'I've made the company $12,000,000': Star employee asks for a $20k raise after driving millions in sales, she quits after her boss spits in her face

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jan 27, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Loyalty isn't a trait that's rewarded on your resume. That's because it's become a corporate science to congratulate the company's workers with hundreds of gold stars and pizza parties, only to scoff when a star employee asks for a bigger slice of the pie. It may be counterintuitive, but leaving a company to which you've been loyal may be the only way to get a raise in this day and age. 

But at what point does employee exploitation hit a wall like this? Is it when your hard work starts lining the pockets of your managers and bosses? Or is it when they fail to acknowledge it? 

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  • In our next story, one woman who had gone above and beyond her hiring position got horrifically snubbed by a freeloading boss. After being hired for a customer service position, OP quickly rose through the ranks of the sales team by picking up the slack, optimizing sales, and eventually earning the company over $12M with new clients and big deals. You'd think that would merit a little extra cheddar, but what her boss did next will shock you. 

  • Scroll for the entire story and all the grizzly details of how one woman's success was met with contempt and ultimately recognized her true worth. 

  • 01
    INITED "[My boss] spit her coffee out on webcam” cretary of the Treasury. STA matatas Riss United States.
    via canva
  • 02
    r/antiwork Posted by u/VonCattington Boss spit her coffee out on webcam when I asked for a raise during my review. Got hired on as a customer service rep in Sept 2021. Was promoted into Sales in Nov 2021 (with no change to base salary) and became the company's top performer
    via VonCattington
  • 03
    within a couple months. My one person department expanded to 40. I brought on direct customers and made them more money in my hybrid position, wearing many hats. It's now Sept 2022, I'm still getting paid my original customer service
    via VonCattington
  • 04
    base, and I start asking about my yearly review. It finally gets scheduled after multiple run arounds for Dec 2022. I brought a two page report outlining the 12M I've made the company through my sales pipeline and requesting a 20k increase to my base salary.
    via VonCattington
  • 05
    My manager told me he believed I deserved it and he'd go to bat for me. After months of following up, getting the run-around, filling out rubrics etc. My feedback was 100% positive, my manager even said "if I could clone 17 of you, I'd hire all of them" "you're the top performer on our team" etc. but no word about the pay increase.
    via VonCattington
  • 06
    Finally in June 2023, I reached out above his head to the woman who'd hired me. We hopped on a video call and I told her I was being given the run around about my pay/performance increase for 6 months now and I'd like her to take over my review process. She hadn't heard anything about it despite my other manager saying for SIX MONTHS that it was all under discussion. She asked how much I was requesting. When I told her 20k, she spit her coffee out on webcam.
    via VonCattington
  • 07
    Keep in mind this is a billion dollar company making 10M+ profit per month. It felt reaaaally good when I quit three weeks later for a 50k increase at a new job, plus better commission terms.
    via VonCattington
  • 08
    The funny thing is, I would have probably stayed if they'd met me at 10k increase. I will never forget her spitting in my face, quite literally, at my simple request. As the cherry on top, after I left I came to find out my coworkers were making 30kish a year more than me despite lower performance metrics. All males (I am female). So gross
    via VonCattington
  • 09
    avicario96 3 days ago Only way to get raises these days is switching jobs. Reply Share 4.3k ensanguine 3 days ago Hey I got a 3 percent raise and now with my new insurance premiums I make 5 dollars less a week than I did a month ago.
    via avicario96
  • 10
    Dekklin 3 days ago Every SINGLE year if you don't get a raise in-line with inflation, then you're taking a pay-cut.
    via Dekklin
  • 11
    jporter313 2 days ago This is why I left my last job. After not getting a substantial raise in 5 years and talking to them at length about how the normal 3% COLA raise wasn't going to cut it because we'd had 8.5% inflation that year plus I needed a real raise just to keep up with life, they gave me a 5% raise. I straight up told my manager in the comp meeting that was unacceptable. They came back a month later and raised it to just barely meet inflation. I finally started accepting the advances
    via jporter313
  • 12
    irish506 3 days ago Same here. We got a 2.5% raise and my insurance costs more than the raise I got! Negative paycheck this year. , there are no other jobs in my field near me and I can't move because of family obligations. Really
    via irish506
  • 13
    pizza_danger 3 days ago I was pretty excited when I received a 4.5% raise... Until I realized inflation for the year was 7%. 19 Reply Share ... _Cyber_Mage 2 days ago My boss was really excited about our 4% raise until I pointed out how much below inflation it was.
    via pizza_danger
  • 14
    ObieDobie 3 days ago This has been the untold truth for decades already. I spent 12 years of my life with my former company. A young rookie joined our team and I overheard him talking about his pay and it was only 1,5 euros lower than mine. After 12 J years that was my worth to them, 1,5 euros higher than a guy that had no idea about our work. I asked for a raise, didnt get one. Found a new job and got a way higher salary. being loyal to any of these blood suckers.
    via ObieDobie
  • 15
    CanAlways BeBetter. 3 days ago It's not untold, there's a reason people job hop. 15 Reply Share Yelmak 2 days ago Communist Nah I'd say it's a pretty common expectation in general, especially amongst the older generation and the younger people still listening to their nonsense.
    via CanAlwaysBeBetter
  • 16
    ReelChill26 3 days ago This. 100% this. Made an extra 23K from switching jobs. 29 Reply Share ContemptAndHumble 3 days ago One of my previous bosses felt I was "in his pocket" so I could be avoided for promotions as I would always just be there doing the work. I put in my 2 week notice but left a week later as a professional courtesy.
    via RellChill26
  • 17
    Street_Ad_863. 3 days ago Absolutely true. The longer you stay at a company the more they take you for granted. The only real allegiance you owe is to yourself and your family
    via Street_Ad_863
  • 18
    Christank1 3 days ago You go, girl. I hope they lost a lot since you left 603 Reply Share VonCattington OP. 3 days ago Last I heard they have 4 new employees running around trying to replicate what I was doing by myself. Plus my new job is with a direct competitor and a lot of the same clients. They're going to eat dirt.
    via Christank1
  • 19
    belfastbiker 3 days ago That is just beautiful. Karma. Reply Share 199 199 Lyssa545 3 days ago It is so wonderful to hear about women having stats/facts to back them up, going to bat for what they deserve, and then ending up even better off! Love it, way to go!
    via belfastbiker
  • 20
    tkdyo 3 days ago Really odd she would react like that when all your coworkers were already making 30k more than that. I guess she got too used to employees only asking for meager 3 to 5% raises if they were feeling bold.
    via tkdyo
  • 21
    VonCattington OP 3 days ago I think that's exactly what it was. It caught her off guard that I knew what I was worth. Keep in mind, this woman makes (low estimate) a few million a year in her own compensation package.
    via VonCattington
  • 22
    Doot MasterFlex 3 days ago You did the right thing regardless of her reason for the spit take, but is there any chance that she didn't actually know how grossly underpaid you were, and maybe thought you were already making more than everyone else?
    via DootMasterFlex
  • 23
    PEC LetsGoBubba6141 3 days ago edited 3 days ago Power to you. You learned a valuable lesson. Don't underestimate yourself or your abilities. You were lied to, undervalued and unappreciated and you did something about it. Here's a photo of my cat for you. He's proud of you too. Zoom in, his eyes are two different colors.
    via LetsGoBubba6141

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