Hello The bright side!
I said no to a promotion at work – politely. The increase was basically nothing, like “treat yourself to one extra coffee a week” small, but the hours? No days away, no overtime, no life.
“I wouldn’t trade my entire existence for a slightly larger number,” I told them.
My manager smiled and said he respected my decision. He didn’t.
The punishment was calm. precise. Project invites stopped arriving in my inbox. The meetings happened without me.
My workload has shrunk to boring leftovers — enough to keep me busy, but small enough to make me look like I’m “out.” Slow and professional suffocation.
Then came the cherry on top: They hired someone else to promote She told me to train her.
In my performance review, he said, “You are not showing leadership.”
I said: You took everything from my plate.
“Perception is important,” he shrugged.
Three months later, senior management She “accidentally” added me to a meeting and asked why my productivity was declining. I told the truth – calmly, matter-of-factly. She sighed and said: This is his third complaint.
Two weeks later, he was “transferred.”
Then she said something no promotion could match, “Choose the projects you want. We’ll build the role around the life you’re trying to live.”
Best regards,
lily
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