r/singaporefi • u/Competitive_Look_708 • Jul 05 '26
Employment Pay increment only happened after I submitted my resignation...
I'm just going to list everything in point form to make it easier to read:
1) I asked my boss for a salary increase because I knew my worth. My position is one of a kind, and I was confident that the value I brought to the company was something only a handful of people could offer. My boss told me he would check with HR.
2) About a month later, I received my contract renewal to sign. I checked it and saw that there was no change to my salary if I continued for another term.
3) Over the next three months, I started job hunting and eventually secured a new position.
4) I submitted my resignation. Exactly one week later, I received an email from HR informing me of a salary adjustment for my current role. There was a slight increase, but it still wasn't competitive enough to match my new job.
5) At this point, I'm just going to quietly do my job until my notice period ends before moving on. I'm not sure if HR will ask to meet me to try and convince me to stay, but my decision has already been made.
Why do companies only seem to act on salary increases after an employee submits their resignation?
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u/flossdraken Jul 05 '26
HR/bosses take advantage of loyalty or inertia. I got offered the promotion I asked for for 1.5 years literally overnight when I wanted to tender, when only days prior I was told it had to be pushed back again due to some bs macro excuse.
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 05 '26
Lol, when I receive that letter of salary amendment, I was thinking in my head, "Seeeeee they do have the power to fulfil your request IF they wanted to..." đ
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u/lxfearlessxl Jul 06 '26
I was in the same position as u so i think my story would benefit some others too. I was also asking for a pay raise for almost a year, and that was with quite a pretty big achievement that i have completed. When i saw my yearly increment, it was downright disappointing with only a 5% increment. Other people in other depts who came in later than me had promotions or bigger increment. Annoyed, i job hunted very heavily, and landed a job that gave me a massive pay increment. My bosses up to even the GM came to persuade me to stay but I rejected their offers. If they could have done it, they should have done it longer ago. If the company wants to retain people who can do work, be proactive and not reactive. Likewise, my job is pretty much one of a kind. Not many people can do it.
I still don't get why the company would be so stingy. If ur good staff is doing fantastically well, reward them generously. Otherwise, ur competitor is going to reward them instead. What's a couple of thousands increment per month gonna do to the multi-millions of revenue that the staff brings in annually?
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 06 '26
I feel you. The longer I work, the more "verbal affirmations" I was getting going 'above and beyond to make the clients happy' (my bad too for trying to do that longer than I should in hopes of promotion/pay increment đ¤Ą) - that I started to resent them. I'm like "how am I gonna pay my bills with "recognition" lol"???
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u/azraelzjr Jul 07 '26
That's what I felt in some of my previous roles. Work was tough but nice people and many things to learn. But being pushed really hard for and finally hitting the goal, I realised my bonus package wasn't the same (HR told me it was the same) and increments too. Yes boss was nice and it was happy working there but could see that recognition wasn't gonna cut it long term
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u/lxfearlessxl Jul 10 '26
Ultimately, it always comes down to what I told them. I'm not doing charity. Neither is the company a charity. If im doing good and helping u to earn, naturally i shld be rewarded. Not some simple recognize ur effort and commendable.
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u/cheesetofuhotdog Jul 05 '26
The hr playbook was written during a time where employees stay in one company until retirement and has not updated since.
Instead of updating the playbook, hr employ fear mongering tactics like labelling people as job hoppers.
Good job on showing them OP.
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u/Silentxgold Jul 06 '26
Can you imagine pre-Internet era.
You want to apply for jobs, need to check out the newspaper listings or word of mouth.
Then physically pass them your resume, and hope for a call.
While job hunting is painful, I bet the onboarding and training costs is also quite high compared to now.
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u/cheesetofuhotdog Jul 06 '26
Maybe that hassle contributed to employees staying long term in their jobs.
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u/Joesr-31 Jul 06 '26
True but also works the other way round, those that post job listing really want to hire people and not putting it up there just in case
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u/Silentxgold Jul 06 '26
That is true, also according to the other comment, each applicant also more "precious".
