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'I've already secured another job': Employee promised promotion to keep them working overtime, boss then denies promotion with a 'scathing' review

Often in life, you'll find yourself encouraged to go above and beyond your current position and pay to take on new challenges, fill in gaps, and maybe even directly assist with your boss's workload. This is all well and good; life is about give and take, and showing initiative in a healthy working relationship and being sure to learn at every possible opportunity can help take you far in your career. However, unfortunately, this is often used as a tactic by less-than-honest employers who are looking to take advantage of ingenuous employees who are already underpaid for the work they're already doing.

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Posted by Brad Dickson
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  • You can normally tell when this is happening. Let's be honest; you can probably gauge your employer's generosity and intentions pretty well. And when it's not a serious offer, it will come in the form of vague promises, moving goalposts, and the carrot of promotion being dangled on a stick out in front of your face. And, while the "Carrot of Promotion" sounds like a great name for a Dungeons and Dragons item, it's not so great when it is being dangled in front of you, goading you into doing more work, working more hours, and taking on more responsibility—all under the promise that you might one day be compensated for it.

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    Cheezburger Image 9839830016
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  • Of course, those less-than-honest employers will always find some excuse not to follow through on this promise and continue to lead employees on for as long as possible before gaslighting them and, once you finally try and corner them, pretending that this was never in the cards in the first place. That's essentially what this worker experienced when, after going above and beyond and receiving positive glowing feedback, the time for their review came, and their boss gave them a scathing review that effectively obliterated any chance of a raise or promotion. See their account of events along with the reactions from this popular online community.

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    r/antiwork. Posted by u/X0036AU2XH After being promised a promotion for a year, getting 50-55 hours of work a week dumped on me in October and positive feedback throughout to keep the carrot of the promotion ahead of me - got a scathing review that prevented promotion
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    Boss gave me so much positive feedback at our regular check-ins just to get me to keep overworking then gave me a scathing review full of -1s and -2s when it would have been time to promote me. Just a reminder to never trust them. I've already secured another job that,
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    unfortunately, won't start until after the holidays (so January.) I'll need to stay at this job until at least December 1 for insurance purposes, ideally would wait until the end of the month to resign for financial reasons. It's going to be a slog to have to pretend to not be completely checked out.
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    justelectricboogie. 6 hr. ago It's a typical human resources ploy. Feed them positive vibes as the days go on. Hit them with negative vibes on evaluation. It's a game that is supposed to save them money and push you to be more productive. 686 Reply Share
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    X0036AU2XH OP. 6 hr. ago I'm honestly just disappointed with myself that I actually fell for it this time. I'm going to enjoy quitting this one as they just announced to a very big external partner that I'm their main contact at my company and we launch basically the day I plan to quit. 슈 446 Reply Share
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    charlie2135 3 hr. ago If they try to talk you out of it, say "Oh I don't think you could possibly trust me with such an important customer after telling me how poorly a job I've done " with a grin on your face. 261 Reply Share ●●●
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    fullyvaxxed2022. 4 hr. ago You responded to this by getting another job. This is the proper response. Just make sure you give notice on the Friday before you start at the new place. When they ask why you are leaving without giving 2 week's notice, you tell them that you feel no obligation to do so after being lied to for over a year. Reply Share 238
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    schumachiavelli 3 hr. ago I wouldn't even give them that much notice. When I quit working for a piece of small business owner a few years back I didn't notify him until I was walking in to the new job's front door on my first day. Sent him an email quitting effective immediately literally on the walk between my car and the building.
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    His dim but well- intentioned secretary tried calling soon after, but every call got sent straight to voicemail which I deleted without listening. him and whatever else he wanted from me before I left. Vote Reply Share
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    Vinral 4 hr. ago If you have any of the positive feedbacks in emails, document those for when they ask why you're leaving and hand those in with the conflicting review. 108 Reply Share
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    Spider-Kat 4 hr. ago Don't even pretend not to be checked out. Immediately start working exactly the minimum (I'm assuming 40 hours). Leave on time, don't make yourself available for any special projects or extra work, don't volunteer to help out your boss or your coworkers, and just do the minimum for the next 4 weeks. Quit right before the holiday, enjoy the week of off, and start your new job fresh in January.
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    Also just want to add, from a manager point of view - your boss 1. Check-ins should be frequent and feedback should be given regularly so by the time you get to a performance review, there are no surprises and it becomes about working toward shared goals in the next year. If you got a bad review that you didn't see coming, your boss was doing something wrong the whole time. Make sure you highlight that in your exit interview. 94 Reply Share
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    DirtyPen PalDoug - 4 hr. ago bed Remember if it's not in writing with very clear and specific terms, it's bulllshit. Never ever go above and beyond. Reply Share 29 ●●
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    Scarletowder - 4 hr. ago Just going into the same situation, so I sympathise. For one of my "objectives" I had to write some training material. I sent it to my boss six months ago, and despite chasing, he has never fed back on it. He black holed it. Second objective design and develop new briefing processes. Done. Workshopped it, got
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    management buy in, about to launch and then black hole again. Yesterday I found out he had given the task to someone else in another team (!) The other two objectives were related to projects that have been put on hold. I will be marked as "underperforming" due to my inept boss. 30 Reply Share ●●●
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    Indecisive_action 3 hr. ago Don't resign with a two weeks notice, give them a heads up on your last or second to last day. Too many companies will let you go early and leave you out to dry for those two weeks in retaliation. Don't tell them where you're going either, ever. Vote Reply Share
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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  • 18
    plastardalabastard 4 hr. ago Remember always send your manager a follow up email, that is for talking to me in our one in one today. This is the feedback I was given, you said there were no areas to improve and I was doing great. When they give you something to improve upon ask what resources or assistance is available to assist you in those areas. 55 Reply Share
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    jesus_chen 4 hr. ago They led you on to exploit your labor and had zero intention on paying you more. Once you have all of your paperwork filled out and start your new job, just ghost the existing one. Block them and let those deal with the fall out. 18 Reply Share
    Via u/X0036AU2XH
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    LateYam9070 - 3 hr. ago Don't beat yourself up. We've all fallen for the carrot of promotion promises or the promise of an end of year bonus that turns out to be a pizza party. Hopefully your new gig is a better fit for you. Enjoy the holidays!! 13 Reply Share ●●●
    Via u/X0036AU2XH

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job work i quit quit workplace Horrible Bosses quitting employment in the workplace

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