Empathetic Manager Pushes Back Against Leadership Who Refuse to Give Employees Raises: 'I went to my VP and I got laughed out of the room'

Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor

Jun 8, 2026 11:15 AM EDT

This manager knows that their company should be giving the employees raises, so why aren't they?

As the wealth gap grows, there's an ever-increasing divide between employees and their bosses. While many employees make an okay-ish salary, maybe $50k or $75k, that's not what their bosses are making. Many CEOs and other higher-ups are raking in like, $250k per year or more! They're able to afford things like going on actual vacations, instead of staycations. They can afford luxurious meals, nice new cars, private schools for their kids. Meanwhile, their employees are hanging in there, but they can't exactly save for retirement or send their kids to summer camp.

Even if higher-ups know about the monetary divide, they don't have to think about it too much. In between their 6 vacations a year, they'll pop into the office to cheer up the employees with a pizza lunch before dipping out again. They wouldn't know how to work a 40 hour week even if they tried.

This boss can see right through their employer's nonsense. And this manager is appalled at the "solutions" being offered to the workers they supervise.

via Amy Hirschi

Manager and employee have a workplace discussion, in a depiction by models.
The empathy theater is making me look like a corporate clown

via Phase_11Shift
via Phase_11Shift
via Amy Hirschi

Manager speaks with higher-up, who refuses to give employees any rewards for their hard work.
via Phase_11Shift
via Phase_11Shift
via wocintechchat

2 employees look dismayed after hearing that they won't be getting any monetary bonuses for their work, in a representation by models.
via Phase_11Shift
via Phase_11Shift
via Amy Hirschi

Managers discuss how to move forward and motivate their teams, in a representation by 2 models.
This is such a shame

via Phase_11Shift

Non-monetary rewards? In this economy???
via Phase_11Shift
via Phase_11Shift
Not the pizza party

via Phase_11Shift

It's a company's go-to to temporarily pacify workers, even if only for one meal, while making no meaningful long-term changes.
via Phase_11Shift
Very well said

via Phase_11Shift

If workplaces actually care about employees, they have to show that in actual ways. Telling the employees to do deep breathing or whatever is so insulting. These are real adults with real jobs, and it's very belittling to act like their lives wouldn't be changed with extra cash.
I feel for this boss. They're trapped in an impossible situation. They can stay and support their workers, a smile plastered on their face, but they know that they're not actually making real change. Or they can leave, abandoning their team. And who knows what kind of manager will take their place?
People really felt for this person

via Aerosoul_X
They're making the manager the scapegoat

via Zenith_Volta