Underpaid and overworked employee demands a $170,000 raise, management laughs in his face, so he leaves to make $180,000, and takes the entire team with him: '[The] satisfaction and vindication is incredible!'

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  • Employee meeting with management discussing and demanding a salary raise
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
    Employee meeting with management discussing and demanding a salary raise

  • "My old boss told me I was easily replaceable. Then my entire team quit to join me at my new company"

    . I worked at a digital agency for several years, and slowly I started to realize how underpaid I was.
    via EltaBecker
  • When I started with them, I was managing 8 projects for about $85,000 a year. Honestly, I was just happy to have a job, so I focused on my work and didn't cause any trouble.
    via EltaBecker
  • That was my biggest mistake. A few years later, I somehow found myself managing 25 projects and a team of 7 people, all while my salary remained unchanged.
    via EltaBecker
  • That was the breaking point. In my last review, I detailed all my increased responsibilities and asked for a salary that reflected my true market value - about double what I was making.
    via EltaBecker
  • The response was the usual 'we'll see what we can do,' and then they gave me the runaround for two months.
    via EltaBecker
  • Every manager I spoke to passed the buck to someone else. I had reached my limit.
    via EltaBecker
  • went on job sites, and not long after, I got a respectable offer for $180,000, starting in 4 weeks.
    via EltaBecker
  • The new company told me they were expanding and if I knew any talented people, I should refer them.
    via EltaBecker
  • So I took the risk and was upfront with my team. I told them I was leaving, but if they were also thinking of leaving, I could pass their CVs to the right people there.
    via EltaBecker
  • I submitted my two weeks' notice, and about 20 minutes later, my boss called me asking what they could do to make me stay.
    via EltaBecker

  • When you are working more than your wage, it's time to ask for a raise. If they deny you one, it's time to quit and bring your entire team with you, just like this one employee did! 

    What a satisfying move to pull at a job that has completely taken advantage of your efforts. This guy worked several projects, completely underpaid, understaffed, and undervalued and when he asked to be paid market value for his work, the management scoffed at him. The disrespect! He could have quit and moved on, but his team was left behind in that awful place. So he offered them the chance to escape with him, and they took it! Bravo. Bravo. 

  • Corporate paperwork being negotiated and filled out
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
    Corporate paperwork being negotiated and filled out

  • I told him the same number I had told my direct manager. He practically laughed in my face and said, 'Good luck finding that number.
    via EltaBecker
  • We can find someone to do your job in a day.' So that was that. Over the next 10 days, all 7 members of my team also submitted their resignations after receiving offers from my new company.
    via EltaBecker

  • So what you're telling me is that you not only quit to go start a job that pays you more than the raise that your previous management scoffed at, but you also got to ruin that ex-company by poaching their entire team for your new workplace? Do I have that correct? I do believe so, and wow. Simply wow, sir. That is epically satisfying. Beautiful, even. If only all who are stuck in a deadend job, being under-appreciated, could have such an opportunity. 

  • I heard from old colleagues that all 25 of those projects came to a complete halt and that it's costing them a fortune every day in late fees and client penalties.
    via EltaBecker
  • Now, the old company is hysterically calling and emailing me and my former colleagues, begging us to come back and promising that money is no object.
    via EltaBecker
  • We all said no. The feeling of satisfaction and vindication is incredible. It's a clear example of how some places don't care about the employee, only about what they can get out of them.
    via EltaBecker
  • Your loyalty means nothing to them until your absence costs them money. The vibe at the new place is completely different.
    via EltaBecker
  • After my first six months, they gave me a $20,000 raise without me even asking, just for doing good work.
    via EltaBecker
  • It's a world of difference. The lesson here is that you have to trust your worth.
    via EltaBecker
  • If any of this sounds familiar, it might be time to have that difficult conversation with your boss, or to start polishing your CV.
    via EltaBecker

  • Preach! Yes, we are always saying this. Always work your wage! Never let the man keep ya down. You are worth every penny! Even though the penny is done… Whatever, you know what we're trying to say: you're worth every cent! It's hard to value yourself in the professional world. However, having self-worth is important, and that kind of confidence can take you a long way. Sometimes it might make you do risky things, like quit on the spot before you have another job lined up, but when you're confident, that usually means when one door closes, another opens. You know?! This guy knew. 

  • Chances are, you deserve much more than what you're getting.
    via EltaBecker

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