When HR tried to slash his pay quietly, this employee blew up their whole plan

A dedicated employee shared a shocking story that’s been resonating across the internet: after pouring himself into his job, his reward was a 30% pay cut with no warning. But rather than accept the insult, he made a power move—and his old company is still dealing with the fallout.

The Redditor, u/ForWango, detailed how he spent over a year in a crucial managerial role at an international company, racking up more than 500 hours of overtime and consistently covering for coworkers.

"I worked my a** off and worked more than 500 overtime hours last year."

— u/ForWango

Stressed out man at workCanva

Despite being praised for his efforts, he was blindsided during contract renewal. HR slashed his salary by 30%, citing vague “compliance guidelines.” The message was clear: take it or leave it.

He chose to leave it—and level up

Instead of accepting less, u/ForWango quietly started applying for new roles, including one at a company subsidiary. He didn’t just get another job—he got promoted, with a salary twice what HR had offered.

"Got a higher position that pays double what they offered."

— u/ForWango

His sudden resignation caught leadership off guard. “The CEO, HQ, and my manager are pissed at HR,” he shared. Apparently, they had no idea this decision had been made behind their backs.

Stressed employee takes a break from workCanva

No replacement, no plan

After realizing their blunder, HR tried to convince him to help fill the position. But no one wanted the job—not at the new reduced salary and not with the stress it came with. “Too funny,” he wrote.

"We don’t think anyone here would like to transfer for that salary."

— u/ForWango

The company’s plan to save money ended up costing them far more—in reputation, morale, and leadership stability.

Reddit cheers him on

Commenters flooded the thread with support. u/vig2OOO called it a rare but satisfying win for workers:

"It’s nice to see a victory on our side."

— u/vig2OOO

Others shared their own tales of revenge and resignation. u/pchlster noted that his old company had to hire three people to do the job he once did solo. Still couldn’t match his results.

Overhead shot of three employees sharing a deskCanva

u/EnigmaGuy chimed in with a mic-drop observation:

"Now they're upset and looking to blame anyone but themselves."

— u/EnigmaGuy

Know your worth—or walk

This isn’t just one worker’s success story. It’s a wake-up call. Companies that underestimate or underpay their top performers might soon find themselves with empty desks and no good candidates to fill them.

If you're being asked to do more for less, remember: you’re allowed to leave. Sometimes the best way to prove your value is to walk away—and watch the chaos from a better-paid position elsewhere.

This article originally appeared earlier this year.