Employee Outsmarts Company With Their Own Rules When He Increases His Pay By 50% After They Refused To Do It
Initiating a conversation about your salary is not the most pleasant experience out there. Your palms are sweaty, your hands are shaky, all while you summon the courage to talk to your manager about a bigger paycheck. But when they offer you a substantial promotion, receiving a raise for your efforts would be a no-brainer, right? Well, that’s not always the case.
Recently, user InterestedObserver20 made a post on the Malicious Compliance subreddit about his quest for increasing his wage. You see, the company he worked for at the time gave him a no-raise promotion because there simply wasn’t enough budget for it. However, when you take on greater responsibilities, you just feel like you deserve it.
That’s why the author decided to comb through the company’s regulations and his contract to see if the employer might have missed something. And they certainly did. The user used their rules against them to get a 50% pay bump. Read on to find out how he did it.
Recently, this employee shared how a company offered him a promotion but didn’t have any budget to increase his wage
Image credits: Ryan Porter (not an actual photo)
So the worker decided to use their rules against them to get a 50% pay bump
Image credits: Karolina Grabowska (not an actual photo)
Christine Mitterbauer, a licensed and ICF-approved career coach based in the UK, told Bored Panda that getting a promotion without a raise isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “It should be seen as an opportunity rather than a meaningless gesture,” she explained. “There are a few things you could do to make this promotion work even more in your favor.”
It seems that a climb like this one “does not automatically mean the worker isn’t appreciated by their employer (although in some cases this might be the case).” But before you draw any conclusions, Christine suggested some active approaches you could take.
“First of all, to many people, being genuinely recognized for their effort and hard work is at least as (if not more) important than just getting more money. The fact that you’ve gotten this promotion also puts you in better standing when looking for other jobs, and strengthens your visibility and confidence when networking and considering your future options, even if you have no plans of making any changes at the moment.”
Later on, the author provided some more details in the comments
However, if you feel that you rightfully deserve to receive a bigger paycheck, Christine mentioned that one proactive thing you can do is to negotiate a raise anyway. “Prepare for this conversation as quickly as possible, and come armed with information such as what others are being paid in similar roles. After all, if you left the role, the company would have to pay around that amount to hire someone new,” she said.
“If it turns out more money isn’t an option, then think about which other benefits would make you happier; more flexible working hours, more personal time, or maybe more training and development.”
If your employer is not willing to give a pay rise at this moment, another thing you could try “is to get them to commit to a pay rise in the near future. You could discuss hitting certain measurable goals in the coming months, and try to get them to agree to the pay rise if you hit all your targets,” the career coach advised, saying you should add dates and precise numbers to make your achievement more credible once the time comes.
So while getting no-raise promotions might make you feel more disappointed than excited, don’t forget that it’s often possible to turn things around. “Stay positive and remember it’s up to you to make as much of this situation as possible. Be creative, appreciative, and work with what you get,” Christine concluded.
Here’s how Redditors reacted to this whole situation
I worked for a US company in the UK for a short time they pointed out that the recognition of a promotion should be enough in itself for employee satisfaction. I realised this satisfaction did not help pay my bills and so I left.
I worked for a global manufacturer in the USA. I was yelled at and told I didn't deserve to get promoted. But did all the work of a manager. It turned into a very nasty shouting match between my boss and me. I thought would come to blows. I've heard of CEOs and executives throwing things at people. It just wasn't going to happen to me. This company broke many rules when addressing diversity and inclusion. But people didn't speak up and when that happens things stay the same. So, he finally said, ok, he would promote but I would not get any money. I said I don't care. I will get the money later, so I got the promotion and he got fired— I was the first black female manager in a company over 200 years old. And yes about a year later, I got the money plus bonuses.
I wasn't able to figure out which company this is... honestly it's probably true of most if not all of them.
Load More Replies...Wouldn't he actually be entitled to both a pay raise and the extra bonus for the commute?
Judging from the post, a raise would mean a contract renegotiation. That would be the time for them to go "oh btw you're officially reassigned to Spot B instead of Spot A" so by their own company rules Spot B would be his main work location. Reassigning him to Spot B from Spot A would mean that he wouldn't be able to claim the commute time anymore because Spot B would be the spot he was contracted to work at. Basically, no. Because if the contract was done to negotiate the raise they'd change his primary work location.
