Question about asking for a raise at a small company

Max Wright · 2026-03-13T03:45:11.673964+00:00

I finally asked my boss for a raise last month after working there for three years. I had a whole list of reasons ready, like the extra jobs I do and the good reviews I get. He said yes right away, which was a shock, and then gave me less than half of what I asked for. It felt like a win that turned into a weird loss. Has anyone else had a boss agree to a raise but then lowball the number?

williams.betty7mo ago

Yeah, @thea_carter nailed it. Classic cheap yes.

7

troy_bennett6mo ago

Betty called it a cheap yes and that's exactly right. But here's a thing I've seen. Sometimes bosses do that because they think you'll just take it and be quiet. It's a test to see if you'll push back. Next time you talk to him, you could say the number surprised you since your list showed so much extra work. His answer then tells you everything.

1

thea_carter7mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst kind of yes. Did he give any reason for the low number, or just act like that was the obvious amount? It sounds like he wanted to seem agreeable but wasn't actually willing to pay what you're worth. Getting a tiny raise after three years feels pretty insulting. You might have to decide if that place really values you.

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