Fired for Demanding a Raise / Chapter 2: The Final Straw
Fired for Demanding a Raise

Fired for Demanding a Raise

Author: Alexis Martinez

Chapter 2: The Final Straw

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Confidentiality, confidentiality. Is that just so veterans like me don’t see how ridiculous this is?

Furious, I pressed on: "I joined when the company was just starting out. I’ve worked hard for so many years. And now my salary isn’t even as high as a fresh grad who just joined. Even putting tenure and titles aside, my output and achievements are way ahead of hers, aren’t they?"

Just last month, I wrote five viral TikTok scripts. Emily produced nothing. What exactly makes her worth more than me?

The boss’s tone softened. "Jason, of course I know all the hard work and contributions you’ve made over the years, but the company has its own difficulties. Hiring costs have shot up. To recruit a top university grad like Emily, that’s the price. You’ve been here a long time—you should understand the company better than anyone."

I don’t get it. If labor costs have gone up, why not raise the pay of loyal employees like me? Am I not worth it?

"This just isn’t reasonable."

"There’s nothing unreasonable about it. The company needs fresh blood to grow, and that’s just how the market works. Not just Starline—every company is like this."

"Mr. Thompson, I’m requesting a raise." Not just a raise—I want to earn more than the newcomer.

But the boss didn’t even blink. "Think carefully. Hasn’t the company given you a raise every year? You should learn to be content."

Sure, he gave me a raise—twenty bucks each year. Six years of raises and I’m still outdone by a newcomer. Loyalty means nothing here.

I remember at the start of the year, the boss told me the company was struggling, that no one else would get a raise except me. I believed him, and even felt grateful. But then he turned around and gave a fresh graduate such a high salary…

It hurt. The insult hurt worse. I took a deep breath. "If that’s the case, I’m afraid I can’t keep working here."

If I have to take a $1,100 salary and train a newcomer making $2,500, I’m just going to make myself sick.

The boss was clearly annoyed. "I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Go back. I hope you calm down and think things over. If you only care about money, it’s hard to get far in your career."

I stared at the framed MBA diploma on the wall behind him, the little trophies from industry meetups. I could practically hear the unspoken "you're lucky to have a job" in his voice. My fists clenched in my pockets. Maybe he thought I’d blink first—like I always had before.

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