‘That's when they started panicking’: Overworked employee secretly scores new job with a 50% pay raise, then quits, leaving higher-ups to put out the fires they've created

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Oct 17, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

An underappreciated, overworked employee will ensure that the day they can leave their toxic workplace for greener pastures, they'll do so happily. We're told that nobody actually enjoys their jobs, but we think an employee should at least feel appreciated in the role they're in.

All of this hard work, and for what? To be put through the ringer each time we complete work tasks that don't reflect above-and-beyond work ethic? We're supposed to act our wage, and if we're not seeing the appreciation or the dollar signs, you better believe we're sprucing up our resumes each time we receive an unwarranted verbal warning.

The employee in the story below does exactly that, and even manages to score a new position with a 50% pay increase from their current toxic workplace. Say goodbye to those toxic managers who preach about "family" but don't know the first thing about positive reinforcement; it's time to move on to a role where they are genuinely appreciated for the work they do. When this employee hands in their notice, their workplace tries to match the pay increase. It's not about the money, boss… It's about the environment. Keep scrolling to read the full story.

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  • 01
    man relaxing at his office desk with laptop
    via Vitaly Gariev for Unsplash

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

  • 02

    "I managed to escape a toxic workplace, get a 50% raise, and I’m finally happy again"

    I just wanted to share something positive for anyone who's stuck in a toxic workplace right now. There really is hope on the other side.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 03
    I used to work at a company that was completely narcissistic and obsessed with micromanaging everything. It drained the life out of me.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 04
    I was desperate for a job at the time and accepted one that already felt strange from the beginning. The interview process was odd.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 05
    The owner's family member called me for a screening and basically said, "You're selected." After that, I had an in-person interview and
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 06
    was offered the job on the spot. In my field, most companies usually have multiple interview rounds,
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 07
    so that should have been my first red flag. But I was desperate and took it anyway.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 08
    From the very first day, I realized I had walked into a mess. I was hired for a professional office role, but they had me moving office chairs, fridges, and boxes.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 09
    They told me this was just how things were done because everyone was "like family." I absolutely hated it.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 10
    I didn't even have a proper desk setup. For the first three months, I sat on a guest chair in a supervisor's office and worked with my laptop on my lap.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 11
    On top of that, the pay was low and my commute was about 100 miles a day. Every morning, I counted
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 12
    the days until I could reach the one-year mark. I know it sounds silly, but I just wanted that on my résumé.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 13
    I often felt so stuck that I cried after work. I told myself every day to just hold on a little longer.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 14
    No one in the office really knew who the boss was. One person might have the title of director, but when a
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 15
    family member of the owner called, that was the person we actually had to report to.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 16
    The owner's relatives-his son, niece, and uncle-were all involved and completely unprofessional. It felt like working inside a family feud instead of a real company.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 17
    I was never appreciated in the job I was doing, and that was the worst part.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 18
    After one year and six months of dealing with all of this, things finally hit the ceiling. I started applying
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 19
    for new jobs and ended up getting two solid offers that paid me 50 percent more.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 20
    I put in my notice, and that's when they started panicking. 1. First, they offered me a 10 percent raise. I said no.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 21
    2. Then they offered me a 50 percent raise and said I'd be promoted to a manager with staff under me. I still said no,
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 22
    because I knew it would just be a "manager" title on paper while the same family members kept micromanaging everything.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 23
    After that, they mentioned that when someone gives two weeks' notice, they usually just fire them on the spot.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 24
    employee holding box of their things leaving the office
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 25
    Fast forward to now, and I'm sitting in my new job with a 50 percent raise. The communication is great, the team is respectful, and the best part is that there are no family members hovering or micromanaging anyone.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 26
    I know it's a long story, but I hope it helps someone out there realize that you don't have to stay where you're disrespected. Say no to
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 27
    toxic workplaces and narcissistic managers, and keep looking for a place that values and respects you. It really is worth it in the end.
    via Ok-Text6642
  • 28
    Narwhal4504 I recently had a job interview and the interviewer asked me what I was looking for in a role. I said "I want to be part of a team where my contributions are valued". I didn't even think much about it, it's just what came out. I realise how sad that sounds. But after months of toxic management where nothing you do is ever good enough, that really is a top priority for me.
    via Narwhal4504
  • 29
    txgsync Similar. Narc boss. Finally got out with a severance. New job, pay raise, better potential income. The only real bummer is that the way RSU income is constructed in tech companies, it takes some time to rebuild income. Still 100% worth it. The constant gaslighting about what I was or was not doing really caused massive self- doubt and anxiety.
    via txgsync

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