and exploiting.
    via YOLOSwaf42069Nice
  • 17
    Font - the_TAOest 3 hr. ago The manager won't be coming back... The owner will find someone else of lesser quality than you. All the owner about meeting certain metrics and you getting the bigger bonus... You'll find out a lot.
    via the_TAOest
  • 18
    Font - Galdalf-the-Grey 3 hr. ago I think this is the key point. You agreed to do the job for a certain pay. When they reneged on paying you to do it. You no longer have an agreement. Id just keep doing your old job as normal. when they ask you to do the new one - simply state - I did not agree to do the new job for no additional pay - therefore there was no agreement.
    via Gandalf-the-Grey
  • 19
    Font - Master OfKittens3K 1 hr. ago This is the way. OP, make sure that you don't do any management work. If there are meetings that your manager would have attended, don't attend unless your manager's manager will be there.
    via MasterOfKittens
  • 20
    Smile - TheFluffiestRedditor 3 hr. ago "I am changing the agreement. Pray i do not change it again."
    via TheFluffiestRedditor
  • 21
    Rectangle - shpiffeh 3 hr. ago Yes. You are not screwing them, they are screwing you (and themselves). If they are "screwed", it is by the consequences of their own actions.
    via shpiffeh
  • 22
    Human body - -Daetrax- 6 hr. ago 18 USD for a manager position? I wouldn't do menial labour for 18 USD.
    via -Daetrax-
  • 23
    Font - UnknownPleasures3 - 6 hr. ago You need to think of yourself first because that is clearly what the owner is doing. If you don't stand up for yourself, no one will. What they are suggesting is a pay cut with more work.
    via UnknownPleasures3
  • 24
    Product - "I will be making less as a manager than I was as a salesperson" Name Authorised Signature
    via u/canva

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salary boss worker maternity leave employee manager salesperson coworkers upper management commission ceo Office incompetence managers sales workers bad bosses company coworker paycut
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