'I left with zero notice': Employer shocked when employee quits after 30% pay cut for a new job that pays double the amount they had offered

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Apr 10, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

Increased remuneration during your time at a company and throughout the course of your career is usually considered to be given due to your own increased contributions owing to your growing knowledge and experience. The off-the-cuff expectation we have is that generally, our earning potential will only go one direction, and while this certainly won't be the case for all of us thanks to the possibility of layoffs and a shifting job market, we certainly wouldn't expect our pay to decrease whilst at the same role. I don't think it would come as a surprise to anyone that having your pay slashed with the same expectation of output—and while you still hold all that experience and knowledge you were being paid for previously—would probably sour your relationship with your employer and make you want to leave.

While most of us wouldn't be surprised by this, it was apparently a shock for this employer, who, upon review of this employee's contract, informed them that they would be receiving a 30% decrease in pay. They challenged the worker to "leave" if they didn't like the offer, thinking that they had the upper hand in the relationship and that the employee would remain with the company regardless of this disrespectful move. They were surprised to find that the employee took them up on their offer, finding another job soon afterward and leaving them scrambling to cover their responsibilities. 

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  • 01
    Left after pay cut, boss is shocked "I work in an integral position in a local management office for a global brand. My position is classified as business critical per our business continuity assessment."
    via Romain V
  • 02
    r/antiwork 1 day ago ForWango . Left after pay cut, boss is shocked I work in an integral position in a local management office for a global brand. My position is classified as business critical per our business continuity assessment. I worked my a off and worked more than 500 overhours last year and even covered for other people since we had high fluctuation in the company. I got consistently excellent reviews and scored among the highest in the company when it comes to target over achievement.
    via ForWango
  • 03
    Since I am an expat in that country under a 2- year contract that gets constantly renewed, recently it got refreshed. Out of the blue HR cut my yearly pay by 30% and said it's due to new compliance guidelines ( ?!?), they said I can leave if I don't like the offer. I applied to another of our subsidiaries got a higher position offered that pays double than what they offered. Leaving here soon. Now CEO, HQ and my manager is Feels good tbh at HR.
    via ForWango
  • 04
    UPDATE: if it's important for context. My company is from Western Europe and I am currently in the Seoul branch. Now I am going to Budapest. I will miss Seoul a lot tbh. UPDATE 2: Because someone asked. Got 60k USD before and cut it to 40k USD (actual currency is different). Thats not a lot for local standards. New job makes 90k USD. I have an MBA from a good European business school and I am working in data analytics and planning.
    via ForWango
  • 05
    UPDATE 3: Asked me to look for an replacement. Called HQ and they said we don't think anyone here would like to transfer for that salary". So HR would need to revert the contract for the next person. All my local coworkers said that they are not willing to do the job because of the high stress level. Too funny
    via ForWango
  • 06
    Horrison2 • 1d ago I love a heartwarming story of corporations trying to ruin their employees but really they end up ruining themselves 3.1K Reply ↑ Share ...
    via ForWango
  • 07
    • EnigmaGuy 1d ago Congrats on the new higher paying position. It's always comical when someone in the higher position thinks they have the upper hand and gives an ultimatum like this, only for it not to go their way and now they're upset and looking to blame anyone but themselves. HR may have drafted and presented the contract stipulations, but 100% one of the C-level guys, and probably management had to give the blessing as well.
    via ForWango
  • 08
    Bonus points since it sounds like a volatile position that you probably cannot just throw someone into so it is going to take them awhile to backfill it and get them up to the same level. While I was upset when I left my former job, I did find it sadly funny that when I left with zero notice and my former coworkers reached out later to say it took 3 people to cover all of the tasks I was doing by myself for years. If they would have just kept the meeting and listened to my concern to get me anot
    via ForWango
  • 09
    WinEquivalent4069 • 1d ago HR: Here's your new pay rate, 30% less. Don't like it then you can leave. OP: Hey, found a new job with double your offer so smell you later✔HR and management: Wait? What?❤ 461 Reply ↑ Share
    via ForWango
  • 10
    Careful_Ad_2105 • 1d ago Good for you. They F'd around and found out. 254 Reply ↑ Share
    via ForWango
  • 11
    lueckestman . 1d ago When I saw the title I was thinking like 2% which is still . But 30% is insulting in the extreme. Wish you would have asked them if they would take a 30% reduction. Reply ↑ Share 254
    via ForWango
  • 12
    pareidoily 1d ago . I saw newer people making a bit more than me, 5k at least. I went to the control freak of a boss and got blown off. I got offered 25k more by a department in the same company and the manager was willing to hire me without saying anything to the control freak. My orgid was just changed during the day. I sent my resignation letter at 5pm that day no chance for a counter offer since I'd considered the original conversation their counter. Bye 152 Reply ↑ Share
    via ForWango
  • 13
    cryinoverwangxian · 1d ago. . FAFO. Oh no, consequences! 60 ⇓ Reply ↑ Share
    via ForWango

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