(TikTok screencap)
I worked for a call center as a stop gap when I was younger. The economy had shit itself and while this company was doing great, it was looking to save money because they knew they could squeeze desperate people. Annual raises were coming up. They were based on a system heavily influenced by disciplinary action, so many of my coworkers started getting verbal and written warnings for ridiculous things.
I finally got written up for not pulling up a reference before telling a customer about a past event. I didn’t pull the reference up because I already had it and other common topics open for easy access, which my supervisor told us to do.
I disputed the write-up but the department manager denied it as “the information could have changed between calls, so you should have looked it up through our knowledge base”. I asked how the past could have changed and was told it doesn’t matter: it’s policy. I asked to see the policy. The goalposts immediately changed: “disciplinary action is at management’s discretion and this was a serious error in judgment”. I told them that I was shocked anyone could say that and still expect to be taken seriously, even by themselves, and refused to sign my write-up. I was pulled into the HR manager’s office and given a “Final Warning” write-up for my attitude and not signing my initial write-up. I signed that one and got on a PIP, so they were happy.
Annual reviews were that week. I had extraordinary performance stats but got a $0.04 per hour annual raise - $83.20 per year! I walked out once I got a new job.
I just checked: my old manager is now a “boss babe” who sells essential oils and scented candles for MLMs. Sometimes a life well lived really is the best revenge.
The government says we had 2.7% inflation last year. Your expenses only went up by 2.7% last year, right? That sounds honest.
Wow, 1.5%? They’re being generous this year!
Actual footage of my employer:

I got a ~30% raise when I moved companies. Loyalty is not rewarded
The only way I’ve ever gotten significant raises is job hopping. My last job, I finally got an overdue promotion with a solid ~10-15% raise. But it was too late, I already had a job offer in hand, and put in my 2 weeks a few days later for ~30% more
I had to wait a few days so my 401k was 100% vested before I bailed, put in my 2 weeks on the exact day it vested, internally was laughing my ass off while saying thanks for the promotion
Haha my last company was a complete mess. My overdue 10-15% raise came AFTER I put in my two weeks. Meant my PTO balance got paid out at the higher rate lol
“Exceeds expectations”
“Exceeds expectations”
“Exceeds expectations”
“Exceeds expectations”
‘Well, nanner, you got one write up, which is lower than 95% of the company, so looks like you’ll only be getting 1.5% instead of the 3% for average, and I don’t personally give out the 6% raise I’m allowed to.’ - my fucking supervisor, while other supervisors hand out everything like candy (not really, they just shower their favorite)
I remember it used to be “Oh, not much in terms of payrises this year. The business isn’t doing so well”. Now they just don’t care enough to even lie to you.
It’s “Another record breaking year, amazing work team, except that team, you’re all redundant now. Also everyone else, sorry only 1% raise left for you from our record breaking year. Also, there’s now a whole team’s worth of work to pick up. Chop chop”
Yeah, you can actually earn a firing by being too productive now.
I’m not sure I’ve seen people fired for being too productive directly. It’s absolutely not a metric they care about though. I’ve seen them get rid of people that cost too much not caring how much product knowledge that they couldn’t hand over in any reasonable time with no suitable replacement.
Indirectly, because you did such a good job, they could afford to replace you now…
…or you proved that less people can do your job, by doing the job of multiple people.
They unironically say this while posting record quarterly profits. Raises, training budget, and travel budget though? Sorry, no money.
You guys get 1% raises every year? Working for someone else in construction in Alberta guys are making the same 30-35 an hour that they were as journeymen that they were like 15 years ago.
You guys are getting raises?

Finished my annual review and was told I was appreciated and loved by the clients I’m working with (contractor). Then was promptly told they’re rating me “meeting expectations” as they expected I’d do well.
Also no raises this year (3rd in a row)
Also also they may be pushing for 4 days, 8 hours (tracked) in office. My commute is an hour and a half each way.
looking at glass door, I’m paid less than even the bottom band for my position. But the market is shit as are my interview skills… mix that in with toxic management eroding my self esteem over the past few years to a point of learned helplessness.
Dunno what to do friends… Wish me luck out there.
The solution: hop jobs. You no longer get raises being loayl!
It never hurts just to start tossing out applications and see what you get. The best way to get better at interviewing is to do more interviews. Even if you think your odds of landing something are low, just go into it with the mentality of getting more practice until it feels comfortable. And who knows, you might be surprised by a good offer.
But I would also recommend being selective with where you apply, too. Basically don’t sell your skillset too low, and don’t apply for the types of open-ended jobs that will attract thousands of applicants and only waste your time. It can be absolutely soul crushing to send out 100 applications and never even get a response from 90 of them, but a good opportunity will come along eventually and you can develop a sense of which listings aren’t worth your time.
Take your time, work as little as possible at your current job, dont give up searching.
You guys have jobs??
I’ve taken huge pay cuts this last year because I am done working 3 part time jobs. I am broke and happy
I haven’t had a raise in 2 years
i think the last time i got a raise that wasn’t associated with quitting and getting a new job was, uh, never.
The best is you’ll get updates about senior management going on retreats, hanging out in the box seats at sports games, and record profit growth at the company.
Then they lay you off because one client decided to go with someone else.
I remember my dad talking about a minimum 5% raise plus another on merit in 2000… fuck this place
If you can make more elsewhere then switch jobs. Companies have no loyalty to you, so you shouldn’t have any to them. It’s all financial, so do the best you can for yourself. Companies count on you not wanting to change jobs - don’t play their game.
And before anyone complains about “Not everyone can just get a job” bullshit, yes you can. You’re literally employed right now. You’re in the best position you can be if looking for work. Even if it takes a year, you’ll be out of there in a year as opposed to not.
I mean, from my own experience, my wage has increased 32% in 5-6 years, including those 1.5% merit raises, cost of living raises, and raises through our bonus system, which is above the overall inflation rate for that period. I’m aware my employer is pretty good in that regard, and we do have a union.
Every employer who says “sorry, market conditions” is really saying “change market conditions by unionizing”.
Unions work! I’ve never worked somewhere where a union was a disadvantage.
I got a 10% raise this month and still earn like shit.
Where? Let’s get more people employed with your employer, and fewer from the competition.
last year we got a COL adjustment only, company wide, due to the trade situation. I accepted that, it’s better than laying people off. my work output responded in kind, however, after a very high output past year.
the business has had a year to handle the trade situation. this year I am owed my merit raise from the year previous (lol they’re not gonna do fuck all about that) and a merit raise for 2025. let’s see what I get.
A subscription to the jelly of the month club.
You guys get increases?
Every company I’ve worked at has “annual” raises for cost of living. But sadly according to management they now average 2% when throughout COVID they were closer to 5%. Further, this company has made excuses to delay the review cycle 3 of the past 5 years I’ve been there, meaning they’ve now done 4 review/raise cycles over a full 5yr period. Employees definitely work less hard now, and many have left. I was also going to leave but just got promoted (with a whole 6% raise!)… So maybe I’ll stick around another 6mo?










