Worker finally quit after years of being underpaid. When the boss tried to lure them back, their answer was unforgettable

Employees begin with the hope of giving their best and excelling in their careers while driving growth within their company. However, when there’s no respect and encouragement, things change quickly. An employee who goes by u/tumulett spent a decade working hard while being underpaid, and they ultimately decided to resign. Like many employers, this management also tried to hold on to them by making a counteroffer. Posting the incident on Reddit on December 31, the employee handled the situation so brilliantly that it left the superiors speechless. 

The employee mentioned how they started their job at the said company fresh out of college and worked for a decade. “I dedicated all my time to developing my skills. I worked in several departments, and even managed a team for two years,” the post read. Whether it was working late, volunteering, or going out of the way to get things done for the company, this person did it all. “The problem is, my salary never matched the effort I put in,” they said. Four years in, they had grown and learned all they could, and the last six years were just them keeping up and waiting for a raise.

Finally, when a new colleague questioned their loyalty, the employee was struck with a realization. “He said, 'Man, what are you still doing here? You're incredibly talented, and you're pretty much holding this whole place together,” the newbie said. That’s when they realized they’re far worth more and had to act like it. “My performance was consistently better than people with over 25 years of experience who were earning about double my salary. I understand they have seniority, but is it reasonable for my work to be valued at only 60% of theirs when my productivity is double?” they wrote. 

As any loyal employee would do, they tried to speak with the owners, but in vain, and it was decided that they had to make a move. “I started sending out my résumé, and within 24 hours, I had interviews scheduled. In less than a week, I found a new job with one of our biggest competitors, a company that knew me by reputation. They offered me a 40% raise and a benefits package I could only dream of at my old company,” the employee wrote. As soon as they received the offer letter, they sent in their resignation. 

Suddenly, things worked out in a jiffy. The meeting they had been trying to get for weeks with the owners was instantly arranged, and they offered to match the new salary. “I simply looked at them and asked, 'So you could have been paying me this amount the whole time. Why did you wait until I resigned to offer it?”

With dead silence and speechlessness from the management, they immediately left the room. According to Zety’s Pay Gaps & Perceptions Report, 1 in 3 employees felt they were underpaid in their industry. Only 55% of employees believe that the salary they receive is truly based on merit and performance. 77% are dissatisfied with their salary and noted that it affects their work productivity and engagement. According to SHRM, Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with Zety, said, “When employees don’t understand how their pay aligns with their contributions, it can lead to disengagement, lower motivation, and increased turnover."

“Employees who feel undervalued are more likely to seek opportunities elsewhere,” she added. If anything, this story has taught the employee and many others to push through and get what they deserve. Having been undervalued for a long time, it was only taking a stand that helped them get out of the stunted and drowning position. u/Snoooranges8194 remarked, “Now watch them collapse trying to replace you. Do the bare minimum for Knowledge Transfer.” u/gabimayjor wrote, “I've made more progress changing jobs than staying put. (And I've done both).” 

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