Served 11 years with ‘loyalty’ only for 10 % hike: Heartbroken program coordinator leaves for a low-paying job; 3 years later, ex-employer still struggling to replace him despite offering double pay

Sometimes, the cost of ignoring employee burnout only becomes clear after they leave. After spending 11 years at the same company, a former employee says their role has now been split into two separate positions, with a combined salary at least double what they were earning. Shared on Reddit’s r/OfficePolitics, the revelation came after the individual noticed their old job posted on LinkedIn.

11 years of service end in frustration- Program coordinator leaves after a mere 10% raise

The employee joined the company straight out of college and rose through multiple promotions for 11 years, eventually handling the responsibilities of both a program coordinator and a team manager. As the workload grew, pay increases did not keep pace. “Because I was good at my job, they kept throwing more work at me,” the employee said, adding that repeated requests for a meaningful raise or a role adjustment were met with only a 10% salary bump.

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Taking a lower-paying job instead - Why loyalty didn’t pay off in the end

Frustrated and burnt out, the employee left for an entry-level position at another company, accepting lower pay and relocating to escape what they described as a toxic environment. “My mental health improved overnight,” they said. The employee said he was effectively handling two roles, program coordinator and team manager, at the same time. Today, the company is filling those responsibilities with two separate hires.

Employer scrambles to replace him

Three years on, the former employee earns roughly the same pay as before but with a significantly better quality of life. “They could have just given me a $25,000 raise and I would have stayed,” the employee said, looking at the new hiring post.

Lesson for companies – Overwork can drive away talent, leaving organizations struggling

Instead, they have to recruit and train two brand-new employees with double pay. However, he concluded with a happy note for him: ‘it gives me an incredible sense of satisfaction watching them pay the high price for their negligence.’ His realization is that loyalty is a one-way street.

Reddit reacts on loyalty & burnout

Reddit users reacted with a mix of humor and sympathy to the story of the program coordinator who quit after 11 years over a 10% raise. One joked, “My job got turned into four jobs after being denied a raise and leaving. Good times.” Another warned, “Don’t take on more and more work, it doesn’t give anything but more work.”

Some highlighted workplace realities, like one user saying, “At ALL companies loyalty is a one-way street,” while another questioned the raise, asking, “Measly 10% raise?”

The comments show frustration with underappreciation and the challenges of employee burnout.