Employee considers resigning after $72k salary offer because they paid the previous employee $86k: 'I am extremely disappointed and feel insulted by the raise'

JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor

Jun 12, 2026 10:00 AM EDT

Is a certain amount of money that qualifies as an insult?

It's not easy to stay at a job that you think is disrespecting you. You want to be able to keep your job in an environment where it's not easy to find one. But there is only so much you can put up with. You don't want to feel like your superiors have it out for you or are intentionally withholding their support. That's what this employee felt, though, in this story shared to the antiwork subreddit. After months of continued service, they expected a little more support from the higher-ups at their job. That's not what they got, though. What they got was a lack of understanding and a paltry raise. Knowledge is power, and this employee knew that they were being undervalued in the workplace. They knew that the previous employee was being paid more, and they wondered why they weren't.

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I just got a promotion with an extremely disappointing raise and want to quit.

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When you know your value, it's hard to accept less. It's not always easy out there, though, and sometimes you have to move forward knowing that you'll get what's yours when the time comes, but in the meantime, you have to deal with what you've got. That's what this employee was trying to do, but they wondered if they were stuck at the end of the road with no place to turn. Sometimes you need the advice of outside sources to understand what's actually going on, and that's why the internet is a great help in situations like these. Other people who have gone through similar things might be able to help you through it. They offer valuable perspective and insight that you might not be able to get anywhere else. That's what happened here, when a group of employees came in to offer some advice to a worker who was going through a difficult time. They weren't sure whether to stay at a job and accept less than they deserve or if they should move on. Keep scrolling to read what happened and see what you think.
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Commenters gave their opinions and advice.

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