'The new company changed my salary to $60k': New owners halve manager's salary after taking over the company, tells manager to stop being dramatic when they complain

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Mar 2, 2025 12:00 PM EST

Generally, barring a few bumps and bruises from inevitable potholes along the road, you expect your earnings: salary and other combined compensation, to go in one direction throughout your life. You offer more knowledge, skills, and experience to your role or trade, and it's only natural to expect increased compensation the more time you spend in a role. Plus there's this whole thing called inflation that makes a dollar effectively worth less over time, so while the cost of everything and just staying alive is increasing perpetually around you at least you can expect your wages to keep up with that—right?

Unfortunately, this isn't always the case, wages have a tendency to stagnate and fall behind market rates as long as you're staying with the same job. Meaning that it's usually going to be better to find a new job to get that bump in pay you're looking for. (There are, of course, exceptions to this as there are to any "rule.")

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  • 01
    "[Two] months later the company got bought out and the new company changed my salary..."
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

  • These new owners took things a step further, effectively more than halving this employee's take-home compensation when they took over the company where they worked two months after they started in their new role. Luckily, they were in a position where they were able to go and find another role reasonably quickly.

    This prompted them to share their experience with this online community, where they shared their experience and frustration with community members before asking them whether or not they should be giving notice to their job or not. Readers were quick to tell them to just disappear without saying a word, or otherwise to just let them know on the day that they would be leaving—never to return.

  • 02

    "Should I give notice, or just tell them to get..."

    I was hired as a regional sales manager of a company back in October. $90k base + 5% commission on all sales. My team's quota for the year is $1.8 million. So that's an additional $90k to bring the total OTE to $180k.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 03
    Welp, 2 months later the company got bought out and the new company changed my salary to $60k and 0.5% commission. The quota is the same. So that brings my OTE all the way down to $69k. There's other little bonuses they throw in that if the requirements are met, it'll add another $15k. So a potential of $84k total.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 04
    When I expressed my concerns and frustration that I would have never accepted the job for this amount of money, the VP told me I was being dramatic. They did this to all sales managers. Before you say "it sounds like they're trying to get people to quit", 2 managers did quit and they essentially dropped to their knees and offered them a ton of money to stay. Thankfully both managers still quit.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 05
    I'm fortunate enough that I was able to find a new job that pays significantly higher very quickly. So my question is, should I give these the courtesy of a 2 week notice, or should I just tell them to get f___ed?
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10474258944
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+
  • 07
    beachtrader Why work for an extra two weeks for lower pay? Get the new position and then start that day. No notice needed. They didn't give you much it sounds like.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 08
    ferociousFerret7 If my pay were cut to less than half, it would not be possible for me to work the extra two weeks. But make sure your shiny new job is completely, unfuckably in the bag.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 09
    Far-Conflict1183 If they were to let you go, would they give you the courtesy of two weeks notice?
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 10
    chuteboxehero That VP can get bent. Normally I'd be in favor of not burning bridges, but cutting your guaranteed comp by -35% and then also cutting your commission by 90% and expecting you to just take it is horseshit. This isn't Unicef, you aren't working as a charity and you rely on that money.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 11
    JauntyChapeau I'd tell them to get f ed, since you're in a position to do that. I worry about their business acumen, also - what kind of idiot thinks that his sales team is going to stick around with a massive pay cut like the one you've described?
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 12
    jdogg1413 You've only been with the company 3 months. They cut your pay drastically. You owe them nothing. I would not give them the courtesy of two weeks notice, but I wouldn't tell them to get f_cked -- remain professional. Tell them your new job wants you to start immediately if that helps. Good luck!
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 13
    Turbulent_Wash_1... If you were my manager and I knew what they pulled on you, I'd be cheering you on for quitting without giving notice. Seriously. It sounds like it's going to be a screwed up atmosphere anyways, and I would already be expecting it to be messy, I wouldn't blame it on you for whatever comes when you leave.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 14
    I'm a manager now but that doesn't even matter, just as an individual they just gave you a pay cut, take the new job and start as soon as you want. When you tell them and they say something just tell them they are being dramatic.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 15
    The thing is people may tell you that you need to end on good terms, etc, etc. But realistically when there is a buyout and they nuke the place like they did, everybody knows its messy and for the most part any of the people who you want to be on good terms with will most likely be gone from that place soon enough anyways, and they will not hold this against you because they all know it was a piece of work.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 16
    John_EightThirtyT... Sure, give them notice: "You'll notice I won't be around here anymore."
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 17
    ElectricMan324 I would avoid being overly theatrical with this - give them the two weeks notice, refuse a counteroffer, and move on. Send a generic "thanks for the opportunity" resignation, and during the exit interview (if there is one) remind them of the pay cut. Be prepared to walk out immediately if things get heated.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 18
    If they really wanted to keep you the would have reinstated your compensation terms as soon as the other folks left. While it may feel better to tell them to get f ed, you'll regret it later. Just be professional, do the bare minimum, and walk away. Congrats on the new position.
    via cazzo_di_frigida
  • 19
    Internal_Set_6564 Normally, yes. This is not normal. They lied to you and stole from you. F them.
    via cazzo_di_frigida

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employee employment-discussion job work i quit quit employees overworked-employees workplace Horrible Bosses quitting employment in the workplace
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