Raises are 'demotivating,' claims boss when employee asks for pay hike after 4 years of service

As an acknowledgment of their hard work and perseverance, workers have certain expectations from their employers. And there is nothing wrong with seeking financial security, especially to sustain a thriving career. However, some companies deliberately ignore these basic rights, raising concerns over their unethical practices. The same happened to an employee following their boss’s blunt refusal to give them an appraisal. Notably, the request for a raise came after four years of association with the same workspace. The employee—who goes by u/Diex233 on Reddit—opened up about how their manager considered salary hikes as demotivating for the workforce, sparking a heated debate online.

In a widely circulating post, the employee criticized their boss’s attempt to gaslight them. All the worker sought was clarity from their employer after spending almost four years without any increment to their monthly compensation. “My boss says raises are demotivating,” they wrote, narrating a recent conversation with the company owner. The employee had set up a one-on-one meeting with their superior to discuss the possibility of a salary hike. During the private meeting, they finally expressed their desire for a raise after four years without one. Clearly, the employee had high expectations from their superior; however, what they received was far from the anticipated promotion letter. “He (the boss) basically said he’s tired of giving raises and doesn’t plan on doing it anymore,” the post explained. Moreover, the company owner expressed frustration over employees asking about raises.

According to the boss, those employees mostly had a “gimme gimme” attitude and didn’t actually give anything back in return. “So, instead of raises, he’ll be paying for courses,” the post shared, emphasizing the employer's obsession with offering professional development programs as a replacement. Additionally, he valued courses far more than salary hikes, which could directly benefit his employees. “In theory, and according to him, courses make people happier and help them reach their professional goals,” the post elaborated. “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,” it continued, leaving the employee in a catch-22 situation. “I just wanted to get someone else’s opinion on this whole ‘you only get raises if you give something back’ thing.”

The worker went on to claim that their time at the company had many high points, owing to their “excellent” performance. “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 gaslighting,” the employee concluded, inviting a variety of reactions from the online community. Referring to the boss's point about “giving something back,” u/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.” u/SuperiorTrucker remarked, “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.”