'It’s rough out there for employers and employees': Promoted employee denied raise because of company's building rent, his wife suspects lies

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 23, 2023 8:00 AM EDT

It is remarkable to see the excuses employers will come up with to avoid properly compensating their employees. Trying to level with workers by claiming that "it's rough out there" for everyone is almost a refusal to acknowledge the fact that there is still very much a hierarchical structure in place. Of course, it's pretty hard to do away with that structure. In some ways, it is what it is. However, pretending that everyone equally has it rough is simply untrue. 

 

This employee had been working at his company for almost four years without any raise. He was recently promoted to a "higher up management" position and still didn't receive even the slightest bump in compensation. His wife shared the story via this thread on Reddit, and began to suspect that her husband's bosses were lying about their "big reason." That big reason was that they couldn't offer employees raises at this time because the rent for their office building is going up $100,000 a year. First of all, if the office rent is so astronomical, getting a cheaper office location is always an option. Transitioning to more remote work and getting less office space is another valid option. All of these would allow employers to give their workers their well-deserved raises and foster a greater sense of loyalty in the company. Because there is no such thing is company loyalty without proper compensation.

 

Keep scrolling below for the full post and for the best reactions in the comments section below. For more stories like this, here's another post about an employee who was fired on the first day for revealing their hourly wage to another coworker.

Advertisement
  • 01
    Font - "Denied My Raise"
    via Mario Gogh
  • 02
    Font - Denied my raise My husband has been at the same company for almost 4 years without a raise. He was finally called in for a review where he was given stellar marks. He was then told, "they appreciate the dedication beyond measure,
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 03
    Font - unfortunately the building rent had been raised by $100,000 a year, therefore the company could not afford to grant raises at this time" they also said "it's rough out there for employers and employees alike but if monetary goals are met, eventually that dedication will pay off". That place has been a hole from day 1.
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 04
    Font - His position within the company has gone from a "regular" position to "higher-up management” aka: a crap ton more responsibilities with ZERO compensation.
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 05
    Font - I told him to quit but I'm petty and this "100k rent increase" is really nagging my brain so I was wondering if there was a way to find out how much rent a current business is paying? Figured I'd look into tonight since I'm so pissed I already know I won't sleep. Thanks in advance to anyone who might respond with some suggestions!
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 06
    Font - Aye Handsome. 8 hr. ago I can guarantee that there is no 100k rent. Just an excuse to put people off asking for raises. 413 Reply Share
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 07
    Font - jamiecrutch OP. 8 hr. ago Oh for sure! I would bet money on it. 94 Reply Share
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 08
    Font - leifnoto 3 hr. ago . He'll find another job, and I bet as soon as he puts in his 2 week notice suddenly they will find the money. them if they aren't even giving a raise for cost of living, but he's taken on more responsibility without compensation.
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 09
    Font - choseungyoun. 7 hr. ago is the "higher-up management" position reflected formally on his title? if yes, then it's time to jump ship and being paid for what it worth. don't drag it out, the only one winning is the company's finance. 407 Reply Share
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 10
    Font - mayyoukindly 6 hr. ago Lmao heard this in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2022. Between all of those years, the places I worked had record profit. So the can go themselves. 170 Reply Share
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 11
    Font - pickball 8 hr. ago Rent contracts between building owners and companies is private information. Anyway it's totally irrelevant, that point about the rent increase is bull anyway. 83 Reply Share
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 12
    Font - jamiecrutch OP. 8 hr. ago That's what I assumed but I figured I'd ask anyways. And yes, I know it's literally some bull excuse, I just wanted to rage scroll/search to keep myself occupied while I fumed lol
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 13
    Font - JDmead_32 5 hr. ago I'm sorry that the business is having difficult making its rent. With that in mind, I feel it's in my best interest to go to another company that has much more stability.
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 14
    Font - RevolutionaryLie2833. 8 hr. ago It's typically better for people to continue job searching. They will make substantially more by job hoping than remaining loyal.
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 15
    Font - Sooowasthinking - 3 hr. ago I was once told that if I was given a raise that this persons child would not be able to eat. When he said that I told him"OMG that's horrible let me make this easier on you and I promptly told him I'll just quit so that you can have that burden go way!!" I stood up collected my things and vocally so everyone could hear that the manager of the whole facility could no longer give out a raise as it threatened his child with starvation. I BURNED that bridge.
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 16
    Font - liquidhotice1 4 hr. ago 4 years without a raise? He should have jumped ship 3 years ago. He isn't even getting paid for normal inflation of 2%. He is losing money by staying here.
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 17
    Font - J-the-Kidder 6 hr. ago You have to give that company credit. Not only did they give an excuse that resonates with people in the rent, but then they keep dangling the carrot to keep him interested in working "with enough hard work, you'll get yours." Brilliant pitch. Queue up insurance commercial with the old guy with the dollar on a fishing line lol. It's pure bulls But it keeps people going without the added cost of a raise. Simple, very simple actually, start applying. That place sounds
    via u/jamiecrutch
  • 18
    Font - Fallen FromTheLadder. 5 hr. ago Just doesn't matter if the raise went up. Why would they pay for the raise and not labor? Both are equally important costs in the business. Make your husband look for another job. ASAP. That's the only language they understand.
    via u/jamiecrutch

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

boss workplace-stories employee work stories toxic-workplace job work raise Office Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
Scroll Down For The Next Article