Manager lowballs cybersecurity employee with a 12% raise, so the employee internally transfers to another team and gets a 28% raise: ‘Gotta love the corporate world’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Dec 7, 2025 1:00 AM EST

Pay raises in the workplace are what keep employees lower in the corporate hierarchy on track to try and believe they can become something bigger and greater someday (even if that's just the lie they sell us so we keep clocking in every morning). Everybody needs money, especially right now, so companies can really do whatever they want and give us as little money as necessary because, well, that's the way the world works.

However, this employee refuses to accept that. They want that sizable pay raise, and they'll look elsewhere to get it. If you've ever left your workplace for greener pastures, you know that it's equally nerve-wracking and exciting once you figure out that you're worth way more than the small number your ex-company attached to you.

This employee makes a point to internally transfer to another team at their company when their boss tries to tell them the other team cannot give them a pay raise of over 12%, which is allegedly the cap for internal transfer raises. Well, what do you know? A few days later, a nice letter stating the employee's 28% pay increase enters the chat. What was that, boss? Maybe it was just the wind…

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    young businessman with laptop and coffee
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

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    "My manager is [angry] that I got a 28% raise from another team in the company after he swore they would never go past 12%."

    Anyway, this all happened last week. I had given my manager a heads-up that another team in the company was going to make me an offer, and I was planning to ask for a 25% raise on my current salary.
    via submenu-31alpaca
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    My manager went to ask his manager and HR, and came back to tell me that 12% is the absolute maximum for any internal transfer, and that's final.
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    I told him frankly that if that's the case, I would have to start looking for a job externally.
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    My field (cybersecurity) is in high demand, so it's easy to find a new job quickly if needed.
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    He wished me luck and told me l wouldn't get the number I wanted from the internal offer and that I should just start applying for external jobs.
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    Anyway, the offer letter came with a 28% raise, 3% more than what I was even planning to ask for.
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    I told my manager that if he could match that number, I would stay. I genuinely love my team and him personally, despite all of this.
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    He got very angry that they offered me that amount and has since been making passive-aggressive jokes in meetings about how I'm just a mercenary who only chases money.
    via submenu-31alpaca
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    business man on his computer looking angry
    via Curated Lifestyle For Unsplash+

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

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    You gotta love the corporate world. Edit: Corporations undercut their own employees and deny them pay raises while increasing their workload.
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    And on the other hand hire an external person to do less shit for more pay.
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    And they wonder why people leave. My advice is that no one should devalue their position, whatever it may be, and not to hesitate in requesting a salary increase.
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    If you don't get any increase, then immediately start looking for another job. Currently, there are many programs that help you get through the interview faster and more professionally.
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  • 15
    That's exactly why corporations keep harping on the "we're a family" bullshit. They're banking on your loyalty letting them underpay you and treat you like shit.
    via submenu-31alpaca
  • 16
    kalash_cake Makes no sense why a company would cap an internal transfer at 12%. I'm glad you got the raise. Maybe your manager just got some bad info. Hope they are happy you're getting more money
    via kalash_cake
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    pilgrim103 Why do you care what they think? They don't care about you.
    via pilgrim103
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    tcpWalker It feels like the manager is just upset to lose someone good on their team and is being less than diplomatic about it. I would still try to preserve the relationship a little and might point out to the manager that you are sorry to go but it's time to grow and they now have someone they can talk to on another team--though your obligation will be to your new manager, maintaining good relationships across an org is incredibly useful for both you and the manager. Once the manager gets ove
    via tcpWalker
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    Appropriate_Note2525 It makes me laugh when business dorks accuse people of being mercenaries. You mean the people who traditionally have been paid to fight? Yeah, no shit. What am I working for you for, my health?
    via Appropriate_Note2525
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    trophycloset33 He's mad that he was told he could only match up to that 12% number. When it was blown out of the water, he knew he was losing a good person. He is just expressing it badly. It's good for you but I am also astounded that they did that. Usually HR is the k joy here suppressing internal competition rather than letting the free hand of the market set numbers.
    via trophycloset33
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    Short_Ad3957 You're loyal but loyalty has a price Something something Dwight Shrute
    via Short_Ad3957

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corporate employee work pay raise justice served Horrible Bosses
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