Boyfriend tries to sabotage partner's long-awaited promotion at work. Her response deserves applause

A person (u/spare-climate-6990 on Reddit) was offered a life-changing promotion at work. Excited, they informed their boyfriend, who, surprisingly, instead of being happy, looked clearly bothered. In fact, he asked them to decline the offer because accepting it would apparently change the dynamics of their relationship. The author explained that they could work together to find a balance between personal and professional lives, but the boyfriend was in no mood to understand. In the end, the author chose what felt right to them — the job promotion. They posted the incident on February 8.

The offered promotion was truly transformative; it wasn't a fancy new title with the same pay. Rather, it was a stepping stone in the author's career. The new role was, of course, demanding, but it also came with a better pay package. "Honestly, [it was] something I've been grinding toward for a long time. When they told me, I almost cried in the meeting because I've wanted this for years," the author confessed. They went home, expecting a grand reaction from their boyfriend, but in reality, he went quiet when informed about the job promotion. The author thought they would spend the night celebrating the victory, but instead, they got into an argument over the promotion. The boyfriend was concerned that the author might not be able to prioritize their relationship over work responsibilities. In fact, he told them that it wasn't the life he had pictured for both of them. The boyfriend, unlike the author, wasn't very ambitious and always loved a simple life. "I get that. I love our chill time too. But I'm also a person with goals, and this opportunity means something to me. It's not just about money, it's about me feeling like I'm actually going somewhere," the author explained.

They assured him that they could work together and find a balance, but the boyfriend wasn't convinced. He told them that he had seen other relationships suffer because of work pressure, and it's not something he is prepared for. "Every time I bring up anything work-related, he gets this look on his face like I'm already choosing my job over him just by being excited about it," the author said. It felt like they weren't even supposed to be happy for their achievements. In the end, the author said they would accept the job promotion, and their boyfriend, somewhere, knows about it, which is probably why things feel weird between them now. 

Intervention by family or partners often leads to tension in professional life. And sadly, people, especially Millennials, are forced to compromise their careers because of romantic relationships. Comet surveyed 364 working adults who are single and childfree and asked who they would prioritize: work or a relationship. Consequently, they found that while over 50% of respondents said they would give up a career opportunity for a long-term relationship, 86% said they would even move to another city if their partner got a better job. On the contrary, 41% would end a relationship in exchange for a life-changing promotion at work.

Meanwhile, reacting to the Reddit story, u/melodic-slice-4243 commented, "He doesn't want a simple life; he wants a stagnant one, and he's trying to dress it up as a relationship concern so you feel guilty for outgrowing him." u/hobhamwich shared, "My wife is a genius. She is professionally in demand. I quit my job to stay home with the kids, then moved to a different city for her career. I'm proud of her and wouldn't change a thing. I have been married for over 30 years. I have no idea what your boyfriend is talking about." Similarly, u/abystract-ism suggested, "Hey, congratulations on the promotion! Take it, and then upgrade to someone who congratulates you instead of holding you back. NTA."

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