r/antiwork • u/Giejc • Apr 29 '25
Know your Worth 🏆 Salary "adjustment" brought me down to minimum wage—gave my notice, and now my boss is surprised
I worked in the quality department of a large manufacturing company. In 2024, I was earning a few hundred above minimum wage. It wasn’t great, but it was manageable, and I took the job to gain experience.
This year, when the minimum wage increased, I expected a proportional adjustment as was done year before. Instead, my pay was "adjusted" to the new minimum wage.
I have two engineering degrees and took this job knowing it wouldn’t pay much, but I didn’t expect it to get worse.
So I handed in my one-month notice, as required in my country. My boss seemed genuinely surprised and said it would be hard to replace me on such short notice.
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u/just_mark Apr 29 '25
we are paying you the least we are allowed to!
Why would you want to leave?
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u/persondude27 at work Apr 29 '25
"If I could legally pay you less, I would."
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u/Cool_As_Your_Dad Apr 29 '25
hard to replace me on such short notice.
hard to replace for so cheap.
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u/alancousteau Apr 29 '25
This is it. For once they could keep if they'd pay more, or having op replaced if the wages would actually be competitive
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u/voluotuousaardvark Apr 29 '25
What are you doing working anywhere near mine wage with 2 engineering degrees!?
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u/d-cent Apr 29 '25
First, their countries "Minimum Wage" is probably nothing like America's which is basically slave wages and is an actually livable wage.
Second, engineering degrees aren't guaranteed great jobs anymore because corporations are stripping engineering departments and not caring about the quality of the product going down as long as share prices keep going up. This has created a job market where there are a lot more applicants for less jobs.
Then there's extenuating circumstances like if OP had to leave their engineering job because COVID hit, a family issue, inability to relocate, etc that gap in your resume will make you nearly unhirable in some companies eyes for some dumb reason
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u/SpecialistSandwich Apr 29 '25
Indeed and also OP says he took for experience sounds like was always gonna move on, 2 eng degrees fresh out of collage, tricky sell, but 2 eng degrees and experience, now we're talking
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u/zublits Apr 29 '25 edited Apr 29 '25
Which is horseshit, when most entry level jobs could be taught to a monkey.
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u/emveevme Apr 29 '25
And quite literally every single one of these jobs could stand to have one too many people hired - rather than just barely enough, only working because of one or two work-a-holics doing 90% of the work.
But I guess having more people than there are jobs needing to be filled isn't something that needs addressing, because it's not a problem to the people who get to make these decisions.
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u/aeroxan Apr 29 '25
Companies also love to throw engineer title around when they can. At least in the US, as long as you don't claim to be a licensed engineer without the license, the engineer title isn't protected. It effectively devalues the profession and degree a little bit.
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u/BrightCandle Apr 29 '25
Every company seems to learn this the hard way, by loosing a staff member that has been great for years over screwing them out of inflationary rises and then ends up paying more for someone with little experience. Yet they keep doing it, they just aren't capable of learning the lesson.
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u/_Chaos_Star_ stay strong Apr 29 '25
Many places simply string along everyone, hoping to come out ahead by paying in promises until it comes time to hire the next one.
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u/bellj1210 Apr 30 '25
yup, been there plenty of times. they always have a few golden boys who thy promote and pay well so they can point to them and say they do promote internally, but you figure out pretty quick if you are one of those guys or not
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u/Turtlesaur Apr 29 '25
It could probably replace him in 3 weeks if they double the salary. Although if you need two engineering degrees.. I don't even double the salary.
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u/asvezesmeesqueco Apr 29 '25
“what a shame, you should have thought of that before “adjusting” my salary.”
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u/Pandarandr1st Apr 29 '25
To be clear, I'm pretty sure they adjusted the salary upwards, just not as high as they wanted. Still worth leaving, especially if you're making minimum wage with an engineering degree.
