It’s safe to assume that everyone is hoping for a raise at any given moment. According to a 2022 survey, less than one third of workers actually believe that they’re being paid fairly. And low pay is cited as one of the most common reasons for employees to leave their jobs. While most of us are willing to put up with minor frustrations during the workday, we all have our breaking points, especially when we’re suffering for a small paycheck.
Redditors have recently been sharing stories of the moments when they realized they definitely weren’t getting paid enough to put up with their current work arrangements. From being yelled at by their manager to being expected to fix sewage problems, these situations immediately sent workers over the edge. We hope that these stories won’t be relatable to you, pandas. But if they are, it might be time to say sayonara to your current employer!
#21
There were multiple moments that made me realize I definitely wasn’t getting paid enough getting yelled at, insulted, and even reprimanded for asking why I had to make up hours as an exempt employee just because I went to a medical appointment.
But the breaking point was when my boss, who was also an attorney, advised a client to hide money from the local tax department to avoid a lien. That’s the kind of thing that can get us disbarred, and yet it was treated like nothing.
The next day, I left a three-page resignation letter on his desk and my coworkers’ desks and walked out before he even got to the office. By the end of the summer, the rest of my coworkers followed and left the firm too.
But the breaking point was when my boss, who was also an attorney, advised a client to hide money from the local tax department to avoid a lien. That’s the kind of thing that can get us disbarred, and yet it was treated like nothing.
The next day, I left a three-page resignation letter on his desk and my coworkers’ desks and walked out before he even got to the office. By the end of the summer, the rest of my coworkers followed and left the firm too.
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22points
#23
About 26 years ago I was working at a video store and a customer threw change at my head when I had to validate her birthday. My boss had to stop me from punching her in the face.
My appendix blew up two days later and I lost the job anyway. Boss didn’t care that I was having a medical emergency so I walked through the door via an ER. About a year later, his store was taken over by Blockbuster. Karma.
My appendix blew up two days later and I lost the job anyway. Boss didn’t care that I was having a medical emergency so I walked through the door via an ER. About a year later, his store was taken over by Blockbuster. Karma.
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21points
#24
I worked for a construction company where they paid me every week. Then switched to every other week. Then the pay checks started bouncing. I started cashing my pay checks immediately after I received them. One day the owner called me in and questioned why I was cashing my paychecks and questioned me if I this was just a job or a career blah blah blah. I told him what I do with my paycheck is none of his business. Two days later I was laid off. Kept me from having to quit and I got unemployment.
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20points
#25
Highly unprofessional co-worker had the balls to complain to me because I'd been at home recovering from a life-threatening crash, which apparently was inconvenient for him. Management did nothing about it.
I don't work there any more. I did not in fact get paid enough, as my next job included a significant raise. I made it clear why I was leaving when I did.
I don't work there any more. I did not in fact get paid enough, as my next job included a significant raise. I made it clear why I was leaving when I did.
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19points
#26
I was a QA tester for a video game.
I submitted a critical bug for a piece of content made by a designer for an expansion to our MMO. That designer came over from across the building to yell at me, saying my bug was invalid. I didn't argue. I didn't do anything when they closed the bug as invalid. I didn't complain to my boss. Some co-workers came to see if I was ok.
A few weeks later they were having a public reveal on a test server where people could try out the content for free for like 3 days. This designer's content was the first level of the expansion content and because it was broken, players couldn't access anything.
I swung by her desk and saw her with her head in her hands as the lead producer and senior producer were standing over her.
About 2 months later she was laid off.
Our team had this weird tradition where if someone was fired or laid off people who didn't like them would collect their name tags. It was sort of a trophy to say "I outlasted this person." Some people would also grab the name tags to "protect them" from someone else keeping it as a trophy. It started with our boss at his previous game studio, and he brought it to our company. It was a very weird and macabre tradition that largely existed because layoffs were frequent. I tried to avoid it as much as I could because I felt it was a little infantile.
But I made sure that I collected her name tag when she was laid off.
I submitted a critical bug for a piece of content made by a designer for an expansion to our MMO. That designer came over from across the building to yell at me, saying my bug was invalid. I didn't argue. I didn't do anything when they closed the bug as invalid. I didn't complain to my boss. Some co-workers came to see if I was ok.
A few weeks later they were having a public reveal on a test server where people could try out the content for free for like 3 days. This designer's content was the first level of the expansion content and because it was broken, players couldn't access anything.
I swung by her desk and saw her with her head in her hands as the lead producer and senior producer were standing over her.
About 2 months later she was laid off.
Our team had this weird tradition where if someone was fired or laid off people who didn't like them would collect their name tags. It was sort of a trophy to say "I outlasted this person." Some people would also grab the name tags to "protect them" from someone else keeping it as a trophy. It started with our boss at his previous game studio, and he brought it to our company. It was a very weird and macabre tradition that largely existed because layoffs were frequent. I tried to avoid it as much as I could because I felt it was a little infantile.