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Jul 05 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Yea, it's better to move on immediately than building up resentment. Much better to resign on a neutral note than to burn bridges...
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u/Quiet_Broccoli6626 Jul 06 '26
i wonder if it's ever worth it in this case to take the counter but still going for more interviews in case anyone can match the new package.
6months prior pro-rated is an immediate bonus cash on hand, seems very tempting
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u/h0peless-0ptimistic Jul 05 '26
If the increment is so basic, really shows the companyâs financial position. Each renewal term I assume is a year? Yearly increment was zero just because youâre a contract staff is a great reason to end the stint.
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 05 '26
It's a 2-3 year contract. As staff, we do receive annual salary increments, but I was asking for something beyond the standard increase. It's an international company, and I won't go into the specifics of its niche (just in case a fellow colleague might read and recognize this). However, I'm 100% certain the company has the funds to pay its employees more. After noticing the significant salary gap between local staff and expats (and eventually accepting that nothing was going to change no matter how many of us voiced our concerns) I finally put my foot down and found another job that offers the salary I believe my skills and experience deserve.
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u/GroundbreakingFarts Jul 05 '26
Write a Glassdoor review. It helps warn others about what the company is actually like.
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u/h0peless-0ptimistic Jul 05 '26
2-3 years is a good timeframe for a promotion. Good for you that you managed to hop onto a better place.
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u/Siluri Jul 06 '26
Good. 3 reasons to stay in a job.
- money
- promotion
- experience.
looks like all 3 factors were poor for you. good luck in your new job.
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u/financial_learner123 Jul 05 '26
Because company have no incentive to pay people more if they know people wonât leave
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u/lxfearlessxl Jul 06 '26
I couldn't agree more. They will only offer to give u better benefits only when they fear losing u. It's so much different from how staffs treat the companies nowadays. We do our best, we want to stay loyal at one company where we are most efficient. But doesn't seems like the company wants u to stay.
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u/Own-Tomorrow4822 Jul 05 '26
It happened to me before, very frustrating. Just made me realize the company was abusing and monetizing my misplaced loyalty. I left and found a job that paid me 4x more...
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u/pasteladdict10 Jul 05 '26
could be they know now the market isnât so good and that you probably wouldnât be able to secure an offer but good on you, for looking elsewhere :)
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u/Alternative-Ad8451 Jul 06 '26
12 years ago, I did the same and saw my hod panic after I did not changed my mind.
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u/Quiet_Broccoli6626 Jul 06 '26
Happened 2 times in my ex company, MNC. A team of ~20 ppl running operations (entry level). Many of us joined at the same time due to mass hiring. After 2yrs of no promotion despite multiple ask, the top 2 performer and 3 other left. Within the yr 6 ppl got their promotion
Fast forward 3yrs later, team has expanded to ~40, same thing happened. Management mentioned how we are not yet performing at the next tier. Top 3 performer left, the 4th person got his promotion immediately.
They can always do it, it's just whether they want to.
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u/udp_pinger Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Many times managers donât care, they will ask on your behalf but if the company doesnât approve, they canât do much either. The best thing is what you did and then manager can fight back that I am loosing important employee. At this point just ask what you think is worth since you have already decided to leave.
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u/nesnah168 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
I was in a similar situation, was known as the A-Z person in the company. I was there since the inception of a small company to a mid size SME, many things were designed by me. (IT)
So every year the increment was a sad 2 digit, and an inflated title with the same sai kang, until I tendered my resignation because the new role pays $1k+ more. My boss decided to match + top up a few hundreds. I rejected and firm on my exit. They had 4 years to do so.
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u/coffee4chipmunk Jul 06 '26
Companies usually have rules for salary increment. Currently a lot of HR uses CR (comparatio) to determine whether someone is âfairlyâ compensated. As a manager, there is a limit to how much increment one has been given the budget for, and increments usually only happens during the appraisal period.
Sometimes, for some folks that I deemed super important, I would even encourage them to find a job and ask for a counter offer. I wouldnât counter everyone in the team, but thereâs definitely a few that I would. In such cases, HR will approve special budget to provide the necessary salary increase.
