Key Highlights
- A Reddit user says their company offered a $22,000 salary increase if they agreed not to pursue a promotion for two years.
- The offer followed a major client’s request to work exclusively with the account manager, who had more than four years of experience in the role.
- Reddit commenters advised considering the raise, negotiating for a new title, or exploring a senior role with the client.
Reddit User Says Company Offered $22,000 Raise to Delay Promotion
A Reddit user shared an unusual career dilemma after saying their company offered a $22,000 raise in exchange for remaining in their current role instead of pursuing a promotion. u/Spiritual_Day_1828 posted the situation on r/careerguidance on November 13, asking Reddit users whether they would accept the offer.
“My company offered me a $22k raise to NOT get promoted. Would you take it?”
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The post had received 1,000 upvotes and 469 comments at the time of writing, with Reddit users offering different views on the financial and career implications of the proposal.
Client Relationship Put Promotion Plans at Risk
“I thought being specifically requested by a major client was a good thing until this week,” the user wrote. They said they had been working as an account manager for more than four years when a client developed a preference for working directly with them.
According to the Reddit post, the client was willing to end its relationship with the company if the account manager moved into another position. In response, the user said their boss offered a “$22k salary increase” on the condition that they remain in their current position for the next two years.
“No management responsibilities, no change in title, just more money to keep this client happy,” the user wrote.
The offer left the Reddit user weighing an immediate increase in pay against longer-term plans to move into senior management. The central concern was whether staying in the same account manager role for two more years could affect future career progression.
Reddit Users Debate Pay, Titles and Career Progression
Many commenters encouraged the Reddit user to accept the $22,000 offer, while others recommended negotiating for stronger terms without taking on management responsibilities.
“Two years is not going to screw up your long-term progression. This is so easy to talk through in a potential interview setting down the road. Is the 22k more than the promotion or the same as?”
The commenter argued that earning more money while avoiding additional management responsibilities could be preferable, depending on the value of the promotion and the user’s career goals.
“Sometimes being a manager isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,”
“If I could make the same as an individual contributor and not have to deal with managing people, I’d do that in a heartbeat, but ymmv.”
Other Reddit users suggested that the company create a new role for the employee. That approach could provide a formal career-development benefit while preserving the client relationship and salary increase.
“Ask for them to make you a new position like Key Accounts Manager or something and to make sure your salary band is aligned to other managers,”
“Justify it to them that while titles may be ceremonial, they also influence a lot more than pay grade
Another commenter advised the Reddit user to negotiate more aggressively rather than immediately accepting the company’s proposal.
“Milk the hell out of this. Dont just take the lowball offer. This is literally worth probably 50x what he’s paying you each year and, realistically, does affect your future,”
A different suggestion was for the user to contact the client directly and ask whether a senior management position might be available there.
Decision Had Not Been Confirmed
At the time of writing, u/Spiritual_Day_1828 had not replied to the comments, so it was unclear whether the Reddit user accepted the $22,000 raise, negotiated for a different title or compensation package, or continued pursuing a promotion.
The Daily Dot was unable to independently verify the claims made by the Reddit user u/Spiritual_Day_1828. The details were based solely on the account shared in the Reddit post.
Why This Matters
The situation highlights the tension between immediate compensation and formal career advancement. A raise can improve short-term earnings, while a promotion or management title may affect how an employee’s experience is evaluated in future opportunities. The Reddit discussion also focused on whether a company can recognize a worker’s expanded strategic value through a new role or title without requiring traditional people-management responsibilities.
In this case, the client’s reported willingness to leave gave the employee additional negotiating leverage. However, the available information does not establish what arrangement was ultimately reached or whether the company made any changes to the proposed terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Reddit user offered a $22,000 raise?
The user said a major client wanted to continue working exclusively with them and might leave the company if they moved into another position. The raise was reportedly offered to keep the user in their current account manager role.
Would the raise include a promotion or new title?
No. The Reddit user said the proposal included no management responsibilities and no change in title, only a $22,000 salary increase for remaining in the role for two years.
Did the Reddit user accept the offer?
It was unclear at the time of writing. The user had not responded to comments on the Reddit post, and no final decision was reported.