But I made sure that I collected her name tag when she was laid off.
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18points
#27
After being denied a raise after being told I was one of the best employees they had I was asked to help load the owners 17 year old daughters car that he was borrowing because his was in the shop. That car was a brand new Porsche Cayenne.
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17points
#28
Was working maintenance at a hotel once upon a time. Had to pull out a steam cleaner to remove poop smears from a mattress. Did I do it? Yes, because no one else would. Did I clock out, go home and shower, and never come back? Also yes.
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16points
#29
I was working at Target at guest service, I had been at Target for almost 5 years and was about done with that job anyway. This was back when pre-paid phones were popular. Girl who looked barely old enough to drive brings an ATT phone and prepaid card to guest service to buy. We sold both cards to load minutes on cell phones and we also sold cards for pay phones. Once they were activated they couldnt be returned and they were not interchangeable. I used to work electronics and knew this. I called back to electronics to verify if she had the right card and he said yes so I sold her the phone and the card.
I opened the next morning and around 10 or so I took my break. I come back to the girl pointing at me screaming "thats him! thats the guy!" Im looking around like w*f is going on?! Apparently she did buy the wrong card and when she came to return it and they told her she couldnt she got her parents. Her dad was completely hammered at 10:30 in the morning and acting like a belligerent. He starts telling me that I stole $50 dollars from his daughter and I was paying her back. As if I somehow was doing this for kicks just to mess with her or making money off of a scam. The mother accused me of being a pothead. Now if they would have been nice about the whole thing the store manage would have ate the $50 and gave them a store credit to buy the right card but since they were acting like the way they were he had security escort them out.
I was not about to get yelled over a $50 phone card and had my fill of dealing with the public and put my notice in the next day. I think I worked 2 more days and never went back. I still have nightmares when I walk in that place hearing walkie talkies and calling for backup to the registers.
I opened the next morning and around 10 or so I took my break. I come back to the girl pointing at me screaming "thats him! thats the guy!" Im looking around like w*f is going on?! Apparently she did buy the wrong card and when she came to return it and they told her she couldnt she got her parents. Her dad was completely hammered at 10:30 in the morning and acting like a belligerent. He starts telling me that I stole $50 dollars from his daughter and I was paying her back. As if I somehow was doing this for kicks just to mess with her or making money off of a scam. The mother accused me of being a pothead. Now if they would have been nice about the whole thing the store manage would have ate the $50 and gave them a store credit to buy the right card but since they were acting like the way they were he had security escort them out.
I was not about to get yelled over a $50 phone card and had my fill of dealing with the public and put my notice in the next day. I think I worked 2 more days and never went back. I still have nightmares when I walk in that place hearing walkie talkies and calling for backup to the registers.
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16points
#30
When I was told I had to go to an employers house on weekends and do personal pc work...that wasnt in my job description as an IT person. I worked at a law firm in IT department.
I got sick of the one on one hand holding.
I got sick of the one on one hand holding.
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15points
#31
District manager visited the Blockbuster I worked at and asked us how many super expensive 20 dollar a month rent unlimited video games subscriptions we'd sold. I was happy to ring people up and give them feedback and advice on movies to watch, but I'm not conning them into a bad deal. He breathed down my neck and basically was forcing me to ask every customer if they wanted to be on it, so I just quit then and there. This same guy also took all our clocks off the wall when he arrived so they wouldn't "distract" us. No way I'm gonna sit there and take that kind of condescension.
This is an old story from the 2000s of course, when I was young.
This is an old story from the 2000s of course, when I was young.
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15points
#32
Private school... They let another teacher steal my professional learning materials and pass them off to the staff as his own... When I called admin on the issue, they were silent...
I wrote a 20+ page policy document for admin on how we could transition the staff to online teaching at the beginning of COVID (timelines, resources, training needed, rationale for everything)... They ignored my email, said nothing to me, but two weeks later started (poorly) putting my plans into play...
When I raised concerns about how they were handling staff mental health supports and student success during COVID, they threatened to fire me three times in two weeks...
I started looking for a job immediately, and got out about a year later. Post-COVID the school is on the verge of financial collapse because they've prioritized profits over education and the quality of the people they're hiring AND the student's they've accepted has slipped year over year. I'm making 50% more working in the public system.
I wrote a 20+ page policy document for admin on how we could transition the staff to online teaching at the beginning of COVID (timelines, resources, training needed, rationale for everything)... They ignored my email, said nothing to me, but two weeks later started (poorly) putting my plans into play...
When I raised concerns about how they were handling staff mental health supports and student success during COVID, they threatened to fire me three times in two weeks...
I started looking for a job immediately, and got out about a year later. Post-COVID the school is on the verge of financial collapse because they've prioritized profits over education and the quality of the people they're hiring AND the student's they've accepted has slipped year over year. I'm making 50% more working in the public system.
