Boss directly blocks tech contractor's raise due to lack of "leadership" despite them not being in a leadership role at all: 'I was genuinely taken aback'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 23, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

There was a time and a place when staff retention was an organization's top priority, and it was a point of pride and honor to have and care for long-standing employees. My grandfather worked for the same company his entire life—though he was famously mocked towards the end of his career by a notorious executive (who would go on to publicly defraud the large corporation for millions.) My father was nearly the same, working for the same organization from before I was born until his retirement with a healthy retirement package to coincide with his long service.

Somewhere along the line, this switch flipped; there was no longer pride in retention and long-serving staff—or the reaping of the benefits that come with a skilled workforce. Now, budgets are clutched tightly, with there seldom being increases in budgeting for the purpose of raises and retention. Instead, they are shortsightedly pouring what little amount of the staffing budget remains once the executives get their bonus into hiring at "competitive" rates. Meanwhile, they save a buck on the staff who can't or won't leave and, year by year, fall behind in competitive compensation. This, of course, goes doubly for contractors who are constantly walking on thin ice, getting no benefits, and more of a convenience than anything else.

This tech contractor had their contract extended some time before their one-year mark of working for the company; they waited until the end of their first year to approach their "employer" and "ask" for a raise. (Really, if this were a true contracting scenario, they would tell their client they were charging more.) Upon asking, they were told to go away and come back with some reasons why they felt they were deserving of increased compensation.

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  • Despite their obvious contributions above and beyond their rate of pay, the raise was declined; the contractor learned afterward that their boss had been the one to block it for lack of “leadership” despite them being in no sort of leadership position at all and the boss has never raised the issue with them through the course of the year. Since then, the relationship has soured with their boss being “sour” towards them.

    Readers of the contractor's account of events, which were shared with this popular online workplace community, surmised that the boss must have blocked the raise either out of the fact that they felt threatened by the contractor or merely as a means of protecting their budget, which the contractor had insubordinately threatened.

    See some of the discussion as it took place in this popular thread below.

