Employee mistakenly receives higher raise than he should left debating how to deal with the situation: ‘I was told I would get a 50 cent raise. Somebody must have typed it in wrong’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Feb 1, 2025 4:00 PM EST

All the corporate world's a stage and we're all just actors trying to balance our ethical standards with our deep-seated desire to finally afford that fancy coffee maker we've been eyeing. It's like finding money in the street except the street is your paycheck, and there are security cameras everywhere.

You know how they say good things come to those who wait? Well, sometimes they also come to those who accidentally receive payroll errors, leaving them trapped in a moral maze of their own sweaty-palmed making.

Let's talk about someone who recently stumbled into the workplace equivalent of finding an extra $20 in their jeans - except it's every single paycheck. 

Our honest worker asked for a raise and was offered the somewhat insulting sum of 50 cents. But through what can only be described as divine intervention (or more likely, Karen from payroll having a particularly distracted Monday), they received a $4 raise instead.

Now, while some might view this as karmic justice for all those unpaid overtime hours and missed lunch breaks, our conflicted friend is wrestling with their conscience. There's no paper trail, no signed documents, just an unexpected windfall that could disappear as quickly as it arrived.

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  • 01

    "I got a bigger raise than I should have, should I say something?"

    "should I just ride it out until somebody notices?"
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Personally, I'd probably crack under the pressure within 48 minutes and blurt out the truth during a completely unrelated meeting, but that's just my anxiety talking. 

  • 02
    So the other day I asked my boss for a raise, I was told I would get a 50 cent raise. Somebody must have typed it in wrong, because I was given a $4 raise. It's shown
    via wowbitchh
  • 03
    that way on my recent paycheck. Is this something I should bring up to my boss? Or should I just ride it out until somebody notices? I just don't know if there
    via wowbitchh
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    Cheezburger Image 10461847552
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 05
    would be any legal consequences? I didn't sign anything about the raise so there's no paper trail to prove we agreed on 50 cents. Let me know what you guys think! Thanks in advance
    via wowbitchh
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    EDIT: I didn't expect to get this many replies lol I appreciate everyone for the advice. I'm probably going to mention it to my boss tomorrow. I'll give an update tomorrow on how it goes!
    via wowbitchh
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    Cheezburger Image 10461847296
    via Viktor Gladkov

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

  • 08
    mreams99 Why not just say to your boss "Thanks for the raise. I really appreciate it" and leave it at that.
    via mreams99
  • 09
    He might have intentionally made it $4 more and this shows your gratitude. And if he made a mistake, you can later say that you thought it was the right amount, which is why you thanked him.
    via mreams99
  • 10
    Zombie_Slayer1 Ride it off to the sun set, play stupid.
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  • 11
    so-very-very-tired Option 1: clarify that is was the correct amount.
    via so-very-very-tired
  • 12
    Option 2: take the extra $3.50 per hour and place it in an interest bearing investment account. If they ever decide they goofed and want their money back,
    via so-very-very-tired
  • 13
    you'll have it--but will have earned a bit off of it in the meantime. if no one notices, you have a nice retirement account in the future.
    via so-very-very-tired
  • 14
    hunghome Man the advice in here is terrible. My wife works in HR and has had this exact thing happen several times. They will find out when there's a large variance in the budgets. $4/hr will not go unnoticed lol
    via hunghome
  • 15
    more importantly they will demand all of that get paid back pronto. You can either pay it back or you're basically out of a job. Trust I've seen this happen me, plenty of times.
    via hunghome
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    Salt_Can4768 I'd say nothing and just go with it, they can't prove you knew unless they see this thread lol
    via Salt_Can4768
  • 17
    RevolutionaryAccess7 Was it backpay for the previous pay period or does it clearly state a $4 hour increase?
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    Evening-Welder 9001 In my company we have people sign that if there are discrepancies, they bring it to the attention of the accounting department and
    via wowbitchEvening-Welder9001
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    if not, it's ground for termination so it's up to you, but the fact that they'll know you knew, and didn't tell them shows dishonesty, and they could terminate you
    via wowbitchEvening-Welder9001
  • 20
    traveleralice Keep it in a high yield interest savings account until they ask for it back.
    via traveleralice
  • 21
    j1mb0b23 Check your state laws. In my state, an employer cant seek to recoup more than 3 months worth of over payment. Throw it all in a high ueild account and pray that it takes them a very long time to catch the mistake.
    via j1mb0b23
  • 22
    Daxmar29 All I can say is when this happened to me and I brought it to HRs attention every...single...HR employee said "Oh! If you hadn't told us we'd never have known".
    via Daxmar29
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    Novel-Assignment-987 How much of the process was documented? Did you verbally ask your boss for a raise and he verbally agreed and stated a $0.50/hr increase? Is your boss in the position to alter your hourly rate personally or does he need
    via Novel-Assignment-987
  • 24
    to submit the request with someone higher up? If it was a request that he had to submit to someone higher up then the $4.00 may have brought you up to the company's standard hourly rate. I would suggest reaching out to HR and requesting an
    via Novel-Assignment-987
  • 25
    employment verification letter (normal documentation for financing of large purchases like houses/cars and even sometimes renting apartments) it should indicate your current hourly rate. If the letter reflects a $4.00 raise then you're covered, and if they try to tell you to pay anything
    via Novel-Assignment-987
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    back you can show them their own letter stating your official hourly rate. If the letter only shows a $0.50 raise then go to your boss and tell him your check is not correct and that you suspect their payroll company made a mistake.
    via Novel-Assignment-987
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    Delicious_Image2970 Don't spend the money, but don't say anything either.
    via Delicious_Image2970

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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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