'[They] resigned because, surprise!.. It didn't happen': Coworker quits after doing vacant manager's position for a year under pretense of promotion

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Aug 24, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Companies love to dangle the carrot of promotion over worker's heads, calling it "growth" and "development" when, really—if they were being honest—they would be calling it "we desperately need this task to be done, but we don't want to pay someone to do it." Still, it's almost impossible not to get suckered into the scam of doing extra work because if you don't play the game, you're not going to be promoted anyways... But the question stands: If they're the type of organization that is likely to pull this type of thing… do you want to be working there anyways?

The answer to that question is probably no, but unfortunately, a lot of workers aren't in a situation where changing jobs is an acceptable risk, needing to provide for a family and service a mortgage. This leaves them in a place where they can't just up and quit and puts them at the mercy of their employer and the local job market.

Really, the only solution in these circumstances is to try and get something in writing first before agreeing to take on extra work and before "temporarily" filling a vacant position.

This worker shared their story of how their coworker quit after a year of doing their previous boss's workload under the promise of a promotion that never eventuated. The pair had agreed to share their boss's responsibilities temporarily when their boss left. However, their boss was never replaced, leaving the pair with increased responsibilities and duties with no increase to pay. Their coworker, thinking they were working towards an eventual promotion, continued to take on more projects and responsibilities, eventually cracking under the insane pressure and turning in their notice. Now, the worker who shared their story has also turned in their notice, leaving the company scrambling to replace what was once a three-man team.

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    via Mimi Thian
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    Font - Posted by u/Inevitable_Homework Coworker took on a manager's workload for 1 year after being promised a raise and a promotion. Resigned because, surprise! It didn't happen. Can't believe I actually have something to post here haha Three years ago our team used to have three people: Our Manager, my coworker, and me. Workload was balanced and we get along well with each other. It was great.
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
  • 03
    Font - Then our manager resigned for a better position elsewhere. Management promised to find a replacement, and they'd appreciate it if the both of us can split her duties between us for now. We shrugged, because it really wasn't too bad back during Covid.
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
  • 04
    Font - A few months later, they never did replaced her. No response after poking and prodding. Then blindsided us that they no longer have the headcount. More responsibilities piled up as business returned to normal. Our workload were increasing week after week. I declined taking on more by citing how full my current plate is. My coworker, however, was oddly jumping at the chance of taking on more projects; small to big, more often than not manager level stuff. Attending so much meetings and wor
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
  • 05
    Font - But perhaps they were grooming him to be her successor. Management was not my cup of tea for now so I was happy for him. Then he submitted his resignation just last month. Lasted almost 1.5 years. I found out later via the grapevine was that he was denied the promotion this year, and so he found another place with better benefits, salary and a functioning team. Not surprising at all.
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - As for myself, during his handover I was informed I would be taking on his workload alongside my current one. So in total I would be taking 2 executive's and 1 manager's responsibilities. No talk of raise, promotion, or even when they'd get a replacement. So obviously not being stupid, I started. looking elsewhere. I was prepared to be unemployed as I sure as hell wasn't staying even without getting a new job, but I got lucky with two interviews just within the week of sending out applica
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - My last day is next week. The department is low-key panicking as they can't find someone else to replace us both so soon. They've resorted to give the workload to two other contract staff, who were hired for something else and did not expect this. Obviously, they were not happy, and I try to complete my handover with them to the best of my abilities. I will never understand what management expected from this decision.
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - GodofsomeWorld serves them right Imao, they literally had a guy ready, willing and able to do the job as long as he was promoted into it (with a good pay raise). Hoping this costs them to shut down due to their own moronic ways 42.2k . 14 hr. ago Reply Share
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - ExpressionKeeper 14 hr. ago Something like this was why I left my old job, having the satisfaction of leaving a mess for management to clean up and panic that they're losing employees faster than they can replace them was my petty revenge. Places like this have no room to undervalue and displease hard working employees like this, it always creates a "anything is better than this" mentality, they need to make their employees happy somewhat to retain them. 548 Reply Share
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - kbyyru 13 hr. ago this is why you secure the raise BEFORE taking on the work! Reply Share 42 422
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - : Squirrel Whisperer_ 13 hr. ago They expected you to 'increase your productivity' by doing the work of 3 people because that's what business management books say should happen during economic downturns.....where they fire a bunch of people and pretend that a single person can suddenly do the jobs of multiple people... Good on you for not putting up with this bs...f them...you're a better man than most for giving them the 2 weeks after the broken promises ... Reply Share 321
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - Inevitable_Homework OP 12 hr. ago edited 11 hr. ago ohhh i'd like to give you additional context that all employees of my company (non- usa) are required to serve a 1 month notice period. It's in the employment contract. but i was nice enough to stay on for the full period instead of offsetting my available leaves haha ↑ 131 Reply Share
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - MayorofKingstown 11 hr. ago I was once this foolish, naive and trusting of the world. nearly exactly this, started a job at a large, commercial production greenhouse that supplied plants to large retail outlets like Walmart, etc....
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - Manager I worked under left job at the end of summer when seasonal layoffs occurred. I was offered a full time position along with 3 others out of over 100 employees. I accepted eagerly as I loved the work and wanted to learn more about the business.
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - Boss approached me later asking if I'd be willing to take on the production management duties for the next season, promising a raise and promotion etc, etc..........eagerly accepted assuming in good faith she was not lying. Well, winter comes......I take on managing the production of 30,000 Pointsettias and other winter crops and it goes well. Record season sales. Spring comes and I manage the production of the spring bedding plants, we have another record year....40k hanging baskets prod
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - Summer rolls around and layoffs occur. I have meeting with boss and office manager......the meeting seems jovial and celebratory and I bring up what we discussed. a promotion to manager and raise........ ......crickets.........
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
  • 17
    Font - facial expressions change. "I never said that" my boss says......I turn to office manager.....fully expecting he will remember the convo as he participated. His facial expression is grim and he won't speak. He's clearly been coached to stonewall me. I laughed with disbelief......my heart is broken.....my boss does not see me as I see her.....I'm just a piece of meat to be ground up by her money machine. She doesn't respect me at all.......she doesn't even care about me. a hard lesson for
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - PsychonautAlpha 11 hr. ago My favorite thing about the corporate world is how absolutely braindead companies are regarding their people, what motivates them, and what their needs are. It's actually comical. ↑ 77 Reply Share
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - De_bitterbal 12 hr. ago I don't understand how you guys do this. I have a contract with my boss where he hires me from 8:30 to 17:00 for an agreed upon sum of money. I do what I can in that time. Recently he has increased the workload for the whole company by expanding the business. I still do what I can in the agreed upon timeframe. Not one minute longer. Why should I bleed for his decisions? He could offer to rent more of my time, but I'm not interested in less time for myself so that e
    via u/Inevitable_Homework
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    Font - Richard_Espanol 10 hr. ago Never do more for promises. No company is gonna give you more if they can get you for less. The reality of capitalism is we're ALL making minimum wage. Sure you might not be making 8$ an hour but you can bet your ass they're paying you the least amount that they think they can get away with. Reply Share 41
    via u/Inevitable_Homework

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