Boss refused to give his top worker a raise for years — when he quit, it took three new hires at the same cost to replace him
Some employers become so accustomed to having a reliable worker around that they start taking advantage of it. Raises are delayed, and extra effort goes unrewarded because they assume the employee will simply keep showing up. Reddit user who goes by u/ShiggySimp_UwU shared how their dad was treated as such in a post on Saturday, June 13, 2026, over the r/pettyrevenge community. After years of dedication and repeatedly being denied the pay he had earned, the man finally chose a different solution. It was only then that his manager began to understand the true value of the worker he had taken for granted.
My dad's boss has to pay 3 new people instead of giving my dad the pay that he worked for.
by u/ShiggySimp_UwU in pettyrevenge
The man had started the job of laying floors along with a friend. The latter became the manager of the company, but the dad was the one who brought profits and kept the business running. Eventually, when he asked for a raise, he was dismissed and ignored repeatedly. He later decided that he had had enough and quit. The consequences became apparent almost immediately. The superior suddenly found himself scrambling to replace him. The only way out was to ultimately hire three employees to handle the workload that one person had been managing. Ironically, each new hire was paid roughly what the father had been earning on his own.
Meanwhile, with help from his family, the man launched his own flooring business, which quickly built up a steady stream of work. It is a mistake many employers make when trying to cut costs. By the time they realize the value of a skilled employee, that person may have already found greater success elsewhere. While he was offered the requested raise after handing in his notice, it was too late. Despite being the professional whom customers regularly requested, he earned a salary less than what he deserved. His manager repeatedly insisted there weren't enough profits available for a raise while continuing to enjoy a large home and other luxuries. So, the contrast became increasingly difficult to ignore.
u/Catacombs3 commented, "Bizarre as it sounds, this story isn't unusual. Instead of valuing an employee who went beyond and above, management often takes them for granted." u/Sooowasthinking said, "The exact reason we have unions. Your father was being exploited." u/R3DLOTU5 also wrote, "I've personally dealt with this. Worked for a company, they couldn't afford to, or justify giving me a raise, while telling me that poor people are that way because they choose to be." According to SHRM, replacing a valuable employee can cost as much as 50% to 200% of that worker's annual salary, and the organization notes that top performers often contribute far more than their job description suggests.
As the article explains, businesses become stronger when they recognize the true value of exceptional workers rather than treating them as easily replaceable. In this case, the boss repeatedly refused a raise, only to end up hiring three people to cover the work of one. Success often depends as much on respect as it does on talent, and both require consistent investment to survive. And when appreciation is delayed for too long, people eventually find their worth in something better.