'You learned a valuable lesson': Worker brings in $12 million for her company, boss spits out coffee at her raise request

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 24, 2024 3:00 PM EST

Asking for a raise is a tough business to go about. It takes a lot of confidence and gumption, and the way our work system is set up makes you feel like it's something you shouldn't be doing. Even when you know you deserve it. You come equipped with evidence and knowing your worth, and you hope to be received the best you can. The very least they can do is treat you with respect and hear you out.

That's why this recent Reddit story inspired such outrage. It's a tale of an exceptional worker being denied any recognition for her ability to go above and beyond. Be grateful you don't work for this company. 

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  • 01
    r/antiwork u/Von Cattington • 3d Boss spit her coffee out on webcam when I asked for a raise during my review.
    via u/VonCattington
  • 02
    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 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.
    via u/VonCattington
  • 03
    It's now Sept 2022, I'm still getting paid my original customer service 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 u/VonCattington
  • 04
    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 u/VonCattington
  • 05
    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 u/VonCattington
  • 06
    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. 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.
    via u/VonCattington
  • 07
    avicario96. 3d Only way to get raises these days is switching jobs.
    via u/avicario96
  • 08
    ensanguine 3d ● 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 u/ensanguine
  • 09
    Christank1. 3d You go, girl. I hope they lost a lot since you left
    via u/Christank1
  • 10
    VonCattington OP • 3d 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 u/VonCattington
  • 11
    Atomic Samurai Cyborg . 3d Yeah, the first thing I thought when you switched to sales with no salary change is "did you ask your coworkers what they make?" It's an uncomfortable question because capitalists make it faux paus but you need to know what you should be making first.
    via u/AtomicSamuraiCyborg
  • 12
    tkdyo • 3d 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 u/tkdyo
  • 13
    VonCattington OP • 3d 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 u/VonCattington
  • 14
    LetsGoBubba6141 • 3d 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.
    via u/LetsGoBubba6141
  • 15
    Striking-General-613. 3d What did they say when you gave notice?
    via u/Striking-General-613
  • 16
    VonCattington OP • 3d Well, I booked a two week vacation to use up all my vacation days, then turned in my notice the Monday after I got back. My manager said he felt like I kicked him in the stomach. The female boss asked if I was leaving because of him (yes, I was, his management was horrible). Then they half- tried to offer me a counter, but I told them not to worry about "crunching numbers" and my resignation was final. They had to walk me out immediately due to company policies, thankfully
    via u/VonCattington

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Tags

salary antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace work story work reddit story raise workplace subreddit reddit thread Reddit money toxic-work-environment
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