Load More Replies...Why is anything an anonymous poster says on social media considered news?
I was desperate for a job and took one 75 miles from home. My supervisor and I did not get along but being a strong Union shop he had no way to fire me without breaking our contract. The key is he had no interest in me and did not know where I lived. To get me to quit he transferred me to another site 85 miles away. That made my job site only 10 miles from my house. Then he told me to continue to report to the original site. Like you I was now able to collect 3 hours of OT and 150 miles of mileage every day even though I did have to drive. When his boss saw the expense after six months I was called into the office and told "You are permanently at the other site". They never did figure out how much of a favor they had done for me.
A no-raise promotion such as this is like when publishers offer artists "exposure" for their work and images instead of actual payment
Shorter commute was a pay raise in itself. The other that you got was just a total added bonus and then some. One thing about it is is not calculated into retirement as wage earned. But still, get them at their own game is truly nice to do to some employers that try to take advantage of their own employees.
You, Christine, the “expert” who said this: “First of all, to many people, being genuinely recognized for their effort and hard work is at least as (if not more) important than just getting more money.“ This is ONLY true when you make a living wage. No living wage? Your employers can say whatever they want but it won’t make a difference when you can’t earn enough to pay all your bills. I say this as someone who works for schools and has 2 degrees and works a part time job just to make ends meet. And they don’t always meet.
How would you feel to an ad that reads,"full time and if needed, to put in more time, secretary needed. Must be CPA, etc, can make hi management decisions, etc..." Because that is what a promotion sans the pay increase is. It is underemployment and will only benefit the owners. Wake up!
The best way to see if someone was a good employee or good worker is the their starting wage and ending wage and sometimes on applications they ask you that , I worked at a private engineering firm in Wyoming and after 3 years I was making 17 and started at 6.75 and I started as a engineering tech 3 and ended as the lab manager, I left because I wanted to be on salary and even pointed out that it would save them money because of all the OT , the last year their I made 41,500 usd and I only wanted 40,000 to start as the lab Manger, they said I wasn't qualified enough and that they were trying to hire a new engineer but they all came here to learn and would leave to go work in the coal mines for 65,000 and when I quit and gave my 2 week notice they instead told me I had to the end of the day that I was done, and when tried to make me sign a NDA in case I went to work for a competitor which I didn't instead I rolled all my skills into finnaly getting hired as a QC/QA civil inspector
Ummm….I’m just going to go ahead and say it, that’s not a promotion, that’s just more responsibility they do not have to pay you for.
Take the promotion. Be sure you politely voice your view on the lack of pay increase. Redo your resume with the new spot proudly written in. Start looking! Make sure the new place pays for the job you are doing. Check the going rate for that spot & be sure it is equal. It could work two ways. When you give notice they could counter with great pay seeing they made a bad call not finding cash in the first place. And you get to stay with new found love and respect at your original company. Or they let you go. And a whole new life starts for you where doors open and new respect starts. But don’t turn it down and become a wall flower.
The author of this article repeats their words too much. Sadly, this is where the Interns end up. The bottom of the internet Barrel as if they were back in school having to give a 1200 word no less book report so they have to repeat their words. We understand that they used their own "rule" against them you don't need to repeat it 5 times and the story behind the discovery of the "rules".
Anyone like this woman r fully a shill for the status qoe. Work harder n more for same money gtfoh
You can't even work hard enough to properly spell your words and you think you can criticize others for not doing enough?
Load More Replies...Why would they not have to pay taxes or claim it as income? It was overtime but would have still been considered taxable income.
Load More Replies...I worked for a US company in the UK for a short time they pointed out that the recognition of a promotion should be enough in itself for employee satisfaction. I realised this satisfaction did not help pay my bills and so I left.
I worked for a global manufacturer in the USA. I was yelled at and told I didn't deserve to get promoted. But did all the work of a manager. It turned into a very nasty shouting match between my boss and me. I thought would come to blows. I've heard of CEOs and executives throwing things at people. It just wasn't going to happen to me. This company broke many rules when addressing diversity and inclusion. But people didn't speak up and when that happens things stay the same. So, he finally said, ok, he would promote but I would not get any money. I said I don't care. I will get the money later, so I got the promotion and he got fired— I was the first black female manager in a company over 200 years old. And yes about a year later, I got the money plus bonuses.
