Employee turns down 20% hike, says no to incentives for one simple reason. ‘Respect can't be achieved with promises’

In today’s competitive job market, salary hikes and flashy perks are often seen as the ultimate markers of career growth. Many professionals are encouraged to chase higher pay packages, better incentives, and promises of future opportunities. But beyond the numbers, there is a growing conversation around something less tangible yet equally important, which is respect and recognition at the workplace. For many, feeling valued and fairly treated matters more than short-term gains. As work cultures evolve, employees are beginning to prioritise dignity, transparency, and long-term trust over attractive offers that may not truly reflect their worth.

Knowing your worth beyond salary

Along similar lines, career counselor Simon Ingari dropped a post on X sharing an account of an employee who rejected a decent increment at work for something similar. His post highlights an important aspect that professionals often tend to overlook, which is knowing one’s true worth beyond just salary figures.

In the example shared by Simon Ingari, the employee was earning Rs 100,000 and was offered a revised package of Rs 120,000. While the offer reflected a noticeable increase, the candidate chose to turn it down. The company attempted to persuade him by highlighting additional perks, workplace culture, and future growth opportunities, but the professional remained firm in his decision. Even assurances of a higher raise during the next appraisal cycle failed to change his mind.

Why respect matters more than promises

According to the post, the employee believed that respect and fair value could never be replaced with promises of what might come later or what the future at the organisation may have in store. Despite repeated attempts by the company to retain him over the next three months, the employee continued exploring other opportunities quietly, giving interviews to other firms discreetly.


Eventually, the employee’s persistence bore fruit when he secured a significantly better offer elsewhere, putting an end to the prolonged negotiation with his current company. The story, which has resonated widely online, serves as a reminder for both employees and recruiters. While professionals are encouraged to understand their own value and worth, companies, too, are urged to approach negotiations with fairness and respect rather than relying solely on future assurances to retain talent.