‘My manager keeps trying to lower my salary every time I relocate’: Remote worker says pay cut threats have made them afraid to move despite heavy workload
This is the dilemma recently shared by an employee on Reddit’s r/OfficePolitics; Here, they explained that repeated salary arguments in connection with their move left them feeling underrated, overworked, and reluctant to relocate, even though travel was one of the reasons they chose the job in the first place.
Every move triggers a salary negotiation, employee says
According to the Reddit post, the employee hails from a developed Western country but is currently living in a developing country while working remotely.
They said the arrangement helped them save about 80% of their annual net income of about $30,000, making the business financially attractive despite its challenges. However, they claim that their managers repeatedly tried to reduce their salaries when they moved to another country.
Remote worker says every move sparks pay cut concerns (Image: Reddit)
Describing a previous relocation, the employee wrote: “The company has a policy of adjusting salaries when employees relocate. When I moved from one country to another, they initially offered to reduce my salary by approximately 16%, even though Numbeo’s cost of living data suggested there was only a 3-5% difference between the two countries.”
The employee said that after backing out, he received a 7% raise instead of a pay cut.
Worker says responsibilities have increased but raises have not
Beyond relocation concerns, the Reddit user said he felt his career stalled despite taking on additional work.
They hold a master’s degree, have eight years of professional experience, including four years in their current field, and speak multiple languages, which benefits the company.
However, they claimed that:
- They have not received automatic raises in recent years.
- A colleague with less responsibility and less experience received at least two raises.
- His responsibilities increased without promotion.
- Their work appears to be scrutinized more closely than that of some of their colleagues.
“Although I have a track record of producing thorough, detail-oriented work, I feel my work is scrutinized more closely than some of my colleagues,” the employee wrote.
Why are they hesitant to leave?
Despite feeling frustrated, the employee acknowledged that the role still offered benefits that would be hard to replace. They said they enjoy the flexibility of working remotely, have few meetings, and can generally set their own schedules.
At the same time, they said that the workload was gradually increasing. “I love my job. I have very few meetings, I can start and finish earlier without anyone tiring me out, but it is also a very demanding and heavy workload and my manager often asks me to take on more tasks.”
The user also explained that they had applied for other jobs but were not successful, making their current position the best option available for now.
Salary concerns change travel plans
Perhaps the biggest disappointment, the employee said, was that salary discussions began to impact where they felt comfortable. Although they enjoy the slow journey, they are now hesitant to relocate for fear of another attempt to reduce their wages.
They recalled a conversation they had with their manager before considering moving to a more expensive country: “Your salary should actually be lower, but I’m happy with your current salary.”
According to the employee, such comments make them anxious about using the flexibility their remote job should provide.
The performance review dilemma
As the performance review approached, the Reddit user asked professional colleagues if they should voice concerns about pay and career advancement. They worried about appearing demanding or entitled, explaining: “My concern is that I don’t want to come across as entitled or unimportant (‘I did this and that, so I deserve a raise.’).”
They also admitted that they were becoming increasingly courageous. “I feel more and more motivated because I feel like I have been wronged.”
The employee eventually asked the Reddit community how they could discuss salary and career advancement without sounding like an ultimatum; This question remained unanswered as he prepared for a potentially important conversation with his managers.