  • 01
    "Was denied my yearly pre-approved raise. Boss directly stopped it from happening."
    via Jason Goodman
  • 02
    Was denied my yearly pre- approved raise. Boss directly stopped it from happening. I'm a contractor for a tech company who needed staff for 12 months. My contract got extended for an additional year, despite me completing the goal 3 months ahead of time. This makes sense because they were short staffed. Last month, near my one year mark, I asked for a raise from my contracting company as they are the ones who issue my paycheck. They asked me to provide reasons on why I believe I deserve the rais
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 03
    1. Due to my expertise in the field, I was able to complete the goal 3 months ahead of time, and have since took on additional responsibilities not listed in the contract description. 2. I have worked on 4 projects for various teams around the company in places where they were lacking, and increased profit by X percent by helping those teams meet project deadlines. 3. In my spare time, I did an audit on previous work that dated back to 7 years. I marked back inconsistencies within each project f
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 04
    All three are BEYOND my responsibilities. My contracting company approved a 10% raise because it was within the companies budget, and they only needed signatures from my boss and my bosses boss. I heard back from the tech company and my boss has declined to sign the raise as he does not consider me a leader and I have not gone above and beyond as a leader of the team. No elaboration beyond that whatsoever. Keep in mind I am not managing anybody, I am nobody's "leader."
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 05
    I was genuinely taken aback. My boss has never brought up a single complaint against me, or has ever suggested a change in my work. He has only ever complimented me and applauded me for the work I've done. Ever since his character has been sour to me. He does not ask how are you, does not smile, or engage in a single conversation outside of work. He also speaks in a monotone robotic voice now. This is a complete turnaround from his behavior before.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 06
    !!This isn't a post to complain or about my situation. I do not agree whatsoever with the rejection, but it is what it is. I want a logical reason on what compelled him to make the decision he made. I established connections with everyone, was a team player, and never missed a deadline. My husband believes it's because I "exposed" how far behind the team really was (with the work I've accomplished, and the projects/audits I did on the side) and my bosses boss was copied. Let me know your thought
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 07
    fenriq 16 hr. ago Pull back and do exactly what the contract covers and not a single damned thing more. Act your wage! • Shadow_84 16 hr. ago And due to current company environment I'd be requesting a change of jobs from the contracting company
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 08
    someonetookmyid 17 hr. ago It's time for adjusting your engagement accordingly!
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 09
    Haxminator 16 hr. ago • Money. He's greedy. • Ok_Apricot5840 OP 16 hr. ago It's a Fortune 500 company. He would not be affected financially from this raise whatsoever.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 10
    thatattyguy 16 hr. ago You want a logical reason? The raise would come out of his budget, or his boss's, and they want to spend as little money as possible. It has nothing to do with your work, a raise comes out of company profits in the best case scenario, and he probably figures if you leave, he'll hire someone at the original rate. Or even try to get someone at a lower price. So start looking for a job that pays you what you are worth.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 11
    Scion Mattly 15 hr. ago Sounds like, as a contractor, you need to find a new contract and terminate this one, since your responsibilities for the contract are complete.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 12
    • Ok_Apricot5840 OP 14 hr. ago. edited 13 hr. ago My husband thinks I'm crazy for this... but I am going to finish out my contract until May 2025. Reasons: 1. I signed the contract extension. I like to keep my word. Yes, boss did something I believe was completely unfair, but I want to stay who I am and keep my word on things I said I will do. 2. I need to keep boss as a reference. If I terminate early, he can leverage this against me in my next position.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 13
    3. I am gaining a lot of experience and developing connections due to how big the company is. This is valuable to me. Weirdly enough, I like pushing the limits in my life. Dealing with his monotone robotic voice, not being thanked in team meetings where he thanks everyone else out by name, him not responding to my "how are you" is building my tolerance up to dealing with negative colleagues. I consider it an exercise.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 14
    But what I WONT do it is continue going above and beyond. I'll read a book in my free time instead of auditing and working on side projects. It will also be busy that time of year in 2025. I will not be accepting any sort of pay raise/promotion or even an attempt to hire me into the company directly by my boss. Not interested whatsoever. Onboard someone else. Cry.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 15
    DCGuinn 13 hr. ago • Your boss will sink you as a reference. If you need this it's unlikely you will be successful changing departments. Not sure why you signed an extension without the raise figured in, if you don't look out for yourself no one else will.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 16
    mario_almada · 14 hr. ago • I've "pulled back" a lot this year because of 2% raise, even though we had company record setting profits! It has gotten to the point that people have noticed that certain things aren't getting done or happening like they used to. Things that I would do on my free time or extra tasks that weren't done by others.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 17
    It's to the point where other techs are starting to have trouble doing their jobs because other people aren't keeping up with their jobs, which o did the extra work, that was out of my scope of work. It was brought up a few times and I just keep replying that it isn't my job and I don't get paid for that. Let them struggle and hire more people to all of that work.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 18
    Retrosteve 14 hr. ago Whatever his reasoning, yours is the same. You went above and beyond, you finished early, you proved yourself more competent and harder working than this job requires. You have clearly outgrown this gig and they don't appreciate you with cash. Go look for another gig right away, make sure your CV reflects how well you overperformed in this one, get the 40% raise you deserve, and never look back.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 19
    CeeMomster 14 hr. ago Your husband is right. It sounds like you embarrassed your boss. And instead of him being the actual "leader" he's supposed to be, he's doing everything he can to push you out. You threaten him. Plain and simple. Don't be surprised (if he doesn't successfully push you out first) if he suddenly gets very warm and friendly and "buddy buddy". Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer ...
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840
  • 20
    dawno64 15 hr. ago You're trying to apply logic. Unfortunately the only logic here is bosses want to save money. Not the way you saved them money, of course, but by keeping pay low so all you saved them looks better for them. This is how companies are screwed up. Stop doing extra, going the extra mile, and just earn what they are willing to pay. They're always happy to let people do extra work but rarely willing to compensate.
    via u/Ok_Apricot5840

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job work workplace Horrible Bosses Tech contractor employment in the workplace
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