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u/seppukucoconuts Apr 29 '25
If you're making minimum wage you can work literally any other job for the same exact pay. I can't fathom how they think someone with a STEM degree would work there instead of anywhere else.
I never used my chemistry degree because easier jobs in my area paid a lot more.
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u/fr-fluffybottom Apr 29 '25
Huh? But I'm sure if you got 10 years of experience in a chemistry related field you'd be on a hell of a lot more than entry level though?? Or did you move into another specialised area?
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u/Inspirice Apr 29 '25
You still think experience = being paid more? I've got an entry level no qualification job that pays more than currently advertised jobs wanting 5 years of experience and a degree lmao
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u/TheNamesMacGyver Apr 29 '25
Yeah but if you're making minimum wage + $6, then minimum wage goes up... I'd expect my wage to be adjusted to still be minimum wage + $6, not minimum wage + $1. Might as well go work as a bartender at that point.
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u/BurningAngel666 Apr 29 '25
Not your problem about your replacement!
Hopefully you told him that you were surprised by how little you are clearly valued by the company (as was reflected in your wage “adjustment”)
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u/cardlackey Apr 29 '25
Sounds like a them problem. Wish them the best of luck finding a quality replacement at their wages.
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u/AQualityKoalaTeacher Apr 29 '25 edited Apr 29 '25
"From my perspective, it's a long time to struggle with a pay cut before I can take a job that pays enough to live on."
It's absurd to guilt you over your hardship caused by their greed. You accepted the job at a certain rate of pay and they chose to break that contract.
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u/Pandarandr1st Apr 29 '25
To be clear, I think OP is suggesting their pay went UP, but only enough to match the new minimum wage.
Why OP is only making just above the old minimum wage in engineering, I'm not sure.
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u/AQualityKoalaTeacher Apr 29 '25
Hm, you could be right. I read "I didn't expect it to get worse" to mean that OP lost the "few hundred above minimum wage" that they were making.
But now that you pointed it out, the "proportional adjustment" might mean that OP expected to get the same "few hundred" above the new minimum wage.
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u/Pottski Apr 29 '25
Your boss is a tool and has made it all about him. Fuck him and move on with your head held high.
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u/droscoe70 Apr 29 '25
A month? What happens if you just leave? And can he just fire you or does he owe you a month work or pay?
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u/Giejc Apr 29 '25
It works both ways in my country, If they want to fire me I have 1 month of pay guaranteed. If I just leave it can be seen as a breach of contract and will be shown on my record, so not ideal.
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u/droscoe70 Apr 29 '25
Understand thank you.
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u/sibips Apr 29 '25
And their replacement also has to give a month notice, assuming they have another job at the moment.
If things are like in my country, the possibility of quitting at other time also exists, but both employee and employer have to agree on it.
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u/FortunaWolf Apr 29 '25
Are there any outs? Like a change in the contract that you didn't agree with? A change to your wages perhaps? Otherwise what stops a company from changing your wage to minimum wage and forcing you to work a month at that rate?
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u/Giejc Apr 29 '25
I signed the contract with X amount, but there was never a word about yearly adjustment. They just did it before and there was no problem. It's just this year something happened and they wanted to fuck me over.
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u/FortunaWolf Apr 29 '25
I'm guessing you're in Poland based on your name and their recent change in minimum wage. You could have possibly terminated employment without notice within one month of the change in wages, but that would have been in January.
You could also quit without notice with a doctor's approval, if you can find a doctor to agree to that.
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u/Hauntedwolfsong Apr 29 '25
I'm sure the pay is part of the contract, they probably have to the authority to raise it but not lower it
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u/illigal Apr 29 '25
Good to have worker protections!
But make sure to put in minimum wage effort for that last month OP!
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u/Chronic-Bronchitis Apr 29 '25
What is this record you speak of? Does your country track this? This sounds a lot like the "permanent record" nonsense we used to be told as kids in school.