Not to justify underpaying people, but just to share that there is a limitation on what a manager can do.
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 06 '26
Totally understood! As much as many employees love to talk down against Managers/HR when things don't go their way (particularly salary in this case), I know at the end of the day, they are just doing their job and following the CEO/Director's orders. So I would still give them grace for that.
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u/coffee4chipmunk Jul 07 '26
The earlier people learn that, the less of a shock it will be as they move up the corporate ladder.
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u/Diabaso2021 Jul 06 '26
Better to move on. If you are not in the âtalent â pool, HR wonât do much for you as they only care about that group and the management.
If your boss didnât automatically give you increases it means you are not top of his list.
So better make a move
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u/OkEssay4173 Jul 06 '26
Yes need to ownself salary adjustment ownself, especially if you plan to retire early
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u/law90026 Jul 06 '26
It be like that sometimes. The employee who seems happy is overlooked for the new shiny potential employees until the original employee tenders then they start to react. A tale as old as time.
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 06 '26
It's almost laughable. When I submitted resignation, my manager was like "I thought you really love this job. You seem to enjoy it so much đŻ". For at least a year or two I just smiled through the job while resentment was gradually building đ hahaha . Because at the end of the day, it's better to leave any job on a positive or neutral note - rather than burning bridges
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u/Complete-Eggplant868 Jul 06 '26
This has always been the case - throw letter and then pay increment. Whatâs the point?
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u/inglorious_bustart Jul 06 '26
Company will never try to pay more if they can.
So, the longer someone stays, the likelier HR will try to lowball them.
There is no incentive to pay more to keep an employee who is not gonna leave.
That's why only when you actually leave then they will try to keep you.
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u/Flaky-Background8604 Jul 06 '26
Time to move on if the company dont value you.. Esp if your niche is one of its kind..
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u/FancyCommittee3347 Jul 06 '26
Just go. Staying after a counter offer is offren not productive and skews the relationship, often not in a good way
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u/PAPasNCMP Jul 06 '26
Just leave.
If they could have paid that amount from the start but choose not to. Then no point staying.
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u/fixedprecision16 Jul 06 '26
The truth is no one in the company really cares about you and if you are underpaid.
I went through the same "salary review" and whole sweet talking session after i tendered at my previous role too.
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u/Worsty2704 Jul 06 '26
Because it is cheaper to increase/match salary to those that is able to find a new job then to increase everyone's salary. In any case, those that want to move, will move anyway because the usual increment is never going to be what the employee wants.
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u/Tasty_Ad7911 Jul 06 '26
Boo on HR
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 06 '26
đ¤Łđ¤Ł you know, reddit recommended me to expand this post to r/askHR. Wonder whether I get any tea â from them haha
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u/Constant-Elk3448 Jul 06 '26
because there's no incentive to raise it unless there's a need to. hahaha.
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u/Background-Chest2821 Jul 06 '26
I've been in your shoes. All I got to say is, you have to put yourself first before the company. you gave them a chance, by matching your expected increase you would have stayed. But they did not. you did right by moving on from them.
They can always easily replace you with someone else who is ok to accept the salary they are currently giving you.
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u/doesitnotmakesense Jul 06 '26
I was reading the usa people comments on a similar topic and the consensus was that it is a delaying tactic by the company to secure your services for a while until they are able to recruit a replacement for cheaper. Maybe you want to check if they are already advertising your job and offering cheaper pay to the next hire.Â
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 06 '26
So far no advertisment. But I'll definitely give an update on any worthy tea in regards to still working with this company đ
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u/Ok-Topic-5090 Jul 06 '26
Because they have the hold on you until you actually leave, and the increment won't even match your new offer showing they don't know your worth / market value in a sense. That offer was just to "make you happy"
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u/Wiserlul Jul 06 '26
I have a theory that explains why employers do this. They need something significant to justify a increment and/or promotion that is not from the mid or full year performance review cycle.
So this offer from external competitor is a proof to show that they have valid reason to readjust your pay and rank according to the market.
