‘I then told her I would be putting in my 2 weeks if she couldn’t give me a raise’: Boss mocks employees for wanting a raise, so they threaten they quit and end up getting more money

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Oct 15, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Getting a raise at work after years of juggling mystery job titles and extra tasks is basically the office version of finding money in an old coat. Management acts surprised you even asked, threatens to find someone cheaper, then magically bumps your pay when faced with your exit plan. Not the lottery, maybe not even pizza money, but in office life you have to take every win like it's a rare holiday.

Most jobs hand out new tasks like candy and treat proper recognition like a secret handshake. Your responsibilities multiply, the title changes with the weather, and half the team disappears before you even get a thank you. Still, scoring a bigger paycheck is living proof that standing your ground pays off, even if the reward lands as a minor footnote. Each small win stacks up, feeding just enough hope to make tomorrow's chaos worth clocking in.

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  • I asked my manager for a raise, they belittled me, and then gave me the raise so I wouldn’t quit

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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I've been working at my job for 4 years. I've also obtained an associate degree and currently in the process of obtaining a bachelors degree in accounting.
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  • Within the 4 years I've have different title changes as I grew within the company. Started off as a receptionist, then worked my way into the business office as a file clerk.
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  • Since I wanted to learn, I made it clear the office manager that I wanted to learn accounting and I'd be open to help around the office to get that experience as I'm a student.
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  • She agreed and began giving me tasks outside of my role, a year later they laid off senior workers and I was left with the responsibility of the former accounting clerk, and also while still holding my position as file clerk, collections clerk, occasional cashier, title clerk, inventory clerk, wholesale sale clerk, and dealer trade clerk.
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  • The previous clerk was making $34/hr, while I was getting paid $19. So when I asked for my raise management offered me $21 and I thought it was unfair so I asked for more.
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    via YURII MASLAK

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I had also asked for my title and job description as it hadn't been updated in a year and my title was still file clerk.
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  • My manager was aggressive and asked me what I thought my title was and she then said she didn't have the time to make up a job description for me as things were moving so quickly and that it didn't matter what my title said in file, and that I was an accounting clerk.
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  • So then that led me to negotiate for a higher raise and I asked for $27/hr and her response to me was that that was impossible & that they could hire someone else for less pay than what I was already getting paid, and also added that my degree didn't matter in this field.
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  • I then told her I would be putting in my 2 weeks if she couldn't give me a raise.
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  • So she was pissed, later had a meeting with the GM and then offered to bump me to $23/hr.
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • She told me to think about it over the weekend and if I was thinking of quitting if I could work one last month.
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  • At this point, I just want to quit and not take their offer. The only problem is I don't have another job lined up, but I don't have to motivation to work under this manager anymore.
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  • Around here, victories are bite-sized and sweeter if you celebrate hard enough. In the business of office survival, the trophy is knowing how to treat every little victory like you deserve confetti, not just another pile of paperwork.

  • Donut-sprinkle Take the pay raise and look for a job.
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  • heaz247 Take the raise and find a new job. They don't value you as an employee and they pretty much told you that. There's no reason you shouldn't be making a few more dollars while you look.
    via heaz247
  • Quan1mos Definitely look hard for another job. They're likely to fire you after that month or as soon as they can get a replacement.
    via Quan1mos
  • Cute Recognition_880 It will help that you're versatile and have experience in so many different areas. Buff up your resume and get yourself out there if you know people at other companies, let them know you're looking. Also go online to some of the job search engines and get your resume out there. I found great jobs both ways. Was working up to 15 years at one company, until I moved to another state.
    via Cute Recognition_880

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management boss workplace-stories hr manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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