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15points
#33
My company is no longer giving raises to employees who make more than a certain amount above the base pay, but don't worry, they appreciate our experience and expertise. Additionally, 6 people left and they didn't hire a single person to replace them🙄.
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15points
#34
My boss wouldn’t let us leave to eat lunch. Instead he would bring bologna and bread and have us eat that. I got tired of it and bounced.
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13points
#35
Worked as a contractor for the federal government issuing COVID-19 payments, pandemic isolation, helping on myGov, Centrelink, Medicare payments during lockdown (also getting vax stats on the QR code app).
A guy asked for help with updating QR code to reflect vax status. I clearly explained what to click on the different pages. He asks if I can just do it for him, if he gives me his username and password. I explain no because it has 2 factor authentication and I wouldn’t receive the number. He says “well I’ll just read it to you over the phone”. I say “no, if I were to log into your account as you, it would be considered identity theft, the federal tech people in Canberra would recognise my IP logging into a myGov account, not mine and my manager would be notified. I’d lose my job in approximately 20 minutes after doing what you wanted.” He replies “So.. Can’t you just help me?”.
A guy asked for help with updating QR code to reflect vax status. I clearly explained what to click on the different pages. He asks if I can just do it for him, if he gives me his username and password. I explain no because it has 2 factor authentication and I wouldn’t receive the number. He says “well I’ll just read it to you over the phone”. I say “no, if I were to log into your account as you, it would be considered identity theft, the federal tech people in Canberra would recognise my IP logging into a myGov account, not mine and my manager would be notified. I’d lose my job in approximately 20 minutes after doing what you wanted.” He replies “So.. Can’t you just help me?”.
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13points
#36
I took a job as a receptionist. Pay wasn't great and there were no benefits, but the interviewer stressed work-life balance as they have three receptionists, so it should be ok for one to leave early as needed. Well it turned out that by "leave early," she meant "leave right at 5:00 rather than waiting for any stragglers to leave." I missed many of my daughter's cross country meets, but was determined to make it to her league championship meet. We came back from lunch at 2:00, so I asked if I could just be off the rest of the day instead, to have time to change and travel to where the meet was. The office manager made me pull up Google maps and calculate to the minute what time I'd need to leave the office to go directly to the meet, and made me work up to that minute. So much for work-life balance.
They also demanded a hell of a lot of work considering the pay. I thought I'd just be answering phones and scheduling appointments, but any time there was a lull we were supposed to be running reports, poring over records for mistakes, etc. And there were rarely lulls-- usually the phone was ringing, I was trying to reach another staff who wasn't answering her phone, and I had two people in front of me with questions-- so when things actually got quiet for a sec I wanted to actually catch my breath. Nope, gotta go through these 400 postcards and make sure they're correct before we mail them! It was way too much for the pay, but the Google maps incident was my breaking point. .
They also demanded a hell of a lot of work considering the pay. I thought I'd just be answering phones and scheduling appointments, but any time there was a lull we were supposed to be running reports, poring over records for mistakes, etc. And there were rarely lulls-- usually the phone was ringing, I was trying to reach another staff who wasn't answering her phone, and I had two people in front of me with questions-- so when things actually got quiet for a sec I wanted to actually catch my breath. Nope, gotta go through these 400 postcards and make sure they're correct before we mail them! It was way too much for the pay, but the Google maps incident was my breaking point. .
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12points
#37
Getting yelled at by my boss for telling him not to use a tool (that didn't belong to him) in a way that would break it. I walked away after that.
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11points
#38
Mechanical engineer. Global company:
I had to digitally sign a document one day.
It took 6 software programs and 1.5 hours to digitally sign, print, email.
I left that day. Never went back. Never looked back. Ghosted them. Started my own business. Best decision of my life.
I had to digitally sign a document one day.
It took 6 software programs and 1.5 hours to digitally sign, print, email.
I left that day. Never went back. Never looked back. Ghosted them. Started my own business. Best decision of my life.
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10points
#39
Got a new sales and engineering manager that had been with the company for decades that did not understand when a customer buys a larger amount of a product, the unit price goes down.
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8points
#40
It’s not an insane story but I applied for an estate agent job with the company purple bricks (who at the time went into liquidation but were bought by another company for £1 to clear debts and stay afloat). I had a total of 3 days training, roughly 4 hours a day for the first two days and then 30 minutes on the third. Purely PowerPoint presentations.
The day after this the guy (my boss) pretty much said okay good luck! Handed me about 100 property keys and gave me a phone, to which my first responsibility was to apologise to all their clients for being kept in the dark due to high staff turnover.
Needless to say I told my boss I wasn’t prepared enough for what I threw myself into and quit the next day.
The day after this the guy (my boss) pretty much said okay good luck! Handed me about 100 property keys and gave me a phone, to which my first responsibility was to apologise to all their clients for being kept in the dark due to high staff turnover.
Needless to say I told my boss I wasn’t prepared enough for what I threw myself into and quit the next day.
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8points