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An employee sparked online debate after highlighting the widening gap between salary hikes and rising living costs, saying her pay increase failed to match growing financial pressures.
Employee flags gap between pay hikes and living costs. (Representative image)(iStock )An Amazon employee has sparked an online discussion after underlining the widening gap between salary increases and rising living expenses. In a post shared on the workplace forum Blind, the single mother of two said that while she received a double-digit increment, she had expected more given her workload.
‘I was kind of counting on more’
“I ended up with a 10% base increase, but I was kind of counting on more,” she wrote, adding that she is supporting two sons along with her ailing mother. “Daycare costs just went up again this year, and I’ve been trying to put more aside for emergencies,” she said.
Long hours, little time with family
The employee said she had “worked her ass off this year” but was unable to spend enough time with her family, making the outcome feel disappointing.
“I think I let myself get my hopes up a bit. I know 10% isn’t the worst looking at blind, but I worked my ass off this year and wasn't even able to spend much time with my family because of it, so this is a bit disappointing,” she said.
‘I feel like I’m not doing it right’
“I'm kind of stuck. I know Amazon isn't the best place to work or the worst place to work but I now need to take care of my sons and my mom I need something stable but the pay at Amazon isn't cutting it… I feel like I'm not doing it right,” she added, asking others how they manage multiple dependents.
Users point to wider slowdown in pay growth
The post drew mixed reactions, with several users pointing to a broader slowdown in salary growth across the tech industry.
“10%? You’re lucky. We got 0 raise this year at Salesforce. No stock either,” one user wrote.
“Boo boo. A lot of us ‘worked our ass off last year’ at Amazon and got meets instead of exceeds because of stack ranking politics and manager favoritism. Be grateful you got exceeds with 10% raise,” commented another.
‘10% is unheard of in this environment’
“10% is unheard of in this environment. I’ve gotten 1% for the last 3 years. Equity refresh was 27% lower too. Companies aren’t just giving raises anymore. You either need to get promoted or jump ship to another company for a higher level,” suggested a third user.
Divided views on pay and expectations
“Wow... firstly, 10% is a lot for Amazon. Your personal problems do not matter to a company. If the pay is less, you gotta switch. Budget allocation happens for a team; personal problems cannot be passed on to others or should notfavor someone,” wrote another.
“You are in a tough spot, but Amazon pay and benefits are the top end. If you make some compromises on your lifestyle, you should be able to make it work,” commented one user.
“I got 3% raise in 4 years - not 3% per year but 3% total in 4 years. I am questioning myself for staying at the same company now,” shared another.
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. LiveMint has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
About the Author
Kanishka Singharia
Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.
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