Boss denies employee of 4 years raise and tells them to be 'grateful' they have a job at all: 'Meanwhile, he brags about his new car and vacations'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Oct 7, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

After 4 years of going above and beyond, one employee couldn't believe how their boss responded to their raise request. 

You usually expect loyalty to be rewarded, but sometimes loyalty isn't enough. When you get hired at a new job, odds are you at least start off trying to impress them. You put your all into your work, and you expect good things in return. You dedicate your time and energy to the job, trying to apply your skills and make it worthwhile. Then, after a while, you might expect something in return. A reward for your good efforts. The best bosses and managers know this. They know that while humans are complex animals, at the end of the day, they want to be rewarded. 

They know that this makes people more motivated and invested, which is good for everyone. Good bosses know how to mete out this reward, because it's always cheaper to keep someone than it is to hire someone new. But the boss in this story didn't quite get that and let their employee feel undervalued for a long time. 

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  • 01
    A boss explains something to his female employee.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • When this employee finally got up the gumption to talk about a salary increase, they were met with much more resistance than they were expecting. They thought that their years of dedicated service warranted something in return, which is not an unreasonable expectation. But they were met with flippancy and rudeness. Read on to see what happened in the story. 

  • 02

    My boss told me to 'just be grateful' after denying my raise...

    I've been at this job for 4 years. Since last year, I've basically been doing the work of 3 people because two coworkers quit and they never hired replacements. I pick up shifts, stay late, cover emergencies all without complaint. Finally built up the courage to ask for a raise. My
    via u/Alternative-Bat9701
  • 03
    boss looked me de d in the eye and said I should "just be grateful to even have a job in this economy." Meanwhile, he brags about his new car and vacations. I went home so angry I couldn't even sleep. Feels like no matter how much you give, it's never enough.
    via u/Alternative-Bat9701
  • 04

    Commenters had some advice for this employee.

    maydayvoter11 • 4h ago . Stop doing the extra shifts, staying late, or covering emergencies. "I'm not available." Use your new spare time to find a new job.
    via u/maydayvoter11
  • 05
    A boss explains something to his female employee at a desk while she listens patiently.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 06
    chiron 42. 4h ago "Be grateful that I'm here to do this job at all."
    via u/chiron_42
  • 07
    noonesperfect16 · 4h ago The last time I was told that I should just be grateful to have a job, I immediately went and found a better job. That company lost two sizable clients after I left because I was the only one who knew anything about them. It's also funny how they were suddenly able to find the money for a counter offer when I said I was leaving, which I declined.
    via u/noonesperfect16
  • 08
    AppropriateTwo90... 4h ago classic boss move, exploiting workers while flaunting their own wealth. it's infuriating how little they value us.
    via u/AppropriateTwo9038
  • 09
    tundrabarone 4h ago . Update the resume, start the job search. Do it quietly. Inform no one else. Reduce/stop your extral duties.
    via u/tundrabarone
  • 10
    TepHoBubba • 4h ago Get another job. Then he can do the work of 4.
    via u/TepHoBubba
  • 11
    Kizzywa • 4h ago Stop doing the extra stuff and look for a new job in the meantime.
    via u/Kizzywa
  • 12
    AntiauthoritarianSin 4h ago "have you ever once said thank you?"
    via u/AntiauthoritarianSin
  • 13
    Illustrious-Lime77... 4h ago • The problem started when you started willingly doing others work and picking up emergencies. Find another job and once you do. DO NOT PUT IN A TWO WEEKS NOTICE. Just let that place collapse.
    via u/Illustrious-Lime7729
  • 14
    Olfa_2024. 4h ago I worked for a like this. He would deny raises for the lower paid employees and say sh like. that and then 3 days later he would go around the office showing off his new $7k watch. I called him out on it telling they would leave for
    via u/Olfa_2024
  • 15
    another job and he said "But why would the go anyplace. else"? I told him you pay them $10/hr for a job that should pay $20/hr. I asked him why would anyone ever be a loyal employee to a guy who just spent their raise on watch? a
    via u/Olfa_2024
  • 16
    broke_cowboy • 4h ago Line up a new job and put your two weeks in. Then start working like sh, when he asks what's going on and why your slacking make sure you tell him, "you're lucky to even have me as an employee in this economy"
    via u/broke_cowboy
  • 17
    Hosstar881 · 4h ago Bosses love easy to manipulate people.
    via u/Hosstar881
  • 18
    James2603 · 4h ago Looks like it's time to shop around
    via u/James2603
  • 19
    Stiebah 4h ago Reverse that sh, tell him the amount you need to keep working there because "he should be great full to have you as an employee in this economy"
    via u/Stiebah
  • 20
    Grouchy Nothing18... 4h ago Sounds like you've suddenly stopped working late and going out of your way for him now.
    via u/GrouchyNothing1828
  • 21
    InnerBoyka • 4h ago If you don't mind me asking, what sector of the economy are you in? In other words like what sort of work in general do you do?
    via u/InnerB0yka
  • 22
    MidnightStarflare ⚫ 4h ago New job time! He's the one who should be grateful you asked for a raise and didn't leave first. You will get paid your worth elsewhere.
    via u/MidnightStarflare
  • 23
    Consistent-Shoe-... 4h ago I think it's time to quiet quit. Do as little as you can, no staying late, no picking up emergencies and so on while collecting the pay and looking for better opportunities.
    via u/Consistent-Shoe-9602
  • 24
    spidaminida • 4h ago NEVER go over and above for a workplace - NEVER. There is no such thing as loyalty or gratitude from a company. Work elsewhere or better yet, build your own company on his time.
    via u/spidaminida
  • 25
    Zestyclose_Treat4... 4h ago And now you scale back to the job you were hired for. Minimum wage equals minimum effort. You want me to act like a CEO, then pay me accordingly.
    via u/Zestyclose_Treat4098
  • 26
    . mytthewstew • 4h ago Become a 9-5 worker. No extra shifts, no covering emergencies, no staying late, no after 5 text messages. I'll look at it in the morning should become your mantra.
    via u/mytthewstew
  • 27
    Sure_Acanthaceae... • 4h ago I hope you're hourly. Some of us did that while being salaried. We all wish we had learned sooner that our efforts were not appreciated.
    via u/Sure_Acanthaceae_348
  • 28
    MsPB01 4h ago . Find a better job - then give the AH a few hours' notice and tell him to 'just be grateful' you put up with his BS for so long
    via u/MsPB01

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story raise toxic-boss pay raise workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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