Employee receives 2% raise after making $5 million for company, manager flips out when he refuses employee of the month award in meeting: 'He said he didn't want it'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jan 25, 2026 12:00 PM EST

Some workplaces have a funny way of turning achievements into insults.

Most employees have at one time or another felt like their efforts have gone underappreciated. It is the nature of the modern workplace that those who put in the most work are more likely to get rewarded with more work than anything else. Compensation is not always easy to come by, and it is one of the reasons that quiet quitting became such a phenomenon a couple of years ago.

Even if you enjoy your job for the most part, it can be incredibly demoralizing to feel like nobody wants to give your achievements the recognition that they deserve. Sometimes, it feels even worse to receive a small amount of praise than none at all. When you have gone to great lengths to make something happen, you usually want more than a pat on the back. Those employers that do not take the time and money to give hardworking employees what they deserve are generally the ones who struggle to retain them, but that doesn't stop their stingy business model. Even when a worker helps bring in a big part of the profit, they don't want to harm said profit by giving more compensation to the worker.

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  • 01
    a woman's hand holding a small gold trophy against a sky background
    via Katelyn Perry (Unsplash+)

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

  • In this story, an employee achieved something great for the company by making it $5 million in a recent period. As a reward, they offered him a 2% raise and a month with a trophy as recognition of him as employee of the month.

    The trophy was meant to be presented to him during a department meeting, but when his manager offered it, he refused to take it, claiming that he didn't want it. Although the big boss did not seem bothered, the manager's boss felt that this behavior warranted a write-up for insubordination. The manager didn't feel that this was necessary.

  • 02

    Employee refused Employee of Month Award

    Recognized one of my employees at our department meeting yesterday. He said he didn't want it, refused to come up and take the trophy.
    via [deleted]
  • 03
    Bro made the company $5 million in EBITDA, got a 2% merit raise and a month's rental on a recycled trophy.
    via [deleted]
  • 04
    a business man leans on a large table in front of a screen as one of his many other coworkers sat at the table speaks
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • 05
    Boss's boss just kept rolling with the meeting agenda. Boss is furious, wants me to write up my star employee for insubordination, which would cost him his bonus.
    via [deleted]
  • 06
    I think it's funny, won't write him up, and told my boss to cope. Have any of you ever dealt with anything like this?
    via [deleted]
  • 07
    a businessman gestures to charts on a large screen while his colleagues sat at a table watch him
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • 08
    Alternative_Air07 You know why he refused it (obvious), so why didn't you tell your boss that when you refused to do what he asked? I don't think this is funny; it's f-ing sad this guy is not getting fairly compensated. He's probably gone as soon as he can get a better job.
    via Alternative_Air07
  • 09
    [deleted] Original Poster's Reply It was obvious to anyone watching. He's definitely gone as soon as he can get a better job. Maybe sooner. Wish I could have done more for him, but comp is my boss's boss's domain and he refused to budge.
    via [deleted]
  • 10
    Calm_seasons 2% merit increase though, might be separate to an annual increase?
    via Calm_seasons
  • 11
    [deleted] Original Poster's Reply There's an annual bonus that's more material. $18k for this guy, and if I write him up it goes into my department's pool for everyone else. Not saying they don't deserve more too, but I won't be the one to make that happen.
    via [deleted]
  • 12
    inkseep1 That guy is going to find a job somewhere else and make someone else 5 million next year. The raise was an insult and the award was salt in the wound. You had best come up with the rest of the raise and a bonus. Edit: If he does not get a large raise then find out where he gets a new job and ask him if they are hiring.
    via inkseep1
  • 13
    Demonslugg Hes going to leave soon
    via Demonslugg
  • 14
    [deleted] Original Poster's Reply Ya think? Hoping he puts in a good word for me wherever he lands.
    via [deleted]
  • 15
    greenlungs604 The nerve! Cut that massive 2% "bonus" in half.. that will teach him!! Lmao... 2% you guys can't be serious....
    via greenlungs604
  • 16
    [deleted] Original Poster's Reply His bonus is 15% ($18k). His Merit Raise was 2%.
    via [deleted]
  • 17
    Lekrii He made $5 million and only got a 2% raise? I'd be bitter too
    via Lekrii
  • 18
    GypsyInTraining My guy makes the company 5mili and gets an insulting 2% raise and a candy cane award. Of course he's pissed and has no reason to validate such a poor excuse of a comp strategy. Hand him a 50k bonus to go with that award and he might be more inclined to take it.
    via GypsyInTraining
  • 19
    goddessofgoo Not all employees crave or even like recognition. Some hate being the center of attention. It's possible that your star employee was upset about only a 2% merit raise. Or maybe he had a lot of work to do and didn't have time for this spectacle. Any of these are possible and common thoughts, he just had the conviction to stick to his guns. Employers need to learn to treat their people like the individuals they are.
    via goddessofgoo
  • 20
    Potential-Bird-5826 Your boss is an asshole and your company doesn't value it's star employee. I'd bet money after the insulting raise, he's looking elsewhere for work.
    via Potential-Bird-5826

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