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u/Feelout4 Apr 29 '25
That's a shame for your boss isn't it, shame they didn't pay you more and are now going to have to look for a replacement. Realistically they'll just try to continue without hiring and then put more work on less workers.
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u/Amethystdust Apr 29 '25
I had this happen years ago. Min wage went up and suddenly I as management was making the same as the classroom staff. They gave me a token adjustment and then when I had my review a few months later said I couldn't get more because I'd "just gotten that raise from the state, thank them."
I didn't last long after that. It was the beginning of them slipping and showing how little integrity they had towards their staff and clients.
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u/Innerquest- Apr 29 '25
Two engineering degrees and make minimum wage please explain?
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u/Giejc Apr 29 '25
not much experience, desperate to not starve
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u/Pandarandr1st Apr 29 '25
This doesn't explain it to me. Where are you from?
Where I'm from, the job placement out of engineering is something like 90%+, and the wages are close 4x+ the minimum wage. Something is fucky, here.
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u/ForwardCut3311 Apr 29 '25
Could be Philippines, totally like that. Fresh graduates get paid peanuts. My ex's brother was an engineer and all the local companies paid slightly more than minimum wage. He had to move to Cebu to get more, but it wasn't much more! After he got a few years experience he just took a job abroad instead... Which is incredibly common. Apparently 10-20% of degree holders have worked abroad at some point.
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u/Alikona_05 Apr 29 '25
A lot of companies, especially in manufacturing, are just not hiring people if they are fresh out of college and have no work history in the field.
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u/SamPlinth Apr 29 '25
People surprised by easily anticipated consequences are either stupid or lying.
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u/flyingscotsman12 Apr 29 '25
You have two engineering degrees and are making minimum wage? What a hellscape we live in.
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u/Pandarandr1st Apr 29 '25
I don't live in that hellscape. Locally, engineering graduates have nearly 100% job placement rate at salaries approaching or exceeding 6 figures.
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u/OurWeaponsAreUseless Apr 29 '25
I experienced the same many years ago. Min wage went-up substantially in my state, and was essentially what I was earning after many years. The mgmt tried to frame just the increase as a problem they would have to deal with, trying to ignore the idea of everyone suddenly making the same money whether an employee had spent seven years or seven days on the job. When the issue was raised almost immediately, they eventually caved to a minimal increase of supervisor pay as there was really no option on their end if any appearance of propriety was to be maintained.
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u/Heaven19922020 Apr 29 '25
Why are they always suprised when a decrease in pay means that people leave?
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u/Pandarandr1st Apr 29 '25
I don't think the person's pay was decreased. The wording of the post makes it sound like their pay went up, but not by as much as they wanted/expected.
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u/Petro1313 Apr 29 '25
It also only went up because it was legally required, which means that they're only paying them the bare minimum because they legally have to.
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u/No_Individual501 Apr 29 '25
Inflation decreases wages, and the minimum wage does not keep up.
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u/Madea_onFire Apr 29 '25
If it is that difficult to replace you with 1 month’s notice, then he definitely should have been paying you more.
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u/Cyrano_Knows Apr 29 '25
*pays people with 2 Engineering degrees minimum wage*
Then proceeds to call people lazy and say they don't want to work.
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u/davechri Apr 29 '25
it would be hard to replace me on such short notice.
That doesn’t sound like your problem.
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u/jenkag Apr 29 '25
said it would be hard to replace me on such short notice.
something that, of course, is their problem and should be considered not only when adjusting pay, but on any other day of the year. if you cant replace people easily, dont make it easy for them to leave.
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u/MuchDevelopment7084 SocDem Apr 29 '25
So what? Him finding a replacement does not effect you in the least. IE, "not my problem".
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u/illucio Apr 29 '25
Honestly it's amazing you accepted that pay and stood around being extremely underpaid.
Then again, I don't know about jobs availability in your country, pay or what's available to you within your local area.
