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    Boss denies raise to $15/hr worker, immediately starts criticizing them when they ask: 'They forced you out. They were calling your bluff'

    You have to ask for what you want, but that doesn't mean you'll get it. 

    It can be incredibly difficult to learn how to stand up for yourself. If you're more of a passive person by nature, then you're probably used to accepting treatment that you don't deserve. Hopefully, you get better at this as you get older, but you probably had some steps along the way that made you the person you are now. One of the areas of our lives where it's easiest to get taken advantage of is at work. It's rough out there, and we all need jobs. And we're likely to accept jobs that aren't fully right for us just out of need for funds. This can mean we get stuck in situations where we're not being respected. But you have to tell people how to treat you. People aren't good at reading minds and knowing exactly what you want. This means you have to develop strong muscles to ask for what you want. 

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    Author image for JR Atkinson JR Atkinson
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    • An employee holds their head in their hands, frustrated.
      via Vitaly Gariev

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    • This can be incredibly scary, especially starting out. Your fear of rejection might keep you from expressing your needs fully and completely. But the worst that can happen is that we don't get what we want, so we might as well try anyway. But even when we do muster up the gumption to ask for what we want, like a raise, we don't always get it. But at the very least, we can be expected to be treated with respect. Respect isn't hard to give. The employee in the story didn't get a taste of that and learned the hard way that their workplace wasn't looking out for them. After doing way more than they were originally asked to, one employee was fed up with what they were getting in return. They didn't want to stand by and accept that poor treatment anymore. So they did what any of us would advise them to do, and they asked for more. But instead of being met with kindness and understanding, they were immediately dismissed. So they weren't sure what to do next, and their initial instinct was to react drastically. Read on to see exactly what happened.

    • Did I overreact by quitting immediately after a raise request?

      I'm looking for outside perspective on whether quitting same-day was reasonable or an overreaction. From the start of my employment, I was doing the work of four roles solo: inside sales, warehouse operations, shipping/fulfillment, and administrative work.
      via u/OcelotFront6984
    • I ran the entire warehouse start to finish by myself. There was no team. Just myself. My compensation was $15/hr base + commission (no benefits). Over the course of my employment, I was consistently told I was doing great and they loved having me. At the Christmas party they told me I was perfect for the role and I was the best person they'd had in the job.
      via u/OcelotFront6984
    • There were no performance warnings or concerns raised. Recently, I asked for a raise to $20/hr base while keeping commission, based on the scope of the work I was doing.
      via u/OcelotFront6984
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    • After that request, the tone shifted completely. I received an email that framed my raise request as being driven by increased childcare costs (which I did not cite as the reason). They claimed sales were down (sales had been declining before I started; I had reactivated old customers) and that samples
      via u/OcelotFront6984
    • were not being sent (they were. They also cited other operational issues that had never been raised before. This was the first time any of these "concerns" had been presented, and they appeared only after I asked for higher pay.
      via u/OcelotFront6984
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    • Then, after telling me they have people at headquarters (I ran our West Coast sales by myself with headquarters being on the East Coast), they asked what pay rate I would accept without commission or bonuses, despite there being no benefits.
      via u/OcelotFront6984
    • They finished the email by asking how soon I would be leaving if they couldn't afford the raise and that they needed time to discuss it, even though they spoke to their accountant the day before. I originally planned to give two weeks' notice, but after sitting with that email and experiencing
      via u/OcelotFront6984
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    • a strong physical stress response as well as feeling betrayed and threatened, I decided to make today my last day instead. I thankfully had another job lined up, but I wanted to stay at my original company until this.
      via u/OcelotFront6984
    • TL;DR: Given the sudden reversal from praise to criticism immediately following a raise request, while doing four roles solo for $15/hr with no benefits, was quitting same-day a reasonable boundary, or an overreaction? I wanted to give 2-weeks but felt the disrespect was enough to leave immediately. I'm open to outside perspectives.
      via u/OcelotFront6984

    • Commenters gave their two cents on this workplace situation.

      herb_mix_r After they turned down your request for $20 per hour and denigrated your work, I do not believe you would have enjoyed working there anymore. You did the right thing. They MADE you move on. Congratulations on the new position!
      via u/herb_mix_r
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    • A tired person rests their head on their hands at a desk.
      via Vitaly Gariev

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • Brownie-0109 They forced you out. They were calling your bluff. You called their bluff. Well done. I've probably replied to three separate posts over the last week about not trying to negotiate unless you have leverage
      via u/Brownie-0109
    • erikleorgav2 Based on your story, they were taking advantage of you in the worst way. That's an excessive workload for the pay you were given. $15 an hour, even with commission, seems a disgusting "compensation" for that level of work.
      via u/erikleorgav2
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    • Sawoodster Normally I say don't burn bridges, but fuck it. We don't need no water let the mother fucker burn! Good luck on your new job!
      via u/Sawoodster
    • ihaveabigjohnson... normally give 2 weeks but yeah fuck that company. get the hell out thank god
      via u/ihaveabigjohnson69
    • jerry111165 Fuck $15 bucks an hour for what you were doing dude. We start dudes off the street with zero experience in commercial roofing at $22 an hour and great benefits after 90 days. They were taking advantage of you.
      via u/jerry111165
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    • turtle_cat_squirrel You reacted PERFECTLY. You should also go on sites like Glassdoor and post truthful reviews.
      via u/turtle_cat_squirrel
    • floppydo The will hire someone else and never think of you again. You should do the same.
      via u/floppydo
    • jd2004user Sounds like a classic FAFO situation. They fucked around and they found out. For you... Bigger, better, and higher paying days ahead (probably with more or at least sincere appreciation)
      via u/jd2004user
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    • delg23 I work in a similar industry I think and they were way under paying you. And then gave you a nasty attitude for knowing your worth. Screw them, and enjoy some time off before the next job.
      via u/delg23
    • MMM1a Who cares you have another job already.
      via u/MMM1a
    • haphazard72 You've got another job. Stop looking back
      via u/haphazard72
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    • ElenaGreco123 Under these circumstances, yes. If this was how they responded after one day, chances are they would have fired you before the end of the two weeks. They also sound highly exploitative and unethical. Good for you for getting out.
      via u/ElenaGreco123
    • siammang Your response is appropriate. If they can't match up compensation for what they ask of you, they can go ask someone else to do the task.
      via u/siammang
    • New-Assumption-... NOR you should not be doing the work of 4 ppl for the pay of one especially with no benefits.
      via u/New-Assumption-3836
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    • FalcoLombardi2 Having a new job already lined up is my favorite "negotiating tactic." "Listen. Pay me 20% more or I'm out." "Would you consider...." "Good bye!"
      via u/FalcoLombardi2

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