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Employee offered disappointing 5% raise, gets a new job paying 32% more and rejects employer's counter offer: 'Less than a month ago 5% was all they could do...'

Being told that there's absolutely no way you can or should possibly be paid more for your work when you've taken on the responsibilities of not one but two vacant levels of management above your actual role is disappointing for certain. It's almost more disappointing, though, when you get another job offer for 32% more than your current pay, and when you tell your employer the news, they're more than willing to give you the money you originally asked for and more. As always, in situations such as this, you're never going to be better off accepting the counteroffer as you're opening the door to the risk that your employer knows you're willing to leave and looks to replace you as soon as possible. 

In these situations, employers are betting that you'll accept the measly pay increase they're offering and not go looking elsewhere; it's the same reason why they'll hire at higher rates than they offer their existing staff; they're hoping the silent complacency of staff will continue to save them money by paying below the standard rate. 

Of course, in instances such as the one this worker faced, there's also the possibility that someone responsible for authorizing their pay increase took a look at their title and balked at the amount they were asking for, not comprehending that they were actually contributing at a level far above the one described by their role. 

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Author image for Brad Dickson Brad Dickson
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  • I experienced something similar to this when I applied internally to a role that I had actually been doing for several months. I had been taking on duties two management levels above me, like the author of this story, thanks to two vacant positions. I had previously agreed to take on my manager's role temporarily, foolishly without secondment or additional pay, not thinking that it would be vacant for months. My manager's manager, who had asked me to do this soon, also left, leaving a disastrous lack of structure at the location where I worked and in the region. But, when I applied for the very role that I had been filling, I was laughed out of the room by the HR manager, who noted my "lack of experience…"

    Although I also left soon afterward, the conclusion of my experience wasn't quite as satisfying as the author in this story, who shared online detailing how they left their job for one that paid 32% more after their contributions weren't properly recognized and rewarded by their employer.

    See their original story below, followed by reactions from the employment community where it was shared.

  • 01
    "How much are they offering? OH WE CAN MATCH THAT."
    via Muhammad Faiz Zulkeflee
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  • 02
    I was offered a 5% raise I started a job at the beginning of 2023 at the highest pay rate I've ever received. Job advertisement indicated a starting pay range, I was offered an hourly rate directly in the middle of this pay range, I accepted it. I was 4 months away from finishing a degree in this field of work and was naive enough to think that post degree I would be entitled to due compensation for this achievement. Nobody else doing this same work at this company had this degree and my knowled
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 03
    And, by the end of the year, the head of the department, a 14-year veteran of the company, second longest serving employee, and presumably the second most expensive employee, quits for another job. Then, in December, the most experienced person in the department also quits, presumably the second (maybe third) most expensive employee in the department.
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 04
    My work load increased significantly after each person left. I thought the place was under staffed and disorganized when I arrived at the start of the year, now everyday is a total show of chaos. At the same time the company's president retires and names his son as his successor. He instantly (and quietly) buys a Porsche.
    via ibmgalaxy
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  • 05
    End of year performance review is done at the last second (literally the last working day of the calendar year) and I'm criticized for the most absurd, inane but because they recognize my integrity and hardwork they want to offer me the highest possible raise they will allow: 5%. I went into this meeting with all of the math already done and printed out so I could read it instead of trying to remember it: COL increase from previous year subtracted from a proposed 5% raise equals this many dollar
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 06
    I instantly look for and find another job that amounts to approximately 32% increase in income for me. Go to work to give them notice, am called into a meeting that same day to discuss. "How much are they offering? OH WE CAN MATCH THAT." Less than a month ago 5% was all they could do (after operating this department probably got 40% cheaper by losing the longest tenured and most experienced labor) and now suddenly a 32% increase ON TOP OF my 5% increase was suddenly doable.
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 07
    Telling them "No thanks" was VERY satisfying. I know that many people are less fortunate than me but besides sharing my delicious success I guess the nugget of advice I want to reiterate (though you all already know it): They don't care about you at all, loyalty is an utterly useless burden, and you should FOREVER AND ALWAYS be shopping for a better job opportunity.
    via ibmgalaxy
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  • 08
    LetsGo... • • 6h ago Edited 5h ago There was a guy who posted something similarly to you about his mother. Who worked for years at her company and was given minimal raises if anything at all. People started to quit left and right and now found herself with the most experience at the company. In fact, she was the company at this point. She began to look else where, when a new company doubled her income from 50k to 100k. She turned in her 2 weeks notice and
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 09
    it caused panic within the company, that they were now willing to match and offer more than the other company. She declined citing that she was not given respect when she was loyal for so many years with excuses as to why she was not given cost of living raises. The advice was to start new, than to be treated without respect and taken for granted.
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 10
    bnh1978 5h ago . In most cases, I don't recommend taking the counter offer. It's often times a stop gap for the comany until they can find a more cost-effective solution. Then they replace you.
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 11
    Fun-Hope-8950 • 6h ago "They don't care about you at all, loyalty is an utterly useless burden, and you should FOREVER AND ALWAYS be shopping for a better job opportunity." And the choir sang, "Amen!" Always start every job with a goal and an expiration date in mind. The goal is something you want to achieve to prepare you for whatever your next step forward in Life is. The expiration
    via ibmgalaxy
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  • 12
    date is the maximun amount of time you have to achieve that goal before the job becomes rotten and unable to meet your needs. As soon as either the goal is achieved or the expiration date arrives it's time to either move up or move on.
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 13
    Carnifex72 · 5h ago • Never accept a matching offer. If they want you to stay, it needs to beat the other firm; they've shown their hand already and were willing to suited them- you when it them back.
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 14
    Furiciuoso 6h ago • Oh man. Too bad you can't bottle that feeling. Congrats!❤
    via ibmgalaxy
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  • 15
    pocketgravel • 5h ago A tale as old as time. The experienced and hard working people jump ship for better pay. The people who can't, stay. and the whole company is covered in barnacles. Good on you for refusing. They would have found a replacement (or two, or three) and fired you the first opportunity they had.
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 16
    jelloslug 5h ago I bet this is exactly what happened with the other two people that left from your department before you. It seems that they don't learn from their errors.
    via ibmgalaxy
  • 17
    lastrideelhs • 5h ago I would LOVE to give a "if you had the money to give me that before, why did my leaving. prompt you to finally give said raise? Bye" one day.
    via ibmgalaxy
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  • 18
    Starfury_42 • 5h ago Good for you. Once you've decided to move on you do it. If you let them match your pay there's a very good chance they'd find a reason to get rid of you in the next 6 months. If they valued you a big pay bump would've been given when you got your degree. Good luck in the new job!
    via ibmgalaxy

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