Optometrist gives employee 30¢ raise on top of their breadcrumbs salary: 'Here is your $2.40 per day, pre-tax raise. Don't spend it all in one place'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 22, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

They always say, "It's the thought that counts." You hear this after you get or give a gift that wasn't particularly good. Maybe you didn't need it, maybe you didn't want it, or maybe it was generally kind of… bad. But you calm yourself down by thinking, "It's the thought that counts." All that matters is the gesture, no matter how empty it might end up being. This is generally true in certain situations. Maybe your dad isn't the best gift-giver, but he does it anyway, and you really appreciate it. Maybe your mom has everything under the sun, so you give her a robe even though she has so many already. But she's grateful that you thought of her. 

Sure, we could put a little more effort into each other in general, but we also have to recognize effort. But this doesn't apply everywhere. Sometimes a gesture is absolutely not enough. Sometimes you need material gain, or else you will feel devalued. Your job is one of those kinds of places. Empty gestures go almost nowhere in the workplace. Money talks. 

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  • 01
    A receptionist smiles a the camera at her job.
    via Maria Lysenko

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

  • That's why one worker was so upset when she got a notification of a raise. Usually raises are a wonderful thing, but not in this situation. No, in this one, it would almost have been better to give nothing at all. Read on to see what happened in this story. 

  • 02

    I got a 30 cent raise

    My younger sister thinks I'm overreacting, and honestly I probably am. I'm a medical receptionist at an optometrist's practice. I get paid breadcrumbs and my manager talked to me today and said that she managed to get me a thirty cent raise. I kind of feel like my older sister did when she got a 40 cent tip.
    via u/ireallylikecake53
  • 03
    Sure it's better than nothing but also? Like how is 30 cents going to help at all? I guess I feel some sort of way about this but I can't pinpoint what exactly it is what I feel.
    via u/ireallylikecake53
  • 04
    I quit social work for this job. I took a pay cut because social work was and I didn't want to kicking my a be in that field and I thought this would be worth it because it's less stressful. It's not that different at all I'm still undervalued just in a different way. Now, it's not that clients that undervalue me, it's upper management.
    via u/ireallylikecake53
  • 05
    I should be grateful. I know. But I just think 30 cents is a joke and says a lot about how the company feels about me, which I know is how it is for most jobs. I don't know. I'm guess I'm just ranting to get all of this bad energy off my chest. Welcome to my pity party. Maybe some of you can chime in and tell me to stop feeling sorry for myself.
    via u/ireallylikecake53
  • 06
    Work socks and I know it's the same for most people and most companies.
    via u/ireallylikecake53
  • 07
    A receptionist looks despondent at his job.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 08

    Commenters agreed that this was a slap in the face.

    FrogFlavor 11m ago • How much does it work out to per week? Twelve dollars? Your raise was one sandwich per week. It IS an insult.
    via u/FrogFlavor
  • 09
    Maywen1979 • 15m ago It is good to feel that way, you are right they do not value you. It is exactky how I felt the ine year my department all got 10 cent raises due to bad economy... But it was my department that actually kept the company in the black. The
    via u/Maywen1979
  • 10
    main part of the company lost a crop ton of money, and we had the year before turned around from being the company tax write off to actually making a small profit. Then the following year, we made HUGE profits. Yet the rest of the company got amazing raises for "working so hard in a bad year" to just cover expenses. Like hello?!?!
    via u/Maywen1979
  • 11
    • MrWonderfulPoop 11m ago "Here is your $2.40 per day, pre-tax raise. Don't spend it all in one place."
    via u/MrWonderfulPoop
  • 12
    throwawayhellfire •10m ago How old are you? I'm curious because I would be so offended by a 30 cent raise I'd look into attending my local community college to retrain in a field that pays a better wage! You deserve more
    via u/throwawayhellfire
  • 13
    Eisenkopf69 · 9m ago We get monthly wages and I also felt like an idiot when I got EUR 50. I am not with that company anymore. So we are at least two :)
    via u/Eisenkopf69
  • 14
    that1lurker · 8m ago That's a horrible "raise"
    via u/that1lurker
  • 15
    TTungsteNN • 4m ago When I got hired at my current job I made $20 an hour. I got a 50 cent raise after the first year, 25 cents after the second year and another 25 cents the third year. I remember when $1 per year was the norm, but it took me three whole years to get $1. All while staffing is decreasing and workload is increasing. I love capitalism so much /s
    via u/TTungsteNN
  • 16
    Additional-Stay-4355 · 1m ago It's not a raise, it's a slap in the face.
    via u/Additional-Stay-4355
  • 17
    OriginalSchmidt1 · 14m ago • I've had jobs that give 25 cent raises, 35 cents, most I ever got was $1.50 which was pretty nice for a minute until my rent went up.. It might not be much, but it's still better than nothing. I've learned being grateful for
    via u/OriginalSchmidt1
  • 18
    what I have makes life a lot easier than always focusing on what I don't have.. not for anyone else's benefit but for my own peace of mind. Seems like you left your last job for a little peace.. are you getting that at this job? Money isn't the end all be all of life, it's just a part of it, a big part, but just a part.. decide what's more
    via u/OriginalSchmidt1
  • 19
    important, the money or your mental health and then make a change or be grateful for what you have. The back and forth will leave you endlessly unfulfilled.
    via u/OriginalSchmidt1
  • 20
    MzHellfier 4m ago . No. A raise that low isn't even a cost of living adjustment. It's like every review period you're effectively making less money than the insulting and I'd honestly look last. It's toward quitting for another company. A $2/day increase? off
    via u/MzHellfier

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