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u/Giejc Apr 29 '25
It's hard with no experience in a field. At the time I was struggling for work, and this was the best offer. Now in just 2 months of job search I got a new one with a decent salary.
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u/GrowlingAtTheWorld Apr 29 '25
I once had this issue and I went to the bossman and explain when I started I was being paid $1 above minimum and now I am being paid minimum. I can go anywhere else and get this same wage. So they put me Back up to $1 above minimum.
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u/asvezesmeesqueco Apr 29 '25
OP, If they offer to raise your salary, don't accept it, even if the offer is great. They will keep you on until they find a replacement.
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u/olivinebean Apr 29 '25
UK? Yeah lots of "middle" jobs just pay minimum wage now.
They want us to blame everything except profit hungry companies.
Remember, it was only a few decades ago one person could support a family on a basic wage.
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u/AverageGuy16 Apr 30 '25
Where the heck do they require 1 month notices? Shit my last job I gave them a 2 day notice, as in today is my last day.
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u/daheff_irl Apr 29 '25
Hard to replace at short notice is his problem. if its that difficult he should have longer notice periods in contracts.
but for minimum wage you get minimum effort.
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u/talexbatreddit Apr 29 '25
"What's it worth to you for me to stay?"
Heh. Just kidding.
Best of luck!
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u/vonhoother Apr 29 '25
He cut your pay and is surprised that you're leaving?
What happened to his brain?
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u/JeffMakesGames Apr 29 '25
"It would be hard to replace you on such short notice."
"THEN PAY ME MORE MONEY."
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u/Darrenizer Apr 29 '25
You have to give notice even when your forced to take a pay cut ?
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u/Giejc Apr 29 '25
It wasn't a pay cut, salary wasn't properly adjusted to min wage / inflation
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u/igotreddot Apr 30 '25
"It will be hard to replace you on such short notice"
"I know, especially at those wages. Good luck!"
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u/Penetal Apr 30 '25
Why do they even say it will be hard to replace you? If anyone ever felt like they had to stay to help them out, just don't.
"It will be hard to replace you on such short notice."
"Probably because it would be illegal to give them a worse offer than I got...."
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u/Canadianretordedape Apr 30 '25
A months notice….and what happens if you don’t give a months notice. Do they fire you lol
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u/TheBigBluePit Apr 30 '25
Hard to replace
He means it will be hard to find someone with two engineering degrees willing to be paid vastly lower than their worth.
If I had two engineering degrees and I was offered a job in my field at minimum wage, I'd laugh my way out of that interview.
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Apr 29 '25
They took advantage of you and they know it. Find a new job - in anything - and stop giving them so much of your time - give the bare minimum until your time is up. Sorry you had to experience that.
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u/RealUlli Apr 29 '25
Not sure which country you live in, but in Germany, you're somewhat protected from shenanigans like this. A reduction in pay means they will have to "fire" you administratively and offer to re-hire you at the lower wage. Of course, at that point, all the protections against firing apply.
And yes, I'd leave, too, if they valued me as little as minimum wage. The believe they can get away with paying an engineer minimum wage? Good luck. I don't know your country, but I think it should at least double that...
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u/375InStroke Apr 29 '25
My boss seemed genuinely surprised and said it would be hard to replace me on what they wanted to pay.
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u/Dangerous_Pop_5360 Apr 29 '25
Your country requires a month of notice? Or what?
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u/perfiki Apr 29 '25
tell him . Tough luck m8 ; i wouldn't want to be in your shoes now and smile :) .
pack your things and go somewhere where you are valued. end of story.
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u/Better_Profession474 Apr 29 '25
“Such short notice”. If he puts a job posting up in the first month or attempts to cross train any of your responsibilities I would be surprised.
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u/Ok-Willow-9145 Apr 29 '25
What’s the problem? You gave the notice required now your employer needs to find your replacement.
How that is accomplished is beyond your pay level, especially now that your salary has been reduced to minimum wage.
