An employee has shared her boss' messages, which some have branded "idiotic" after he was called out for underpaying staff members.
It's almost impossible to go through life without experiencing at least one bad manager in your time, and I'm sure everyone has a workplace story to tell.
It's often said that people don't quit jobs, they quit managers... and although it's not true 100 percent of the time, there's definitely something to it.
That being said, having a bad manager can often be a bonding experience for the rest of the team who get to gossip over a drink after work.
A text conversation, shared on TikTok by entrepreneur and digital agency managing director Ben Askins, has shed light on just how oblivious some bosses can be.
The dialogue ensued when the employee, identified as Christina, reached out to her boss, Elliot, upon discovering she was the lowest-paid member of her team, despite her seniority and tenure at the company.
However, instead of addressing her concerns, Elliot's response was met with disapproval.
In the exchange, Elliot immediately questioned who divulged the information to Christina, a move labeled "a confirmation of guilt" by Askins.
When Christina insisted on discussing the matter further, Elliot brushed off her concerns, stating that it was inappropriate workplace discourse.
Askins, condemning Elliot's stance, emphasized that it is definitely not illegal to discuss pay with colleagues, urging individuals not to succumb to company directives preventing such conversations. "If a company's trying to hide it, or be dodgy in any way, it's almost certainly because they are clipping pay," Askins said.
Despite Christina's persistence, Elliot continued to justify the pay discrepancy, attributing it to timing and recruitment challenges. Askins criticized Elliot's rationale, branding him "idiotic", and emphasized the potential cost of losing an experienced employee compared to adjusting her salary.
Christina formally requested a pay increase to reflect her contributions and role within the company. While Elliot initially hesitated, citing difficulties, he eventually conceded to meet her demands.
It goes to show that workers really do have power when they hold those above them to account - within reason of course!
Discussing your pay with your colleagues is a perfectly acceptable thing to do should you choose to do so, and it can often paint a picture of any payment differences within your workplace.
Have you got any bad boss stories?
