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Overthinking and shame

User Profile: indigoRaspberries4343
indigoRaspberries4343 February 27th

I just asked my boss if it was okay to make a salary adjustment based on inflation (my pay has been fixed for about two years). I made the mistake of asking directly through a direct message — we've talked about similar things in the past and I thought there was some level of confidence between us, since he's told us before that we can speak freely with him about these things.

I don't think he took it well. He said that wasn't the right way to ask, and then explained that the company was going through a tough time (it's a small company and they've lost clients, now i know). I told him that was exactly why I had come to him directly — I simply didn't know about the situation. I also clarified that I hadn't given it much weight because I was talking about roughly a 2% adjustment, not an actual raise.

Ten minutes later, he sent an email to me and two of my coworkers saying that I had brought up the inflation issue, that the company was going through a difficult period, but that he was going to give everyone an 8% pay increase anyway. The whole interaction left me confused — I never even got the chance to fully explain what I was originally asking. I told him several times that if it was a problem he could simply dismiss the request, but he said it was valid, while also telling me I should be more careful about how I ask for things — because "in another place they would have told you to f*** off."

So in short: I ended up confused about why he reacted the way he did, while simultaneously giving raises to people who had nothing to do with my situation. I don't even know why I'm so affected by this since it technically "ended well," but now I feel genuinely ashamed and anxious. I'm also worried about how this might affect my future at the company, since I really need this job due to family health issues — which was the original reason money started to feel tight.

If you made it this far, thank you so much, and I'm sorry for being extra.

2
User Profile: bubblegumwings1234
bubblegumwings1234 February 27th

@indigoRaspberries4343

I hear how confusing and overwhelming this interaction felt for you. You asked about something reasonable, and even though your boss reacted strongly, it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. It sounds like he was under stress about the company’s situation, which may have shaped his response more than your request itself.

What stands out is that he still gave everyone a raise — that shows he took your point seriously, even if the way he expressed it left you feeling anxious. Feeling ashamed makes sense after such a tense exchange, but remember: you spoke up respectfully, clarified your intentions, and showed care for the company’s struggles. That’s not something to be embarrassed about.

It’s natural to worry about how this affects your future. But the fact that he acknowledged your request and acted on it suggests he values your input. Try to see this as proof that your voice matters, even if the delivery wasn’t perfect. You’re learning, and that’s okay.

1 reply
User Profile: indigoRaspberries4343
indigoRaspberries4343 OP February 27th

Thank you for the response🤗

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