Employee Gets Asked to Take a Pay Cut for a 'Promotion'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Aug 28, 2023 8:00 PM EDT

Switching from part-time work to salaried work can be an interesting transition. It often means having more security in your finances because you're working more and therefore getting paid more. You also have a more consistent working schedule. Gone are the days of begging people to cover your shift and never knowing your availability from one week to another. I definitely don't miss covering my coworker's shifts so they can go to concerts and getting crickets when I ask them to return the favor. Full-time work is another level of commitment. You have to work nearly every day, and you'll probably have to do more than you did when you were just part-time. Going full-time is an increased level of responsibility, and it should be treated as such. One employee making this transition took to Reddit because the executive team was trying to cut his salary while promoting him. What an oxymoron. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/antiwork u/meaton124 • 17h Asked to take a 5-15% pay decrease to get a promotion and go on salary One of the oddest situations I have been in professionally that made me question everything I know about business, leaders, and management.
    via u/meaton124
  • 02
    Font - My company is in the midst of submitting an offer to make me a salary employee (I already know the dangers and I have considered this). While discussing the status, my boss informed me that the benefit of being a salary employee will be to have my pay cut 5-15% from where I am at right now making an hourly wage. I make $31/hour as a quality assurance inspector and project management consultant.
    via u/meaton124
  • 03
    Font - The official statement from the executive team was "It was only fair to promote me with a pay deduction since everyone else who is salary at the company has taken the same pay cut to keep the business open." Their main customer (90%+ of their business) has turned off the spigot. Everyone has to take pay cuts and furloughs in order to keep the doors open, forcing many to only work 32 hours a week at most with massive threats and penalties for anyone who works a second of overtime without a
    via u/meaton124
  • 04
    Font - I raised an eyebrow and waited for the follow up. My boss was actually rational and pushed hard for no pay cut, but obviously no mention of a pay raise either. It appears that I will be working on my same pay scale (converted from hourly to salary) and work more hours to make up the hours I lost while I was furloughed. Furloughed while being an hourly employee, mind you.
    via u/meaton124
  • 05
    Handwriting - So work 32 hours a week at full "pay" or work 50+ hours at "same pay" because I am a "team player." I have to say my mind is blown at the moment.
    via u/meaton124
  • 06
    Organism - Now, this isn't official yet. They are still hammering out how much they want to pay and will present "soon," but I know these offers will be in bad faith and will put a target on my back for sure later on down the road. If we don't have our second layoff of the year in a few weeks, of course.
    via u/meaton124
  • 07
    Font - O No Name2709 - 17h Yes them all and pretend to be a team player. Use the company time to look for another job asap. Reply 1.5k
    via u/No_Name2709
  • 08
    Font - meaton124 OP. 17h Already have one offer that is its own f'ery. They had everything lined up, offer in hand, and then fired the person who was giving the offer and turned the department over to the guy who didn't think I was worth making an offer to. We had a conversation on Friday where he was begging me to tell him I am not qualified so he could find other people and then find someone else who can take over the department. Gotta love the start ups. 648
    via u/meaton124
  • 09
    Font - Onward Toward TheNorth - 16h If a promotion includes a pay cut. It's not a promotion. It's a demotion. Reply 4774
    via u/OnwardTowardTheNorth
  • 10
    Rectangle - meaton124 OP. 16h Which would be the third demotion I received this year. Par for the course, sadly 256 ↓
    via u/meaton124
  • 11
    Font - shadow247 • 16h Red Flag: = 90 percent of their business is gone... From 1 client... Time to move on... These guys are gonna lay you off within a year anyway... Get that manager title, and put it on your resume.. And get a new job asap... Reply 375
    via u/shadow247
  • 12
    Font - meaton124 OP • 16h ● That is the plan for certain. I have my plans and plots and plots and plans. Of course, they will come back with "We will be set in 2025 when everything takes off." I know because I have heard them use that a few times on other people. The calendar says 2023 still... 110
    via u/meaton124
  • 13
    Font - SupergOid 15h Can you approach the client who was 90% of company's work and say "I'm about to go freelance, did you want to block out some of my time in advance (retainer) at a reduced hourly rate? (ie charge $80p/h "contracting", down from $160)? odds are it'll be cheaper than what your old company was charging them... 50
    via u/Superg0id
  • 14
    Font - meaton124 OP • 15h If that company was actually competent, then sure. However, they are excessively reactionary (thanks to the industry) and will not have anything other than how they can get the cheapest parts at the best prices for very little wait time. 4 39 39
    via u/meaton124
  • 15
    Font - CptMisterNibbles. 17h Sounds like garbage, but can't they offer you benefits that don't cost them anything? Schedule flexibility or other things you'd like? I prefer 4x10 hour day schedule and have negotiated that previously as a perk. Reply 4 63 ↓
    via u/CptMisterNibbles
  • 16
    Font - meaton124 OP. 17h We will see, but they are looking for people dedicated to the cause and the family. Only the people who are really on the inner circle get perks. It is on my list, for sure, but I am sure it will go over like a wet fart in church. 438
    via u/meaton124
  • 17
    Font - The_Quicktrigger. 16h Team player just means you getting taken advantage of. It's subsidizing corporate failure onto the employees. Unless it is in writing, you will never see a return on investment if you do this. Either the slump ends and this becomes the new normal, or the company folds before they can make good on your sacrifice You should treat this as the insulting slap to the face that it is. Your management should be embarrassed they ever brought this offer to a professional. 451
    via u/The_Quicktrigger
  • 18
    Font - meaton124 OP • 16h Especially when the team is mostly family members, so there is no way to be a "team player" without being a family member as well. I'd say at least 20% are either family members or close family friends of over 10+ years. ↑ 20 ...
    via u/meaton124

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salary boss toxic-manager jobs manager job terrible-bosses work toxic-management horrible-management workplace Horrible Bosses bad bosses money
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