‘Raises are demotivating’: Boss refuses to give raises to employees, instead pays them in professional courses, forcing overworked employee to seek another job after 4 years without a raise

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jan 22, 2025 9:00 AM EST

Unpopular opinion: Feeling content with your job and your workplace should not feel as hard as it is. We, as employees, don't need much to feel satisfied at work, and our needs are very basic. Yet still, managers seem to get it all wrong and never do what needs to be done to keep their workers happy.

Assuming you work in a field that actually brings you joy, there are a few things you need from your employer in order to keep feeling that joy on a daily basis, and essentially keep you at that job. Everyone wants to feel a sense of progress in their roles, and that they are being appreciated by their colleagues and superiors. All of that can be done with a simple act of appreciation from the boss – by giving employees a raise.

Getting a raise is the best (and arguably the only) method to ensure employees feel content. It signifies that they are doing a good job, that they are appreciated, and most importantly, that they can afford to stay in the same workplace.

It shouldn't be a hard concept to grasp, yet managers sure love to complicate things.

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  • The boss in the story down below argues that raises do the exact opposite of everything mentioned above, that they only demotivate employees at their jobs.

    His preferred way of satisfying his employees? Pay for professional courses for them to take on the job,

    It is not surprising that after his employee asked him for a raise (after 4 years on the job, important to add), and was firmly denied, that employee realized that they will never be content in that workplace. 

    Keep scrolling to read the full story…

  • 01
    tate Description SALARY
    via ex
  • 02

    "My boss says raises are demotivating"

    I had a 1:1 with my boss (also the company owner) where I expressed my desire for a raise after 4 years without one. He basically said he's tired of giving raises and
    via Diex233
  • 03
    doesn't plan on doing it anymore. According to him, employees have a "gimme gimme" attitude and don't give anything back, so instead of raises, he'll be
    via Diex233
  • 04
    paying for courses. In theory, and according to him, courses make people happier and let them reach their professional goals.
    via Diex233
  • 05
    Now, you might be thinking, "Take the courses and get out." Well, no, because if I leave within 2 years of taking a course, I'd have to pay it back.
    via Diex233
  • 06
    I just wanted to get someone else's opinion on this whole "you only get raises if you give something back" thing. My performance is excellent,
    via Diex233
  • 07
    and there have been no complaints about my work. So why wouldn't I deserve a raise?
    via Diex233
  • 08
    I was thinking about it yesterday, and for a moment, I almost believed his gaslighting.
    via Diex233
  • 09
    gargravarr2112 ...He seems to have cause and effect backwards, raises are the reward for doing hard work, not an incentive to work harder. Either that or this is some complete ( ›
    via gargravarr2112
  • 10
    reasoning to make his budget look good at your expense. I'm pretty sure it's the latter, because otherwise he is a complete moron. What would demotivate employees more, getting a raise and then 'giving nothing back' by working no
    via gargravarr2112
  • 11
    harder, or being told you won't get a raise no matter how hard you work? Make sure everyone in your department knows this, that raises are never happening. Watch how far productivity plummets. Then use that as a teaching example for cause and effect.
    via gargravarr2112
  • 12
    Diex233 OP They plan to replace us with people from overseas. He literally said, "It's public knowledge that they are much, much cheaper than
    via Diex233
  • 13
    you guys, so maybe we will start hiring there." They plan to keep hiring remote workers from the Middle East for $500 a month.
    via Diex233
  • 14
    Liam_M What's his answer when you tell him your "professional goal" is to make more money?
    via Liam_M
  • 15
    Diex233 OP That money isn't everything and doesn't get you far. A colleague recently quit (she left for more money), and he said it's very sad to think someone would jump ship just for a bit of extra cash. This is where I almost started questioning myself..
    via Diex233
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10457489920
    via Everyday better to do everything you love

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 17
    rap31264 I don't know your work situation but sounds like you need to get another job ASAP...
    via rap31264
  • 18
    Diex233 OP I'll start looking for a new job tomorrow morning. I work in IT, and my area is very niche, so there aren't many opportunities around
    via Diex233
  • 19
    Sightblind "Giving something back." He's already getting your labor which is more valuable than what he's paying you, because if it wasn't, he
    via Sightblind
  • 20
    wouldn't be making any profit. Raises are the cost of retaining that labor.
    via Sightblind
  • 21
    xfireperson1 Did you ask him how many raises he's given himself in the past 4 years?
    via xfireperson1
  • 22
    NatashOverWorld People need raises to keep up with the rising cost of living If you're not getting regular raises, you're basically being paid a little less every year practically speaking.
    via NatashOverWorld
  • 23
    madkins007 There are several studies in professional journals that money is a major motivator. He is operating on a theory with no support and he is doing it because it serves his desires. I'd quiet quit and be sending out resumes.
    via madkins007
  • 24
    SAD0830 If he thinks raises are demotivating, he desperately needs to take a course in behavioral psychology.
    via SAD0830
  • 25
    ceallachdon Lack of pay raises when inflation exists is a direct pay cut
    via ceallachdon
  • 26
    ShiggitySwiggity Find a new job. When your boss asks why you're leaving, explain that you're leaving because raises are an essential part of employment, and you need to do stuff like "eat" and "pay rent" and such.
    via ShiggitySwiggity

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boss workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story raise pay raise overworked-employees workplace Reddit company money quitting
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