Overworked and underpaid graphic designer quits and deletes all her work after being denied a raise: 'I regularly worked 60+ hour weeks with no overtime'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
May 5, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Oftentimes, the promise of a promotion is dangled in front of you like a carrot, promising future reward in return for more unpaid effort in the immediate short term. It's important to remember that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" and, in this case, money in your pocket is worth more than the promise of more in the future. Of course, there are times in your career when this promise will actually pay off, but unfortunately, less often than you might think.

In this graphic designer's case, that promise never even came; the most she got were acknowledgements that she was "valuable" and encouragement to keep up her efforts, but she was stonewalled every time she asked for more compensation in return for her value. Basically, hoping that she'd be too committed or trapped in the role and keep producing at a high level without them having to shell out more.

After pouring years of her finest work, time, and effort into the business, she began to realize that the business really didn't care about her at all and only cared about how good of a deal they were getting. So, she quit and made sure to take all her extra work with her.

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  • 01

    "I just nuked all my design assets after my old agency stole years of my work"

    About 5 years ago I worked as a graphic designer for a boutique marketing agency. They paid me barely above minimum wage despite charging clients premium rates for my work. I was fresh out of school, desperate for experience, and they knew it. I created hundreds of custom illustrations, logos, branding packages, and social media templates. I regularly worked 60+ hour weeks with no overtime. My portfolio grew impressive but my bank account didn't reflect it.
    via Meiftie
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10501551616
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 03
    The toxic workplace was next level. The creative director would criticize work in front of clients to make herself look more valuable. Account managers would promise impossible timelines without consulting me, then blame me when deadlines were missed. After a year, I gathered my courage and asked for a raise,
    via Meiftie
  • 04
    showing them how my designs had directly increased client retention and brought in referral business. They agreed I was "valuable" but said raises weren't in the budget. The next week, the owner bought a Tesla. I quit two days later with no backup plan. It took months to find stable work, but I eventually landed at a company that respects my time and pays fairly.
    via Meiftie
  • 05
    Yesterday, I discovered they were still using a portfolio site I had designed AND maintained under my personal domain. They never paid for these rights. Even worse, they were passing off newer designers' work as mine to leverage my reputation with former clients.
    via Meiftie
  • 06
    So I took screenshots as evidence, downloaded everything for my records, and deleted the entire site. I also changed all passwords and revoked their access to the premium font libraries I'd purchased with my own money. They're going to wake up to broken links, missing assets, and a lot of explaining to do to their clients. LL F around and find out.
    via Meiftie
  • 07
    11.
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 08
    henrycaoimhe Good on you! Stinks that you now have to rebuild your portfolio on a new site. Since your contract said you retained rights to all the material that you created on your own time, I wonder if they will be in violation of contract or guilty of intellectual property theft. It
    via Meiftie
  • 09
    might be worth keeping track of things like the hours it takes you to rebuild a new site, changes in website traffic, etc. in case that could support a future claim.
    via Meiftie
  • 10
    voxam72 It might not be too late to report them to the labor department for unpaid OT. You don't always need to sue for that.
    via Meiftie
  • 11
    PurplePufferPea It sounds like you have a potential lawsuit on your hands. Please tell me you are consulting a lawyer!!! And the Budget excuse drives me NUTS!!! It's amazing how company's never have "budget" to pay
    via Meiftie
  • 12
    an employee what they're worth, but they always seem to have money to take care of the top guys. And they wonder why there is no company loyalty any longer.... That's why I say to NEVER take a counter-offer, because all that says is there was budget to pay you all along but they CHOSE NOT TO!!!!
    via Meiftie
  • 13
    Agarwa3n Here to say I am glad to read that you realized your value and also so I can easily check for an update
    via Meiftie
  • 14
    RanisTheSlayer You were making just above minimum wage and they weren't paying you overtime? That's extremely illegal.
    via Meiftie
  • 15
    Soggy-Isopod9681 Just as long as it is your intellectual property on YOUR system or a system that you pay for that isn't your former company, you might be fine. Otherwise, you committed a possible civil or criminal
    via Meiftie
  • 16
    offense. Your work product becomes the property of your employer unless you have it in an employment contract that states otherwise.
    via Meiftie
  • 17
    whatacatch_nat As a graphic designer, I love this for you. Unfortunately, when I was fired, I asked if I could get my work and they said "We'll work something out." I tried to go home to log in to get my files, and they already kicked me out.
    via Meiftie
  • 18
    Well they asked for some stuff back (a dual monitor plug-in and a laptop charger), and I told them I would be happy to send the stuff back if they gave me a written reference (because my work was perfect, according to them). They didn't respond.
    via Meiftie
  • 19
    I didn't send the stuff back for over a year. I still have a Time Machine with 95% of my work on it, so I was able to get my work back. They were dumb enough to not even remember they gave me a Time Machine. But if they ask for it back, I'll gladly give it back ;)
    via Meiftie
  • 20
    Oh and they also underpaid me as well. They basically started detailing any tiny mistake I would make because I asked for a raise after being there for a year. I guess instead of talking like adults, they plotted to fire me behind my back for asking to be paid fairly.
    via Meiftie

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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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