Employee of 3 years gets promoted after an amazing performance review, only gets a 1.75% raise: 'I’m a father of 3 trying to make ends meet'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Nov 21, 2025 11:00 AM EST

He deserves a lot more than a raise of 1.75%

Many managers wish they could give their top-performing employees a bigger raise, but that's simply not in the budget in this economy. It's a harsh reality right now that we are probably in a recession, but the government just isn't willing to call a spade a spade. People are desperately clinging to their jobs, hoping not to lose them before Christmas, or at all. When you feel like your position isn't a sure thing, all you can do is work hard, hope for the best, and don't do anything to rock the boat.

It really stinks to put in so much work and not reap any benefits from that work besides being told you did a good job. Being told "good job" is good enough when playing rec sports, but when you're creating significant monetary value for your company, those words aren't enough. Sometimes it's not enough to get a better title instead of a raise, but that's often what workers without much leverage over their salary settle for. They get paid the same amount, but have a better title, and therefore have to do more work for less money.

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  • Portrait of a successful handsome executive businessman in modern office
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • The employee in this story has gone above and beyond for 3 years, and he's been rewarded with a new, better title. Unfortunately, that title change didn't come with a raise, and now that it's finally time for one, he's not getting the kind of raise he actually deserves.

  • Absolutely crushed my performance review…1.75% raise.

    I've been with this company for almost 3yrs and have built a lot of confidence in my skill. Earlier last year I was promoted to a new title without a raise.
    via u/Both_Warthog_3386
  • I just had my annual performance review and my boss agreed that I've been doing super well. It was a great meeting. Later on I received a notice about my raise details. A 1.75% raise. Wow thanks...
    via u/Both_Warthog_3386
  • I'm a father of 3 trying to make ends meet. And tbh, I really like this job but my purchase power has basically died in recent years. Do I reject this raise and ask for more? Or do I accept then push on them to work toward a more substantial raise soon?
    via u/Both_Warthog_3386
  • 100 US dollar banknotes
    via Viacheslav Bublyk

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

  • Numerous_Result_7240 . 1d ago Dude, you're a classic victim of the 'Loyalty Tax.' They gave you a fancy title last year to keep you quiet, and now they're trying to retain you with a raise that barely beats inflation, expecting you to keep killing yourself to support your three kids. You absolutely cannot accept that 1.75%. You need to fight for it, and you must frame your request as a 'Market Rate Adjustment' for the job you've been doing unpaid for the past year.
    via u/Both_Warthog_3386
  • I suggest aiming for around a 10% increase, or a specific dollar amount, $X. Before you send that email or walk into your boss's office, run your scenario through negotiation simulator sites like chatvisor. Prepare to counter their excuses like 'Budget is tight' or '3% is company policy.'
    via u/Both_Warthog_3386
  • Of course, the safest bet is to accept the 3% (never turn down money), and immediately start interviewing. Get an offer that truly matches your value, then use it as leverage. If they don't budge, walk away. GL, bro.
    via u/Both_Warthog_3386
  • CanadianCompSciGuy • 1d ago raise that barely beats inflation This is incorrect. Inflation YoY is higher than 1.75%, pretty much everywhere in the world.
    via u/CanadianCompSciGuy
  • Key_Tangelo_8745 • 1d ago If you question their raise be prepared for the possibility of them telling you your services are no longer needed. Always best to have back up plan already in place
    via u/Key_Tangelo_8745
  • KorryBoston • 1d ago Agreed here. I don't know where OP lives, but there are thousands of people out of work here. It doesn't hurt to ask for the rationale for the low increase. Maybe they are making cuts. I was told "we have to do more with less" sort of stuff, which started the road to layoffs. If they are not open to revisiting the raise in a few months, then start looking
    via u/KorryBoston
  • Morden013 • 1d ago ...and please don't rage quit. You are in no position to do it and it would be extremely bad at this time. Line the new company, sign the contract and then enjoy the weeping of your former managers.
    via u/Morden013
  • Sad girl crying from bad news sitting with laptop home alone
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • rich90715 ⚫ • 1d ago Take the 1.75% raise and start looking for a new position with another company. Use that new title to your advantage and get paid a fair wage.
    via u/rich90715
  • . Kitty-Kat-2002 • 1d ago This is the only sane response. No one here is living in reality. I would laugh someone right out of my office if they seriously demanded a 10% raise.
    via u/Kitty-Kat-2002
  • roha45 1d ago 10% raise for a promotion is nothing, but you have to do it during the negotiation for the promotion, not later on in the year as you've already lost your leverage then.
    via u/roha45
  • New-Assumption-3836 • 1d ago A promotion without a raise is a demotion
    via u/New-Assumption-3836
  • Swordfish Melodic7659 • 1d ago More work with the same pay. How can that be a promotion? Fewer hours and the same pay, that is a real promotion.
    via u/SwordfishMelodic7659
  • Independent_Lie_7324 One commiseration story. We had a mtg on a Friday about the "incredible results" for the past qtr/yr. On the following Monday, they restructured our pay plan giving a roughly 8% cut. Luckily I was in a financial situation I could walk away, so I pulled an Irish goodbye and I hear now 6 months later they still have a mess due to my knowledge walking out the door.
    via u/Independent_Lie_7324
  • olneyvideo • 1d ago How were your evals and raises in years 1 and 2? Without knowing anything about your industry or company, I feel comfortable saying that a 1.75% raise is what you give someone you don't care about retaining. Act accordingly.
    via u/olneyvideo
  • L-Capitan1 • 1d ago While I sympathize with you, many places I've worked don't do any cost of living or annual raises. So there is something to be said about getting anything. Being that your company does, how does this year's raise compare to the past couple of years? Many companies are struggling this days and annual bonuses and raises are being trimmed or cut in the attempt to try to avoid having to lay people off. It sucks and you won't quite hear it in the news but we're probably in a reces
    via u/L-Capitan1
  • Independent_Lie_7324 • 1d ago Don't spend it all in one place! Jk, sorry...I learned too late that you gotta threaten to leave or let them know you've got offers elsewhere to get anything significant. This of course carries other risks.
    via u/Independent_Lie_7324

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promotion boss worker jobs employee job inflation money problems promotions performance review raise employees pay raise Reddit money employment
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