Quit Pro Quo

One of the owners of a company I used to work for co-owned it with his dad. He was in his early thirties and managed things the way he was taught in business school (recent graduate). I had a long talk with him one day, asking if we could all get a raise since we hadn’t had one for about three years.

Owner’s Son: “If you guys want raises, you should all come into the office individually and tell me how we can grow the company.”

Me: “We’re all line workers in a factory.”

Owner’s Son: “Yes, but I work in the management team and have business experience. If you want a raise, tell me something that will impress me.”

Me: “I was out in the working world full-time before you were even born.”

Owner’s Son: “How is that supposed to impress me?”

Me: “It’s not, but all the guys who have been here for almost two decades are planning on quitting en masse a few months into your watch, so you tell me how impressive that will look.”

Owner’s Son: “Quit then. We can replace you.”

Me: “Good luck hiring guys with our level of experience on the specialist equipment, paid at the rates you’re currently paying us, while enduring the drop in productivity during the time it takes to find said replacements.”

Owner’s Son: “You’re bluffing. You’re not unionized.”

Me: “We’ll see.”

The owner’s son apparently took my threat to the owner, his dad, expecting to be supported. Instead, we got our raise within two months, and the owner’s son was moved to a more supportive admin role, away from making managerial decisions involving factory line staff.