A post about a boss refusing to give a pay raise to a worker who was praised for their "excellent" performance has sparked discussion about workplace fairness and employee recognition on Reddit.
The post titled "My boss says raises are demotivating" was shared by user Diex233 and has had 7,400 upvotes and 1,100 comments since it was posted on January 19.
In the post, Diex233 described a one-to-one meeting with their boss during which they requested a raise after four years without one. The boss rejected the request, stating he was "tired of giving raises" and had no plans to offer any in the future. The boss claimed that employees exhibit a "gimme gimme" attitude and fail to reciprocate, prompting the company to invest in courses instead of pay increases.
"He basically said he's tired of giving raises and doesn't plan on doing it anymore," wrote Diex233. "According to him, employees have a 'gimme gimme' attitude and don't give anything back, so instead of raises, he'll be paying for courses. In theory, and according to him, courses make people happier and let them reach their professional goals," the poster said.
While courses may seem like a valuable perk, the poster highlighted a significant caveat. "Now, you might be thinking, 'Take the courses and get out.' Well, no, because if I leave within two years of taking a course, I'd have to pay it back," the poster noted.
According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in February 2023, only around a third (34 percent) of Americans are "extremely or very satisfied" with how much they are paid, while around the same (33 percent) feel the same about their opportunities for promotion at work.
'You Deserve Better'
The poster of the viral Reddit post said, "I just wanted to get someone else's opinion on this whole 'you only get raises if you give something back' thing. My performance is excellent, and there have been no complaints about my work. So why wouldn't I deserve a raise? I was thinking about it yesterday, and for a moment, I almost believed his [the boss'] gaslighting."
Career experts weighed in on the post, critiquing the boss's approach.
Michelle Enjoli, a career development and leadership coach, told Newsweek that the employer's remarks reflect poor leadership. "The claim that courses can make employees happier is overly generalized, as each employee's perspective will differ," said Enjoli.
She added "Aside from inflation, raises are the usual and most appreciated form of recognition for this employee's contributions, as indicated by their feedback. The employer seems unwilling to listen and is more focused on advancing their own agenda, which gives the impression of exploiting their staff."
Enjoli advised the poster to explore new job opportunities, stating "The prudent course of action would be to discreetly search for new employment and submit a resignation in a professional manner."
Other professionals echoed Enjoli's sentiment. Meredith Bowen, founder of Walker Bowen Talent Partners, urged the poster to prioritize finding a better workplace. "Get your résumé together and start looking for a new opportunity," Bowen said. "That does not sound like a culture of support and respect," Bowen told Newsweek, and "you deserve better."
Emily Walton, founder of Alo Coaching who is a former corporate leader turned leadership coach, emphasized that work should be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Walton told Newsweek, "Work is a transactional arrangement. You work a job until it stops serving you. Raises are earned, and should not be expected, especially if work performance is subpar; however, that is not the case in this situation."
Walton noted that the employer's alternative benefits plan might hinder professional growth rather than support it. "The way this arrangement is structured is that you would have to work for a minimum of two years following the completion of any courses to be free of having to pay them back and be able to leverage them for a higher-paying role at a different company," Walton said. "At four years in already, we are looking at six years without a raise."
She further pointed out the impact of inflation, adding "If you don't receive a raise or a cost-of-living adjustment, you are making less money than when you started as prices inflate."
'Do Not Reward His Bad Behavior'
The post resonated with Reddit users, many of whom expressed disbelief and frustration over the boss' reasoning.
Referring to the boss' point about "giving something back," Sightblind said, "He's already getting your labor which is more valuable than what he's paying you, because if it wasn't, he wouldn't be making any profit. Raises are the cost of retaining that labor" in a comment that received 8,300 upvotes.
SuperiorTrucker said, "That's exactly what OP needs to say at his next face to face. 'You wouldn't make any profit without me.' This owner shouldn't be in business if he can't provide his employees with a basic raise."
BrandynBlaze noted, "Yes, dedicating 75 percent of your most productive working hours to your job is apparently not 'giving anything back."'
Ecstatic_Account_744 said, "That's literally the deal. You give me money, I give you time/labour. If my labour is worth more, you pay me more or I leave for a company that will. I ain't a volunteer."
User doctorsynth1 said, "You have no reason to give notice. After no raise for 4 years, you should be seeking a better job. Do not reward his bad behavior."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.
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