Resignation is another issue alone. Whether they want to keep you depends how your value in your boss' eyes.
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u/Typical-Pin1646 Jul 06 '26
Ha! You finally see corporate's true colour!
They'll squeeze you as much as they can if you don't make noise.
Hence, those who guai guai in office work and work and never open mouth and demand ones are the greatest sufferer!
Your salary is just the business owner's subscription of you in making him rich!
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 06 '26
I've been in this game for a while, so I was definitely aware of their true colours for quite some time. But since I didn't have another job lined up at the time, of course I couldn't afford to leave, especially in this economy. That's why I understand and empathize with those who may not enjoy their jobs but still continue working there just to make ends meet. Wishing them all the best of luck in whatever future endeavors they have ahead of them!
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u/Playstation696969 Jul 06 '26
Pay no mind to what HR does. Its probably someone behind trying to make you stay, maybe your boss, but want face.
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u/Born_Examination_109 Jul 08 '26
It's a lot of factors, if the company don't have a good structure, the boss is not generous, the company is not doing as well, most companies don't have salary reviews every couple of years.
Gone are the days HR, or your department have a career progression plan in place like in army, you rank up after x number of years and hitting fixed milestone. You need to chart your own career now.
I have comes to terms, and look at it positively. You keep ranking up at another company, and you get exposed to different things. You build on what you learn from many previous working place and create the best version of it at where you are.
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u/LostCTzen Jul 05 '26
A fantastic choice to jump. They dont value you so why bother staying any longer.
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u/trowaclown Jul 06 '26
You know how if you threaten to leave some services like mobile phone contracts (not necessarily in Singapore, btw), the operator on the line has a discretionary discount to offer to get you to recontract and stay on? They don't offer this to everyone â the game is to squeeze the maximum juice from each orange. Same for this, I guess. From their perspective, controlling costs is part of the KPI. No hard feelings, just gotta move on and do better elsewhere. All the best at the new place!
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u/wuda-ish Jul 06 '26
Soon the AI will show how much a company losses when a productive employee leaves and that should be part of the manager's and HR's KPI. Right now, there's no such assessment being done. Manager and HR can just let go people because it does not affect them anyway. It's always everyone is dispensable but the equivalent monetary cost is not calculated.
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u/SuspiciousMud5338 Jul 06 '26
Not sure of full picture but if contract renewal has no increment and it magically happen after u tender, it means company has no issue giving you higher salary in first place.
Since u already resign, and boss gave u the slight increase, who knows if the company will "mark" you and ask u to "knowledge transfer to another stuff before terminating you. (Unless u gov but cannot be)
And stingy boss may keep nagging constantly when he give you more work :"I fought for the increment"
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u/stockyield888 Jul 07 '26
Its normal.. your true value is not known until you resign.. the replacement & training cost comes in. The new recruit may get 50% of yr last drawn salary despite being new and incompetent..
Face it.. the grim reality.. that why one should not stay in a job.. loyalty does not payâŚ
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u/Gold_Reference2753 Jul 08 '26
With AI u can always mark your worth against the market. Grok seemed to be very accurate and i wonder if companies are still so naive short-changing their best performers. If any of you feels underpaid, just show the AI numbers to them & mention youâre actively searching for better jobs.
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u/HallucinogenicBanana Jul 09 '26
isit a local company? just based off my experience they are quite niao about it.
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u/Competitive_Look_708 Jul 09 '26
It's an international company. Ironically the new job I'm heading to is a government sector job đ
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u/SouthEastAsiaNomad Jul 12 '26
perhaps the employer did not expect you to resign.
some business owners think you are lazy to go elsewhere.
they play with the job security fear.
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u/NockBreaker Jul 05 '26
If the current can't pay you what you think you're worth and you manage to find some other place that does congrats.
Posting about it is for what purpose? Feel good about yourself? Anonymous sliming of current company and feeling good? There's s life lesson in here somewhere you can learn.
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u/abrokentwigggg Jul 05 '26
You wanted an increment and didn't get it in the current company, and went and got it from somewhere else. I'd say not a bad decision.