'I don't want a sandwich, I want a raise': Employee discovers newly-hired 16-year-old makes more money than them, gets offered food instead of a raise

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Oct 24, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

When asked to choose between a single work-sponsored lunch or a permanent raise, why would you ever choose the lunch? It's a long-running joke that companies love to provide pizza Fridays instead of doling out much-needed raises (which could, in turn, let employees buy their own pizza, or you know, more important things in life than that). The company only has to shell out a few hundred dollars for a pizza party, and it does raise employee's spirits for a few hours while their stomachs are full of pizza. They're avoiding the actual issues, though: people work because they need money to live. And when an employee asks for a raise, it's up to the company to oblige them, or pass on the raise and signal to their employee that they're not a valuable asset to the business. 

This employee asked for a raise after finding out that a new hire was making far more money than them. That's why you should always discuss your salaries with the people you work with: it gives you both the leverage you need to negotiate a fair wage. 

After that, read about this senior vet who insisted he could handle a hyperactive 7-year-old, only to realize he'd been very mistaken about his child-caring abilities. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10419310848
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+
  • 02
    I don't want a sandwich, I want a raise This one's gonna be short and sweet. I won't say company names, but it's not hard to figure it out if you do a little digging. Straight out of high-school, I went to work for the world's biggest taxidermy part manufacturer that we'll call "Mcdykes taxidermy".
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 03
    Mcdykes is a big company with a high turnover rate because they didn't pay well. Me being in high- school; I didn't care because I was able to buy w d and put my own gas in my car.
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 04
    Some years down the road, I end up becoming the team lead at 21 years old. I was even the temporary department manager when the real one went on vacation. I was in charge of people 3 times my age. But as life went on, more and more bills were made in my name; money becomes an issue, and I start asking for a raise.
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 05
    Now don't get me wrong. They gave me a few raises when I WASN'T a lead. But that's it. Never got another raise when I was selected to be the team lead. I also later found out that other leads were making about $5-$6 more than i was. When I would ask for a raise, they'd give me the like last time same generic
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 06
    The straw that broke the camels back was when they hired a 16 year old making the same amount as me. I was p ed. I brought this up with the big bosses and was told I'll be rewarded
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 07
    The next day, they bought the entire plant a cheap meal from Chick-fil-A. Again, I was p ed. So I found a big boss, and told him "I don't want a sandwich, I want a raise" I was told that I needed to find a different line of work for that type of money
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 08
    After that conversation, I called my uncle and asked if he needed help with his construction business and he said yes. I clocked out after telling my team and coworkers that I'm leaving, and never went back
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 09
    I got that raise I wanted and then some. The only good thing that came out of that job was the leadership experience because I've had 2 job offers as a team lead since leaving McDykes taxidermy.
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 10
    After I left that place, I heard it fell to shambles. They're struggling to keep up with the big parts, they can't keep an employee longer than 3 months, etc. And it made me feel really good about myself because I was only 21 years old putting out more work than some of the 10+ year veterans were. It took me leaving them to crumble. Just goes to show how much they relied on me, and I'm so God proud of that
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 11
    Sorry if this is a jumbled mess. I'm drink and bored; read a story similar to mine and wanted to share mine as well. Hope you enjoyed.
    via u/hey_you_yeah_me
  • 12
    N.. "but.. but.. we gave you pizza fridays!! Why are you quitting?" • I wanted a raise. . • But had two toppings!!! Good for you! Know your worth!
    via u/NiceStrangers
  • 13
    WinginVegas Good for you. You have to know your worth. Companies do not value you until they find they can't continue without you. Employees quit bad managers.
    via u/WinginVegas
  • 14
    D.. I hate when companies offer food instead of paying more! This is a trap to make you forget what you really want and keep you stuck because of "perks". I don't want $10 lunch! I want $10 extra PER HOUR!
    via u/DIY_Gal

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boss workplace-stories jobs job malicious compliance bosses work coworkers malicious-compliance-reddit i quit quit sandwich quitting work workplace Horrible Bosses quitting story malicious compliance reddit quitting
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