This Redditor had been grateful for all the learning opportunities he’d been provided. But after he was given a nonsensical reason for his denied promotion, it’s time he taught them a lesson!
A Big Shot Company
Around eight years before this story was posted, OP worked for a “large multinational construction materials company.” He used to be a business analyst there.
A Model Employee
For OP, he’d been a “good employee,” and the company had also been good to him.
During his time there, he’d been given two promotions. He had been moved to several domains in the IT department, which taught him a lot about the industry.
The First Denied Promotion
At some point, there had been an opening for the role of a Senior Business Analyst within a “new domain.” However, OP was denied the promotion for “various reasons,” which he completely agreed with.
Accepting His Fate
OP was never bitter about this denied promotion. He explained that a more deserving external candidate got the position, and the company’s decision was completely understandable.
He wrote, “I was still given the opportunity to work in that domain. Great learning opportunity.”
Organic Promotion
After working on a few successful projects in the new domain, OP asked if he could “organically be promoted” to Senior Business Analyst.
He explained why he thought completing his projects was a success, saying, “By successful delivery, I mean my business partner going to another director in IT, who had a stake in that domain ‘where has he been all of my life’ so I had definitely done good, if not great.”
Unreasonable Excuse
So, OP’s manager spoke to their director about his request. Unfortunately, all he said was that OP needed to “prove himself” first.
It’s Just Unacceptable
OP just had to laugh when he heard about this. He said his director was a great guy, especially since he was the one who promoted OP twice and allowed him to learn from various domains of the business.
He had nothing against him, but his explanation just “p*****” OP off.
Anything but That
OP would’ve understood his second denied promotion if he was given proper reasons.
He said, “I would’ve been satisfied with ‘there’s no budget this year,’ or ‘I don’t think I’ll get approval for an in-place promotion.’ HR was one of the domains I supported, so I know how things go.”
Proving Him Wrong
Given this turn in OP’s career, he kept learning the new domain he worked on like nothing had happened. However, he was also applying for various jobs outside the company.
After several months of waiting and applying, one role “finally clicked.”
Way Better Benefits
OP shared that his current job gave him a salary of $88,000 plus a 15% bonus paid annually. Now he found a job offering him $110,000 plus a 30% bonus paid quarterly!
Following Instructions
OP’s director wanted him to prove himself, and he just did—by proving his worth to another company!
He wrote, “I got a $22,000 raise on my base and doubled my bonus percentage.”
Too Late for Regrets
OP told his manager that he was leaving. In turn, his manager asked, “Was there anything we could’ve done to keep you, like make you a Senior?”
His manager and the company were too late, though. OP had already found another job that appreciated his worth and value.
In Need of Better Compensation
Companies sometimes take their employees for granted, which was precisely the lesson OP learned in his old job.
He told his manager, “Well, I only started looking because they said no to being promoted. Otherwise, I was and still am happy here. The money is hard to turn down, though.”
Remaining Optimistic
Now that everything’s over, OP’s glad his company turned down his request for a promotion.
He wrote, “In hindsight. I am glad they denied me the promotion. I would’ve never left that company otherwise and not been on my current career trajectory.”
The Community’s Two Cents
There has always been a saying that employees are replaceable, and that’s why people shouldn’t settle for a company that doesn’t appreciate their value. OP’s experience really puts this into perspective.
A top commenter wrote, “Sometimes, a small push like this can be all we need to help us with our next move. Your manager must have quickly realized that they screwed up!”
To this, OP replied, “He moved on a few months after me. He was denied his own promotion while I was still there. He also proved his worth to another company. And agreed. I had become complacent. This push really helped set a much better career path and way more lucrative earning potential for me.”
Questions on Loyalty
People also mentioned that employers “complain” that employees are no longer loyal to the company they work for. However, on the contrary, companies need to take better care of their people.
“Employers love complaining that employees are no longer loyal—well, of course not. Because employers no longer treat us well. All it would have taken to keep you would have been a title change and a small raise. Now they need to find a Senior Business Analyst while paying 25% plus more than they were paying you if they want to hire anyone,” wrote one Redditor.
Another said, “Yeah, there’s zero point in being loyal to s***** employers.”
Do you think OP deserved how he was treated? What would you do?
More From Quote Ambition
This Reddit user expressed her frustrations online when a grown man refused to move to the next piece of equipment so she could use the machine for her one-minute circuit workout!
She Refused to Give Her Mother-In-Law the Money Her Rich Husband Left for Their Children After He Died, Now People Consider Her a Selfish Woman
Family problems continued following this Redditor after she followed her dead husband’s wishes and saved the money he left for their kids.
He Told His Son-In-Law He Was Not His Grandson’s Biological Parent and Therefore Had No Right to Stop Him From Seeing His Mom
In this Reddit thread, a grandfather takes it upon himself to make decisions for his grandson’s life. But is his judgment something his grandson’s parents can trust?
She Banned Her Future Mother-In-Law From Attending Her Wedding, and Things Just Got Chaotic for the Soon-To-Be Wedded Couple
A Reddit user wants to know if she’s in the wrong for banning her fiancé’s mom from her big day after she spouts hurtful words at her and her daughter.
Was He Right For Telling His Bratty And Spoiled Sister-in-Law He Never Liked Her When She Suddenly Confessed Her Feelings for Him?
This Reddit user wants to know if he’s wrong for telling his sister-in-law he never liked her after she told him her feelings. He got brutally honest and told her he’d hated her ever since!
This post first appeared as His Boss Refused to Promote Him, Saying He Had to “Prove Himself” First. So, He Proved Himself to Another Company, Got a $22,000 Raise, and Even Doubled His Bonus! on Quote Ambition.
