I worked in the caretaking field. I helped adults with physical and cognitive disabilities in their daily life. Showered them, dressed them, put on their make up, fed them. During the Pandemic, lots of colleagues fell ill and missed work for two weeks, from one day to the next. Even those who were “contact cases” had to quarantine for 2 weeks by default, even if they tested negative.
During this time, my teamleader got pregnant and wasn't allowed to work on site anymore. And because we need our teamleader to be on site, a new one got appointed that role. That person was me. I felt flattered at first and had a sense of pride. I felt that it must mean I'd been doing a good job.
I didn't really get a much higher salary, but I did end up working 60 h weeks. What was my raise? $1.50 per hour. I worked my ass off, developed a severe case of insomna that required medication, and then suffered a Burnout.
I didn't get that promotion (solely) for doing a good job. I got the promotion because I was quite new to the work life, I had no idea about salaries, I was naive and gullible and the only thing I cared about was keeping up my performance. I was too worried about making a good impression to question the institution. The only thing they were looking for was an idiot who would do the job of two people basically for free, and let themselves be used as a doormat.
I wish I'd known that sooner, and I wish I didn't have to learn the hard way that work is not only about being seen as competent and hard-working, it's also a lot about protecting yourself from being exploited. I left that job as soon as I could and found something much better. I'm still stressed out, but that's just because of the nature of the field, and not because of the institution.