'He's trying to crush your self-esteem and manipulate you into agreeing to a lower amount': Boss tells employee they make too much money and that they regret hiring them at their current rate

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Feb 3, 2025 3:00 PM EST

There's an adage that goes, "You get what you get and you don't get upset." This is usually told to children who have a penchant for complaining no matter what. Maybe they're out of Superman ice cream at the ice cream parlor, then you'll have to settle for cookies and creme. But this phrase can also apply to annoying corporate situations. Declining a Friday afternoon meeting because, well, it's Friday afternoon, and your boss gets mad? "You get what you get and you don't get upset." Going on vacation even though your PTO was denied and getting 15 missed calls from your boss on the plane? "You get what you get and you don't get upset." This is the new motto for those interested in doing the bare minimum at their jobs. 

This can also apply to this situation, where a boss expressed regret for how much they were paying their current employee. Tacky, right? Once you make the decision to pay someone, you can't really complain about your decision.

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    9 1.1.1 11.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • That didn't stop this boss, though, who sought to make their employee uncomfortable by bringing it up. What were they supposed to say? “Sure, you can pay me less?” I don't think so. 

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    My boss is telling me he made a mistake hiring me at my current hourly rate

    My boss told me I make too much even though I do my job in addition to 2-3 other jobs. Hes saying this because I make 3 bucks more then the maximum the company usually pays for my role. I do 3-4 roles at work and they still demand more and more from me. To be told Im worth less then what I;m getting paid is insulting as h I. Last time I ever work for corporate.
    via u/Mysterious_Bread7959
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    For context I was hired to be a second painter/prep at a body shop but I do the job of the assembler/disassembler, light body work, prep, paint, sand and buff, occasionally wash cars when the detailer is out. I get paid under what the starting pay usually is for a painter which is about 30-35 a hour. Max they pay a preper is 25
    via u/Mysterious_Bread7959
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    to only do clean, sand, and tape. I get 28 a hour and my boss still says I make too much. On top of all that he demands literal perfection. Soon as I find a different shop I'm going to quit no two week notice. They'll know I quit when they see a truck come and pick up my
    via u/Mysterious_Bread7959
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    multiple tool box's and other equipment from the shop. The cheap f s won't even get us good microfibers for wiping off compound I brought my own and wash them myself. Just posting here to get my frustration off my chest this place is going to give me a heart attack and at this point I'd rather be 6 feet under than in this slaving away.
    via u/Mysterious_Bread7959
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    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

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    Other workers quickly chimed in to put this employee at ease, and to offer some advice.

    dazalius 15h ago Stop doing 3-4 roles. Do only the work you were hired for. Do not accept a pay cut. If ur boss asks you say "Apparently the work I was doing wasn't valued at the correct hourly rate. If you want me to keep doing other people's jobs I'm gonna need a raise."
    via u/dazalius
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    Erevi6 16h ago It sounds like he's trying to crush your self-esteem and manipulate you into agreeing to a lower amount. I've met quite a few bosses who induce you to take a role with big promises, then
    via u/Erevi6
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    attempt to chip away at your self-esteem so you agree to accept less than what you're worth it's why I left my last - place of employment (boss actually started crying when I got fed up with the ab e and quit on the spot, saying "I thought you were better than this" and "I knew you
    via u/Erevi6
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    wouldn't be able to handle the role" then "please let me know what I can do to make your time here better" and "you're wasting a good opportunity" Imao).
    via u/Erevi6
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    banging_my_head ⚫ 16h ago • Yeah f that. I'd tell him well you can find someone else and leave work. I did it dec 30th 2024. So much less stress Employers take employees for granted, don't realize what all you actually do in a day and how many hats you actually wear there. They will feel it when you leave. Definitely don't give them a heads up. Just quit.
    via u/banging_my_head
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    SuckerForNoirRob... 14h ago • When you leave make sure you let everybody else know how much you were getting paid!
    via u/SuckerForNoirRobots
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    Smal_Issh 15h ago • Work your wage, and nothing but your wage
    via u/Smal_Issh
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    Mathematician||166... 15h ago "Well, then I made a mistake working as hard as I do. I'll stop working so hard."
    via u/MathematicianIll6638
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    its-not-i 15h ago The auto industry has this weird facination with positional pay caps and then wonder why it's hard to hire.
    via u/its-not-i
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    Babyz007 13h ago First of all, his whole argument is inappropriate, and unprofessional. Second, if he cuts your pay, apply for unemployment for the difference in pay. Also find another job. They are terrible.
    via u/Babyz007
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    Mission-Philosoph... ........but he's a genius 13h ago redefining reality for the next century.
    via u/Mission-Philosophy58
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    Rinzlor 12h ago . To hear that especially in the automotive industry is crippling to your drive to wanna do sh from there on out for that company. bro they get what they pay for. STOP doing all that extra sh an see how fast they b then.
    via u/Rinzlor
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    Nicolehall202 · 6h ago . Your plan to leave with no notice as soon as you find another job is perfect. Some bosses need to be walked away from. Sadly being an A Hole is not illegal
    via u/Nicolehall202
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    olneyvideo 4h ago My man, I hope you find another job soon. GM of your store is a dumbass if he thinks it's okay to talk to skilled labor that way. Put the word out that you're looking. Ask an insurance adjuster or paint rep if he or she knows of a shop that's hiring in the paint dept - they go to all the shops and hear things. Good luck.
    via u/olneyvideo
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    . Mysterious_Bread7959 OP • 4h ago I'm almost done with my psych/law dual bachelors degree so if anything might stick it out for a year or go wherever and eventually get out of this industry. Took a sick day and used my PTO which the company allows to be used for sick days. If my PTO isn't approved I'll be going to HR
    via u/Mysterious_Bread7959
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    H_Quinlan_190402 · 1h ago . Your boss is a boss. You need to relay what he said to you so that he can look like an a to corporate. Find your job description and start doing what is define in that job description.
    via u/H_Quinlan_190402
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    Survive 1014 • 44m ago "Well, I am already giving a break on the market rate. I accepted this role hoping it would turn into a situation where my skills would be respected. If you are not prepared to meet the market rate (Additional $5 an hour or whatever) with my next
    via u/Survive1014
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    performance review now, please let me know now so we are not wasting each others time. This is a third job to me, so I can easily dedicate my time elsewhere if you cant see the forest through the trees."
    via u/Survive1014

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boss antiwork workplace-stories wage theft toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working wages reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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