Doing higher-level work without a pay raise
Employers frequently pressure staff to take on complex responsibilities outside their current job description using past career experience as justification, while refusing to adjust their compensation. This practice forces employees to perform advanced, long-term tasks without commissions or pay grade increases, creating friction when workers raise concerns with management.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1accepting the unfair proposal and doing the work
- 2pushing back on management and setting professional boundaries
- 3leaving the company and finding a new job
- 4Asking management for more compensation
- 5Pushing back and negotiating for less work
- 6Starting a job search to secure outside offers for leverage
- 7Proposing a custom job definition or title change to HR
- 8asking for training or learning resources
- 9copying what previous employees did
- 10consulting colleagues in related departments like PR
- 11discussing expectations and support plans with management
- 12Accepting a job offer at a different company
- 13Leaving the position for better pay and support elsewhere
- 14Starting a fractional independent bookkeeping service and charging fixed monthly fees for defined lists of services
- 15Refusing extra tasks or additional roles that fall outside the job description
- 16Sending resumes directly to accounting firms for remote or project-based work
- 17Researching average salaries online
- 18Searching job boards like Indeed to gauge local market rates
- 19Considering looking for a new job or getting an outside offer for leverage
- 20Working excessive hours to handle multiple business needs and projects
- 21Comparing job duties and pay structures with other offices
- 22Switching to independent contractor or commission-split models with brokerages
- 23Juggling project oversight and development tasks simultaneously throughout the workday
- 24Spending personal time on weekends and evenings catching up on paperwork and lesson plans
- 25Trying to set boundaries around leaving on time or protecting brain space
- 26Splitting tasks with teammates or considering AI tools to handle administrative busywork
- 27Testing modifications in a controlled copy environment before applying
- 28Applying for jobs at other companies
- 29Refusing extra work unless proper training and backing are provided
- 30Asking management for a raise to reflect the new workload and negotiating a target salary increase.
- 31Asking for outside perspective
- 32Considering whether to stay and negotiate or look for another opportunity
- 33Taking on every possible task and then asking for a title and pay increase if the company is profitable.
- 34Updating resumes and leaving the company
- 35Asking for a raise and formal training
- 36Demanding requests in writing
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Until then, I was expected to continue performing both roles with no temporary title adjustment or compensation change.”source ↗
“Being a solo admin for 30 users is no joke - can't imagine being solo for 300.”source ↗
“I am an IT director, 46, male. My pay doesn’t seem to fit what I do and I am afraid to jump ship due to my age.”source ↗
“I work 12-16 hour days weekends too and make 95k a year.”source ↗
“I have asked for a pay raise and was supposed to get one Q1. We are now 9 days in to Q2 and haven’t heard a peep.”source ↗
“This isn’t doable. 50 is hard enough with all the things I. T. has to monitor and do.”source ↗
“Got puked on. Stayed about two hours late catching up on work every day. Zero planning time because admin is taking it all up with meetings.”source ↗
“Essentially, if they catch you failing on one of the tasks listed, you get one, and if you get three it goes on your permanent record. Nevermind at all that doing all of these tasks requires AT THE VERY LEAST 1 extra hour of work after contract hours.”source ↗
“Now after they just introduced this I’m scared to not turn any lesson plans in and will probably end up spending a couple hours of what’s supposed to be my time on the weekend copy and pasting :)”source ↗
“had a gig last year that wanted me to also run their social media because "numbers and marketing are basically the same thing"”source ↗
“I currently work as a SaaS cloud engineer. Before this role, I spent about 10 years in cybersecurity, but I intentionally left that field”source ↗
“Recently, however, this has escalated: I’ve been asked to begin work toward obtaining a security certification for the company. This aligns closely with my prior senior-level experience and would involve a significant, long-term effort.”source ↗
“I raised concerns with my manager, noting that this work goes beyond my current role and compensation.”source ↗
“I'm one of few employees on my team who is capable of delivering on difficult projects.”source ↗
“HR at the org has created a compensation hierarchy where there is only a management track beyond my level, and no real means for me to be compensated for the value I provide.”source ↗
“I feel increasingly frustrated that I'm a magnet for some of the hardest work coming into my team while not being recognized monetarily.”source ↗
“I am being over-relied on and am approaching burn out, but given the composition of my team there isn't much they can do about it, I'm their only option for many projects.”source ↗
“It feels like I'm stuck and I'm not sure what can be done about it.”source ↗
“My client once wanted me to run Facebook ads as well in the same salary.”source ↗
“I feel I am not cut out for this job as the focus has become more marketing than education. I feel overwhelmed and out of my depth and every move I make seems to be the wrong one.”source ↗
“I need advice from anyone- what do I do?”source ↗
“I once applied for a job that was bookkeeper/admin assistant/social media.”source ↗
“I feel like technically I'm capable of modifying the script and csv file to do what they want but it's so far above my pay grade, it's not even funny.”source ↗
“I feel these responsibilities are closer to what a senior staff accountant or manager might be doing. I have since asked for a raise to better reflect the work I do.”source ↗
“Management responded that they agreed my responsibilities have grown from what they originally hired me to do and my compensation should be adjusted but the details are still being worked out.”source ↗
“I was the bookkeeper, HR, office manager, payroll, IT dept, and project manager all rolled into one. And the husband thought I was getting overpaid.”source ↗
“i feel like i'm already juggling too many things now.”source ↗
“i still dont have time to understand it completely.”source ↗
“knowing them, i don't think they are going to pay me extra to keep the network managed.”source ↗
“Anything that seems like accounting or has to do with money is piled onto me.”source ↗
“This is on top of regular accounting stuff. I’m frustrated cause I keep getting things piled onto me like any problem that isnt an accounting problem.”source ↗
“She kept piling on more tasks that weren’t even part of my job description.”source ↗
“I’ve handled multiple tasks that fall outside my actual role and aren't reflected in my pay”source ↗
“I spend the whole eight-hour day juggling project oversight and trying to complete my own development tickets without losing my mind.”source ↗
“with six years of experience and the responsibility of leading/managing a project, I’m being paid like a Jr developer, and honestly, that is incredibly demotivating.”source ↗
“Current title is PM and wondering if I'm getting additional tasks from the office that I shouldn't be or if I'm being underpaid for it so they don't have to hire someone else.”source ↗
“Over time, my responsibilities have expanded quite a bit.”source ↗
“My responsibilities have increased significantly, but my compensation hasn’t really changed to reflect the additional workload.”source ↗
“I’m currently supporting around 104 units, and I’m paid $6/hour.”source ↗