Manager offers employee a promotion, and he turns it down: ‘[He] told me that turning down added responsibility shows a "disturbing lack of ambition and loyalty’

Author image for Olivia Arocena
Olivia Arocena • Writer and Editor
Sep 29, 2026 1:45 PM EDT

Not everybody has the same aspirations

No, not everybody wants the same thing- shocker! Right? Some of us only want a simple job for a few hours, then go home to relax without stressing about big responsibilities.

If that's our main aspiration, then no, a promotion is not our dream situation, obviously. Some people in the comments said this employee should've accepted the promotion and then searched for a new job with the new shiny title on their resume.

I sincerely don't get it; don't they understand? They don't want a better job; they want to keep the one they have. It's baffling to see how some people can't wrap their minds around something so simple.

A higher position can mean more money but also more stress, so you end up spending the extra money on things to erase it. Is it so hard to comprehend? That some people just don't want that?

A lack of ambition is frowned upon. The thing is that, in my opinion, this isn't a lack of ambition, but an ambition for a quieter life. Not everybody has the same idea of luxury.

For some, the real luxury is knowing no big responsibility weighs on your shoulders. Knowing that you can skip work and the world will keep spinning- that's the real win for some.

Plus, from the company's point of view, they know they'll have a stable employee who's completely happy with what he's got. Doesn't that secure his position even further? If I were them, I would keep him.

My advice would be not to listen to anyone who keeps telling you you lack ambition; you're simply different, and that's it. That company is lucky to have you, and if someday you have to leave, you'll likely find another simple job around the corner. They're everywhere! Good luck!

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  • Cheezburger Image 10667302144
    via Mina Rad

    Normalize having no ambition

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  • Is it career end to refuse a "promotion" that comes with four direct reports and zero pay bump?

    Last Tuesday my vice president called me into a meeting to announce that I was being elevated to "Senior Team Lead." He went on and on about how much they value my leadership and presented
    via Tarnished_Crow
  • me with a list of four direct reports I would be managing starting next month. When I asked what the adjusted salary band for this new title looked like, he chuckled and said
    via Tarnished_Crow
  • compensation reviews were frozen until Q4, but this would look "phenominal for my internal resume." I politely smiled and told him that while I appreciated the gesture, I would decline the title change and stick
    via Tarnished_Crow
  • to my current individual contributor duties until budget opened up. you would have thought I set the building on fire. He turned red, went de d silent, and told me that turning down added
    via Tarnished_Crow
  • responsibility shows a "disturbing lack of ambition and loyalty." Since then HR has scheduled two separate meetings to talk about my "team alignment," and my manager is giving me the
    via Tarnished_Crow
  • cold shoulder. Am I actually ruining my reputation here, or is management completely out of line?
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    via Vitaly Gariev

    The disappointed manager

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  • dracarys104 It really depends on how you framed it. Sounds like they took offense to what you said. It most likely means you won't get any promotions any time soon.
    via dracarys104
  • What you should have done is thank them and taken the promotion. Then immediately update your resume to look for a new job using your new shiny title.
    via Tarnished_Crow
  • tkh0812 Most of reddit is very short sighted when it comes to careers. They will always side with less work and anti management. I'm guessing most of the people giving you advice are not business owners or managers.
    via tkh0812
  • Very simple: if this is a temporary job or if you don't want to ascend in the company, then this was the right move. If your long term goal is to move up in the company
    via Tarnished_Crow
  • and you plan on being there... you should have said thank you and acted like it was your dream promotion until Q4 when you've showed that you can handle the job and then ask for what you want. You've likely burned a bridge.
    via Tarnished_Crow
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    via JESHOOTS.COM

    Not everybody has the same goals

    Recreated scenario included to enhance reader understanding



     

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workplace-stories toxic-workplace work workplace toxic-work-environment
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