2 years ago I was working at a large financial services company. I had gone from being dogs body to the big boss to a lead position directing two teams. My teams were trailblazing in the department, very directly because of mine and a couple other people's tireless efforts. Honestly, we loved our jobs, loved the people we worked with, and were kicking ass across the board.
I was a contractor at the time and they are trying to get me on the permanent staff. Honestly I wanted to secure my position because I loved the job… BIG MISTAKE. I ended up taking less than I could afford to comfortably live on with the promise of a payrise when they did appraisals. Such a rookie error… Appraisal time came, I was very clear with them about the agreement we made, all that I contributed to the company, and my value to the wider team in general.
What do I get in return? A “payrise” well below inflation. I immediately push back, reminding them of the deal I'd struck and that I am not making enough to live right now i.e. I'm eating into savings. They basically shrug and say Covid better luck next time.
So I reluctantly start job hunting and immediately get two good offers. I go back to them showing them what I'm worth and that I will leave if they can't pay me better. I'm not even asking for what I'm worth, just what was agreed. They basically come back to me a say their hands are tied.
Honestly I think they were either really incompetent or embarrassed that they made a promise they had no way to follow through on. I don't know… What I do know is they didn't just lose me. They also lost the the guy who was killing it with me.
I kept in touch with the team from time to time after I left. Seems like losing us really hurt and everything basically got quite messy. I just don't know why they do it????? 🤯