Techie gets 28% raise from another team in the same company after manager swore cap was 12% and shares a smarter way to earn better raises

A Reddit post on r/OfficePolitics has gone viral after a cybersecurity professional revealed how he secured a 28% salary hike from another team within the same company, despite his current manager insisting that internal transfers could not exceed a 12% raise.

According to the Redditor, he had informed his manager that another internal team planned to make him an offer, and he intended to negotiate a 25% raise. His manager consulted HR and upper management, then returned claiming that a 12% increase was the “absolute maximum” allowed. When the employee said he would consider external opportunities instead, the manager encouraged him to start applying elsewhere.

Days later, the offer letter arrived, with a 28% raise, surpassing even the employee’s own expectations. When he told his manager he’d stay if they matched the offer, the response was far from professional. The manager allegedly became angry and began making passive-aggressive jokes in meetings, calling him a “mercenary” chasing money.


Also Read: Is it a crime to leave office on time? Woman is shamed for clocking out at 5 p.m., and the person behind it isn’t who you’d expect

How to earn a better raise

In the post, the employee criticized corporate culture for underpaying internal talent while paying outsiders more, adding that this dynamic pushes people to leave. “No one should devalue their position,” he wrote, urging workers to negotiate and explore opportunities when employers refuse fair increases.

Reddit reacts: “This is why people leave”

The comment section was overwhelmingly supportive of the employee’s decision. Many users criticized companies that cap internal raises at arbitrary percentages.

One commenter said it “makes no sense” to limit internal salaries, while others argued that HR policies often prioritize cost-cutting over retaining skilled employees.

A former VP shared that rigid pay bands “squeeze top talent” and ultimately weaken organizations. Another commenter recounted being told directly by HR that the only way to get a real raise was to “leave the company and come back,” highlighting how widespread the issue is.

Users also pointed out how often managers mislead employees about internal limits. “Sounds like the manager was lying to convince him not to apply,” one person wrote. Across the thread, the theme was clear: loyalty is often exploited, and workers increasingly realize they must advocate for themselves in a system designed to underpay them.