Burner account as I actually do really appreciate most of the people from the previous job, however this has to be said
Had been in this role for 2.5 years when the first lockdown in our country happened (March 2020). I was able to WFH no problems, my equal had some issues and wasn't even there for the first week while shit hit the fan, all our clients (it was an MSP, I was on the helpdesk) needed help setting up remote access from home etc. I did a lot of hard work in those first couple of weeks, including some over-time and working through breaks to get the job done. I did this because I really cared for the company and wanted to be helpful
After all this was said and done and we got out of that lockdown, I was given a basic 5% increase (as it was my work anniversary) and said the big one was coming in 6 months, once they figured out what Covid had done to their finances (that would be at the end of the financial year). I was given this 5% immediately as I had stepped up over the lock down and ensured the help desk kept running. I understood and agreed we could look at a bigger increase when the financial year rolled over as made sense – a lot of our hardware sales were down and the company is small.
The date 6 months later comes and goes. One of the owners decides that I already had a pay increase and that I'd need to wait until my work anniversary to get the rise. My helpdesk manager couldn't get me the increase no matter how hard he tried. Inflation was also starting to hit. Come my anniversary (August 2021) and they offered me another 5%, with room for an increase if I passed some training. I felt quite ripped off at this point. Around then inflation was 5%, so this was only an inflation based increase, I had not yet got my proper “raise” for the work I did over the first lockdown, and over this 18 month period, I had still kept the helpdesk running as smoothly as it needed to be.
I passed the training, and what happens? The same owner from before does not hold up to the promise of the increase. Better yet, roll into Jan 2022 and another sort of lockdown happens. This time not mandatory, but the government recommends WFH when possible. It is completely possible for me to WFH, in fact I'm far more constructive when doing so. The same owner, who if you haven't guessed by now, has that mentally of “working hard, not smart” and if he can't see me, he doesn't think work gets done.
At this point my care for the company disappears completely. It had been draining since the failed increase they promised and evaporated completely here.
I basically push quitting to my helpdesk manager and he manages to score me the WFH deal through this rough Covid period. However during the 2-3 week period where it was back and forth between me, the manager and the owner, I had started applying for other jobs
While WFH I had interviews and lined up a very nice job with perks, more pay, better hours, free on site gym, WFH availability (although I love working in the environment itself), less work, less responsibility. I cannot find any downsides. Handed in my notice and here I am now, in a much better position, mentally, physically, financially. Win win win win win.
I highly recommend anyone and everyone to apply for stuff if you're not happy. Or if your increases are not keeping up but you like the place, go get these job offers and bring the offer to your manager. If they won't match it, just leave.
Why is it that new places will offer you more but your current place won't offer you enough to stay? I know for a fact the place I left will be left in a major lurch for a long while. I was able to do the same work as 5 of the other guy on my level. Good luck them
TL:DR last job barely gave me pay increases and broke promises, so found a new job when I finally had enough. Went from loving and enjoying the company and wanting to do more, to being completely indifferent.