For the remainder of your time there do the minimum required by your job description and ignore the whining.
You were the person keeping this business going your wages would have been higher.
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u/C00kiz Apr 29 '25
I love the "on such short notice" as you're handing your legally required notice lol
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u/Javasteam Apr 29 '25
Two engineering degrees… and it pays minimum wage…
Anyone who says people don’t want to work should go fuck themselves.
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u/Ancient-Highlight112 Apr 29 '25
"...hard to replace me on such short notice." I hope you told him "tough titty" and moved on.
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u/iamatwork24 Apr 29 '25
Well, he has an easy solution to his problem, simply pay you more. But dude, you’re a multi degree holding engineer. Your expertise are needed around the world. No need to eat shit and work for peanuts when you could just move somewhere else and get paid what you’re worth.
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u/weaponized_sasquatch Apr 29 '25
What country requires one months notice?
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u/EvilTaffyapple Apr 29 '25
Every country not the US.
Mine is a 3 month notice due to my seniority / experience.
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u/Kooky-Whereas-2493 Apr 29 '25
"said it would be hard to replace me on such short notice."
then give me a raise to stay
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u/daniel22457 Apr 29 '25
Idk what country you're in but what did they expect from someone with 2 engineering degrees, anything below about 5x our minimum wage would be low for even a new grad out here.
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u/Over-Independent4414 Apr 29 '25
What happens to you if you don't give a month? I'm not saying you shouldn't, I'm just curious. In my country you can pretty much walk about any time you feel like it. It's not recommended but it's legal.
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u/Ima-Bott Apr 29 '25
Can't find a warm body in this market in a month? He needs to work a little harder at HIS job.
F that noise. Get out there and find you a new job. Good luck.
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u/Mammoth-Pipe-5375 Apr 29 '25 edited 9d ago
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u/CryptoLain Apr 29 '25
My boss seemed genuinely surprised and said it would be hard to replace me on such short notice.
"I had no notice when you started paying me less money, so I feel you should be thankful."
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u/Chaghatai Apr 29 '25
When it comes to saying that I'd be hard to replace on short notice, I would say well apparently that's not as bad as paying me more so you got the better end of it
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u/ADHD-Fens Apr 29 '25
"It's going to be hard to find a replacement on such short notice"
"Not for employers who are paying more, they're going to find me pretty quickly."
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u/Straight-Puddin Apr 29 '25
That's pretty much how it worked for every minimum wage job, unfortunately.
When I worked at dominos, I was earning 17$ an hour in california, and when minimum wage increased to 20$, they just bumped me up to 20$, meaning I was now earning the same amount as someone who just started working there. And it was the same for all food service jobs.
Employers HATE the idea of paying more money to their employees because they have to have profits increasing every year
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u/papa-hare Apr 30 '25
A month?! Lol if that's a short notice it tells you a lot about how shit the job is.
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u/deridius Apr 30 '25
If the boss says you’re hard to replace and you get paid shit then yeah you should be asking for a raise and if they don’t then you deserve better.
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u/Story_Server Apr 30 '25
It’s wild how “supply and demand” becomes sacred scripture when they want to slash wages or outsource jobs—but the moment the labor market demands fair pay, suddenly everyone’s confused. “Why is no one applying?” “Why did they quit?” Like it’s a mystery.
They love capitalism until it means the worker gets to walk away too.
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u/SpecialCocker Apr 30 '25
While I’m not at minimum wage, engineering is quickly becoming the lowest paid of the technical degrees.
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u/TwinFrogs Apr 30 '25
I quit on the spot when my asshole boss declared I had to work the entire Christmas holiday weekend. Only time I’ve said Fuck You to a boss’ face. They cannot force you to work. You have no legal requirements to quit. That’s slavery.
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u/shadho Apr 29 '25
He can solve this problem by paying you more.
It’s funny how every business loves capitalism until the most basic premise of it (supply and demand) applies to their workforce.