Update: 'Most people aren't being paid market value here': Employee confronts boss about lame promotion with receipts, leaves boss grasping at straws for excuses

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 23, 2023 8:00 AM EDT

There are definitely better ways of justifying your employee's lack of a fair raise. This boss decided that the best way to justify the decision was to say that essentially everyone is underpaid at the company. In other words, she was saying that the entire company cheats its employees. Not only is that a completely irresponsible thing to say both for the employee's sake and for the company's, but also it gives the impression that there is absolutely no hope for the employee in his pursuit of a salary that accurately reflects their workload and responsibilities.

This thread was posted to Reddit by u/Wpg-katekate, who learned that the last time their company was hiring for the same position, it was significantly higher than what OP was offered. To get down to the numbers of it all, OP was offered $12,000 less than the lowest end of the previous pay scale. The promotion would entail a significant increase in workload and responsibility and yet only for a $6,000 pay increase. Talk about a humiliating offer and an even more humiliating excuse from OP's supervisor!

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions in the comments section. When you're finished, feel free to check out this story about an operations officer whose new work plan completely backfired.

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  • 01
    Font - Today I was offered a promotion..my boss' face dropped when she learned... UPDATE: asked for more, was turned down. Asked for additional vacation. Was turned down. Working on my resume right now - thanks for all of the advice! that I knew the pay scale the last time they hired for the same position, and that my offer was $12,000 less than the low end of the pay scale. She then said about nine different silly excuses including "most people aren't being paid market value here, and I didn't
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 02
    Font - Basically I would have double the responsibility including managing employees...all for a $6,000 raise. Do I just outright refuse leaving them more scrambled and start job hunting, or accept and be waayy busier but have a better title to have on my resume?
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 03
    Font - ΕΤΑ - - I'll be looking elsewhere regardless, more wondering if I should pass to let them know how insulting it is and to just have an easier workload, or take it and have less energy to give to the applying process..but have the better title and make a wee bit more.
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 04
    Font - nchoffman2. I'd be looking for another job. $6,000 raise for a promotion is insulting. Take their offer, use that title to score something better, and peace out. They obviously don't value you there. 5.8k Reply Share
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 05
    Font - neekogo This right here. Title looks good when applying to outside companies that will pay you a better rate 1.5k Reply Share
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  • 06
    Font - 2hink Look somewhere else. I had a boss that refused to pay me the going rate that the company was offering for new employees. She said that I shouldn't be making a lot since I live with my parents. I told her, the reason I live with my parents is because I work here. Put in my 2 weeks and went to place that double my salary. Just leave, milk your PTOS 1.7k Reply Share
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 07
    Font - Upset Researcher_143 I would take the promotion and the raise and start immediately looking for a new job. When they ask why you're looking so soon after a promotion, tell them you're already doing that job for awhile and are a looking for the same type of job that is consistent with the market value of pay. ↑ 994 Reply Share
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 08
    Font - clangan524 "most people aren't being paid market value here, "Oh, word? Hey, Bill! Did you know you're being paid below market here? Sarah, you were planning for a baby right? You should ask for a raise because the boss just said we're all underpaid for the market. Hey, Jimmy..." 185 Reply Share
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 09
    Font - Wpg-katekate OP. Hahahaha the new plan for Tuesday.. 90 Reply Share
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 10
    Font - CatTaxAuditor. Accept the promotion and immediately jump ship the moment you're hired using your new job title. 164 Reply Share
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  • 11
    Font - Geoffman05 If the title is good then take it so you can update your resume and send it out. 153 Reply Share
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  • 12
    Rectangle - DannyPinn "Most people arent being paid market value here" is the most insane to say in this situation. 126 Reply Share
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  • 13
    Font - Wpg-katekate OP My eyes got wider and I believe my head tilted further with every insane thing she said.. one of them was that they were paying severance to other person that was in my department that they just fired. Full pay for 5 months (so the entire summer off, paid) and he should have been fired a year ago. So someone that I picked the slack up for 100 times gets his full salary when he should have been fired with cause, so I can't get what I deserve? Y'all are jokes.
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 14
    Font - srslydudewtf. Here is a way to consider it: Imagine yourself six months from now having already accepted this promotion and raise. Is the extra workload, and the stress that comes with it, worth your boss slipping you a $20 bill at the end of each work day?
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 15
    Font - Alternatively, consider that after working in this promoted role for six months, would you pay $20/day to a colleague to take the extra responsibilities off your shoulders and just have your old job back again? Because that's basically what a $6,000 annual raise amounts to (after taxes) for a 5 day/ week job.
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 16
    Font - ($6k/year = $500 monthly = $125/week = $25/day = $20/day after tax) The answer is almost certainly no. And the way your boss reacted to your informed response is very telling of an unhealthy work environment.
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 17
    Font - sleepyjohn00. Anyone who will cheat you once will cheat you again. Reply Share 81 ...
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  • 18
    Font - Wpg-katekate OP. Yeah she tried the "oh just because this is all we can pay now doesn't mean it's forever!" I laughed..
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  • 19
    Font - eunicethapossum. Why not counter offer for something in the actual range?
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  • 20
    Font - Wpg-katekate OP Yes, right in that moment that I told them I knew the range from the previous posting I told her the salary does not match the expectations and additional responsibilities. She said they wouldn't be able to budge and I could think about it over the weekend then we have a meeting for me to "ask additional questions" and give an answer..I will give them a specific figure at that time.
    via u/Wpg-katekate
  • 21
    Font - This was very out of nowhere, so that was about all I could muster in the moment but I did hold my own and made sure she knew while I was excited for a promotion that I was not impressed by the lack of true recognition through the lack of proper pay.
    via u/Wpg-katekate

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promotion corporate workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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