'I only held this job for the paycheck': Car wash worker written-up for not being "enthusiastic" enough after they turned down a "promotion" without a pay rise

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 12, 2023 6:00 PM EDT

The working arrangement is a relatively simple one: You provide your time and skills to your employer, and they provide you with a paycheck. Management likes to snazz this up and conceive unnecessary complications that weave a longer, meandering line between these two endpoints, but no matter how large of a labyrinth they build, those two endpoints remain the same and in the same place. 

Things like being told you and your coworkers are a "family," "crew," or "partners," or any other of the various euphemisms used to avoid referring to workers as what they actually are; impromptu pizza parties in lieu of an actual reward for record-breaking financial periods; getting assigned more tasks and responsibility ("To contribute to your growth!") without more pay; are all actually just thinly-veiled ways of getting you to contribute more without getting more back in return. 

That's not to say that a mutually beneficial working relationship can't blossom between two parties who are willing to reciprocate in going above and beyond for each other, but there's a distinct difference between this and being asked to do more without a response in kind.

It shouldn't be surprising to any manager that their workers are there for the paycheck and that, if the paychecks stopped, the work would, too. But that didn't stop this manager from writing this worker up after the worker declined a "promotion" that would have seen them with increased responsibilities without any further compensation. When the worker was asked why they had declined the promotion, they told their boss that they "Only held this job for the paycheck." Which apparently put them in violation of some inane corporate policy and resulted in them being written up.

See the worker's account of events, as originally shared with Reddit, below. 

Advertisement
  • 01
    Tire
    via Emile Guillemot
  • 02
    Font - Told my manager my real reasons for working with the company, got a write up. I work at a car wash, when I started working at the wash in 2021, it was first and oldest part of a very small and local company that had only 4 locations. The environment was very laid back and easygoing as the owners honestly didn't care how the company was run, just as long as they were getting a profit. The wash was quite popular among locals for its unique theme. Anyway in 2022, the company was bought out a
    via u/According-Value-6227
  • 03
    Font - A week ago, my manager ( who has only been with the company for 6 months) offered me a promotion. When I found out that the promotion did not come with a pay raise, I declined and voiced that I wanted extra pay for extra responsibilities. I then explicitly stated that I only held this job for the paycheck. Apparently, that last statement of mine was a violation of the employee code of conduct as the company requires its employees to be enthusiastic about their jobs at all times and willin
    via u/According-Value-6227
  • 04
    Font - With the old company, everyone, including the owners understood that the sole reason anyone works is for a paycheck but unsurprisingly, the new company wants its employees to be dedicated to the job above all else. Overall, I'm pretty sure that I'm on thin ice now. I'm always looking for new work but job prospects aren't very plentiful where I live.
    via u/According-Value-6227
  • 05
    Font - mikeOsd That motherfor refusing to give you a raise is the one creating a negative atmosphere. And also you, I'm assuming, have always shown enthusiasm for your job. You are not enthusiastic about the job that is not yours that they want you to do. What a bunch of bulls 584 Share According-Value-6227 OP I wouldn't say I've always been "enthusiastic" about my Job. I'm not a negative person, just a realist. I clock in, do what I'm told with cordiality and then I clock out. I basically do th
    via u/According-Value-6227
  • 06
    Font - immallama21629 What the fo?!? The whole daed reason to work any job is the pay check. Why the fOwould they think anyone would want more responsibility for the same pay rate? This national chain have any kinda hr department you could contact about the write up? 3.6k Share phaedrusinexile Because the national company thinks each location is like an 80s car wash movie where it's a beach town over summer and everyone's laughing and having a groovy time. If they could not pay people at all the
    via u/According-Value-6227
  • 07
    Font - tordue How can anyone be expected to be excited about working at a car wash? 871 Fun-Result-6343 Share It's the bubbles. TFM 340 Share ... thejesterofdarkness 191 MY BUBBLES Share
    via u/According-Value-6227
  • 08
    Font - jdscott0111 "Oh, so does everyone with this company- including the CEO-make minimum wage, since they're all so enthusiastic to work with or without proper compensation?" 283 Share
    via u/According-Value-6227
  • 09
    Font - Human_Ad_7045 The new owners are running a BOcompany. I'm all for a good attitude and dedicated to my job. However, if you want me to play by your stupid rules, you have to pay. You don't want to work for as like this. Get out as soon as you can. 144 Share
    via u/According-Value-6227
  • 10
    Font - 9001 I would literally laugh in their face if they said anything so insane to me. 334 Share mrgallowayxd Work with OR WITHOUT proper compensation? You should put them on blast to your local news channel, that'd be awesome ↑ 107 Share
    via u/According-Value-6227

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

Tags

antiwork workplace-stories work workplace-discussion workplace Horrible Bosses
Scroll Down For The Next Article