I wasn't able to figure out which company this is... honestly it's probably true of most if not all of them.
Load More Replies...Wouldn't he actually be entitled to both a pay raise and the extra bonus for the commute?
Judging from the post, a raise would mean a contract renegotiation. That would be the time for them to go "oh btw you're officially reassigned to Spot B instead of Spot A" so by their own company rules Spot B would be his main work location. Reassigning him to Spot B from Spot A would mean that he wouldn't be able to claim the commute time anymore because Spot B would be the spot he was contracted to work at. Basically, no. Because if the contract was done to negotiate the raise they'd change his primary work location.
Load More Replies...Why is anything an anonymous poster says on social media considered news?
I was desperate for a job and took one 75 miles from home. My supervisor and I did not get along but being a strong Union shop he had no way to fire me without breaking our contract. The key is he had no interest in me and did not know where I lived. To get me to quit he transferred me to another site 85 miles away. That made my job site only 10 miles from my house. Then he told me to continue to report to the original site. Like you I was now able to collect 3 hours of OT and 150 miles of mileage every day even though I did have to drive. When his boss saw the expense after six months I was called into the office and told "You are permanently at the other site". They never did figure out how much of a favor they had done for me.
A no-raise promotion such as this is like when publishers offer artists "exposure" for their work and images instead of actual payment
Shorter commute was a pay raise in itself. The other that you got was just a total added bonus and then some. One thing about it is is not calculated into retirement as wage earned. But still, get them at their own game is truly nice to do to some employers that try to take advantage of their own employees.
You, Christine, the “expert” who said this: “First of all, to many people, being genuinely recognized for their effort and hard work is at least as (if not more) important than just getting more money.“ This is ONLY true when you make a living wage. No living wage? Your employers can say whatever they want but it won’t make a difference when you can’t earn enough to pay all your bills. I say this as someone who works for schools and has 2 degrees and works a part time job just to make ends meet. And they don’t always meet.
How would you feel to an ad that reads,"full time and if needed, to put in more time, secretary needed. Must be CPA, etc, can make hi management decisions, etc..." Because that is what a promotion sans the pay increase is. It is underemployment and will only benefit the owners. Wake up!
The best way to see if someone was a good employee or good worker is the their starting wage and ending wage and sometimes on applications they ask you that , I worked at a private engineering firm in Wyoming and after 3 years I was making 17 and started at 6.75 and I started as a engineering tech 3 and ended as the lab manager, I left because I wanted to be on salary and even pointed out that it would save them money because of all the OT , the last year their I made 41,500 usd and I only wanted 40,000 to start as the lab Manger, they said I wasn't qualified enough and that they were trying to hire a new engineer but they all came here to learn and would leave to go work in the coal mines for 65,000 and when I quit and gave my 2 week notice they instead told me I had to the end of the day that I was done, and when tried to make me sign a NDA in case I went to work for a competitor which I didn't instead I rolled all my skills into finnaly getting hired as a QC/QA civil inspector
Ummm….I’m just going to go ahead and say it, that’s not a promotion, that’s just more responsibility they do not have to pay you for.
Take the promotion. Be sure you politely voice your view on the lack of pay increase. Redo your resume with the new spot proudly written in. Start looking! Make sure the new place pays for the job you are doing. Check the going rate for that spot & be sure it is equal. It could work two ways. When you give notice they could counter with great pay seeing they made a bad call not finding cash in the first place. And you get to stay with new found love and respect at your original company. Or they let you go. And a whole new life starts for you where doors open and new respect starts. But don’t turn it down and become a wall flower.
The author of this article repeats their words too much. Sadly, this is where the Interns end up. The bottom of the internet Barrel as if they were back in school having to give a 1200 word no less book report so they have to repeat their words. We understand that they used their own "rule" against them you don't need to repeat it 5 times and the story behind the discovery of the "rules".
Anyone like this woman r fully a shill for the status qoe. Work harder n more for same money gtfoh
You can't even work hard enough to properly spell your words and you think you can criticize others for not doing enough?
Load More Replies...Why would they not have to pay taxes or claim it as income? It was overtime but would have still been considered taxable income.
Load More Replies...
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