I’ve been working diligently at my company for four years and was expecting a raise this year. When it didn’t happen and I asked my manager why, he simply said:

Manager: “We don’t have the budget for it this year. If it makes you feel better, no one got a raise this year.”

It did not make me feel better. So, I did a little calculation and acted accordingly.

A month later:

Manager: “You were averaging 100 tickets a week last month, and now it’s hovering around 97. Why are you slipping?”

Me: “Oh, well, since I didn’t get a raise last year to keep up with inflation, I’m adjusting my effort accordingly.”

Manager: “You’re… what?”

Me: “Well, inflation is at 3%, so the cost of living has gone up by that much. Since you felt that my efforts last year didn’t warrant a raise to keep up with inflation, I can only assume it means you’re expecting the effort to match the same value as last year. Last year, my salary was worth 100 tickets a week. This year, without a raise, it’s worth 97. Come on, [Manager], I shouldn’t have to explain inflation to you.”

Manager: “That’s… that’s not how that works. We expect you to give 100% when at work!”

Me: “But you’re not paying me 100%.”

Not expecting any pushback of any kind, my manager didn’t know how to counter, so he just grunted and walked away. I knew he’d be back when he had a chance to calm down and figure out some points to argue, so I prepared. 

The next day, my manager asked me to join him in the general manager’s office. The manager explained my disrespectful attitude and blatant admission that I was “slacking on the job”. I showed them both printouts of my output over the last few years (being one of the top performers) and how consistent I’ve been in the last four years without a raise.

I then showed them what my output should look like if I had “adjusted my effort accordingly” with inflation, considering that the cost of living goes up every year, but my salary had not, and explained it should actually be a lot lower than what I’m currently giving them.

General Manager: *Sighs, turns to [Manager].* “I’m too busy to deal with this. Give him his d*** raise.”

Manager: “But if he gets his raise, then they’ll all—”

General Manager: “—you told me you could achieve [benchmark] for the same amount of money as last year. Now I know how you were planning on doing it. Give them all their raises and either figure out another way or say goodbye to that bonus.”

So THAT’S why no one got a raise this year. [General Manager] knew exactly what he was doing by saying all of that in front of me (he didn’t like [Manager] either). I got my raise (backdated to the beginning of the year) along with everyone else.

Related:
Minimum Wage, Minimum Effort, Part 8
Minimum Wage, Minimum Effort, Part 7
Minimum Wage, Minimum Effort, Part 6
Minimum Wage, Minimum Effort, Part 5
Minimum Wage, Minimum Effort, Part 4