Rich CEO tells employee 'low pay is a good thing because it entices you to be more responsible,' employee quits without notice: 'The hypocrisy is unreal'

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

Everyone wants to feel like they're being fairly compensated for the work they do. It's part of what makes a job sustainable. Not only do you need enough money to live, you need enough money to feel appreciated, or else your sense of purpose will dwindle over time. The best employers know this and do their best to pay their employees not only a living wage but a wage that matches their commitment to the company. Loyalty doesn't come for free when it comes to business. 

What certainly isn't appreciated are mind games, tricks employers play to keep their workers in line. Or unsolicited advice that ends up feeling patronizing. That's what happened in this situation when an employer gave some pretty paternalistic advice to his loyal employee. But he soon learned his lesson when his employee put him in his place. Read on for the story and see what you think. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10436284160
    via René Ranisch

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story

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    Was told "Low pay is a good thing because it entices you to be more responsible and resourceful." by the CEO
    via u/Difficult-Square-623
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    I took a tech job and worked there for 2 years. I was consistently putting in ~60 hours per week, working nights and weekends, including holiday weekends. The last year I was there, the CEO delayed raises and said we didn't meet our profit goals for the fiscal year, so raises were going to be delayed (I was already making below market average).
    via u/Difficult-Square-623
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    6 months later, I was fed up. The raise still hadn't come. My boss was very passive-aggressive (all of leadership at this company was like this) but the CEO was visiting the area where I was. We got lunch and I expressed my annoyance with the amount of work I'm doing and the lack of compensation I'm getting for it, including being stiffed on a raise during reviews. He
    via u/Difficult-Square-623
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    grinned at me, tilted his head a bit to the side and said "Ya know, low pay is a good thing for you because it entices you to be more responsible and resourceful with your income. If you're concerned about pay, perhaps you should look into an accountant to help you manage your finances." I couldn't believe that I was hearing. I kept it cool and tried to reiterate my point professionally (in case he missed it), but the blame kept getting pointed to me. I was seeing red for a whole day after that
    via u/Difficult-Square-623
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    2 months later, I landed a new job that was nearly double the pay and I walked out without leaving a two-week notice. I guess I should have picked up on the red flags on my first day when that same CEO said "We're really good people here.". Yeah, you shouldn't have to say that if it's true.
    via u/Difficult-Square-623
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    Never accept poor treatment for as long as I did. You owe your employer nothing. If we learn to value and stick up for ourselves, perhaps they can be the ones who will unionize and negotiate with their union on how to treat us better.
    via u/Difficult-Square-623
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    KrookedDoesStuff 14h ago • • If low pay is good why is the CEO taking more than his employees?
    via u/KrookedDoesStuff
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    KrookedDoesStuff · 14h ago • If low pay is good why is the CEO taking more than his employees?
    via u/KrookedDoesStuff
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    Difficult-Square-623 OP 14h ago • Good question. I forgot to add, this was somebody who owned 2 Lamborghinis, an Escalade and a home with a 3 or 4 car garage. Or so I was told. The hypocrisy is unreal with some of these people.
    via u/Difficult-Square-623
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    NectarineNational722 • 14h ago. Should have sent an email to the CEO on your last day before you walked out. "I followed your advice and used my resourcefulness and found a much better position"
    via u/NectarineNational722
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    anxious_annie416 9h ago. This is the thing... you have to be resourceful - to make ends meet, thus, splitting your time and attention from the work they want you to be so dedicated to. Studies show that it literally pays when you take care of your employees, it's a win win situation, it's so ridiculous.
    via u/anxious_annie416
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    phillypharm 14h ago How can you hire an accountant with your low pay?...
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    Jay_JWLH 13h ago. • HI, skip the accountant. Just draw up a budget showing you living on the edge against your income, and ask him how budgeting better is going to help you any better than an increase in income.
    via u/Jay_JWLH
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    brilliant-trash22 14h ago. • "Okay David, how about you give me some of your CEO pay so it'll help you be more responsible and resourceful with paying your employees a living wage"
    via u/brilliant-trash22
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    • multipocalypse · 14h ago I wonder why he doesn't make his own pay low, then?
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    Superspudmonkey • 14h ago • If low pay is good, should we do that for the shareholders?
    via u/Superspudmonkey
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    HGLatinBoy 14h ago He's right low pay should make you realize that it would be irresponsible not to find a better paying job and you should be resourceful when you search for a better job.
    via u/HGLatinBoy
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    aoshi1 13h ago • The wealthy always have these grand notions about what will benefit poor people to remain in such a state.
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    Netflxnschill • 12h ago . I have pointed out abysmal pay not being able to make ends meet at multiple jobs and at multiple jobs the owners/C-suites are ALWAYS looking at it like we can't budget properly, not that we are just not making enough to survive. You can't budget your way out of poverty and sh wages.
    via u/Netflxnschill
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    Kyleforshort ⚫ 14h ago • That sounds like something a CEO would say...
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    VeterinarianShot148 9h ago. • "You know, not hitting the profit target is good for the company, it entices it to be more resourceful. Maybe you should talk to an accountant "
    via u/VeterinarianShot148

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