A dedicated employee shared a shocking story that’s resonating across the internet: after pouring himself into his job, his reward was a 30% pay cut with no warning. But rather than accept the insult, he made a power move—and his old company is still dealing with the fallout.
The Redditor, u/ForWango, detailed how he spent over a year in a crucial managerial role at an international company, racking up more than 500 hours of overtime and consistently covering for coworkers.
"I worked my a** off and worked more than 500 overtime hours last year."
— u/ForWango
Despite being praised for his efforts, he was blindsided during contract renewal. HR slashed his salary by 30%, citing vague “compliance guidelines.” The message was clear: take it or leave it.
He chose to leave it—and level up
Instead of accepting less, u/ForWango quietly started applying for new roles, including one at a company subsidiary. He didn’t just get another job—he got promoted, with a salary twice what HR had offered.
"Got a higher position that pays double what they offered."
— u/ForWango
His sudden resignation caught leadership off guard. “The CEO, HQ, and my manager are pissed at HR,” he shared. Apparently, they had no idea this decision had been made behind their backs.
No replacement, no plan
After realizing their blunder, HR tried to convince him to help fill the position. But no one wanted the job—not at the new reduced salary and not with the stress it came with. “Too funny,” he wrote.
"We don’t think anyone here would like to transfer for that salary."
— u/ForWango
The company’s plan to save money ended up costing them far more—in reputation, morale, and leadership stability.
Reddit cheers him on
Commenters flooded the thread with support. u/vig2OOO called it a rare but satisfying win for workers:
"It’s nice to see a victory on our side."
— u/vig2OOO
Others shared their own tales of revenge and resignation. u/pchlster noted that his old company had to hire three people to do the job he once did solo. Still couldn’t match his results.
u/EnigmaGuy chimed in with a mic-drop observation:
"Now they're upset and looking to blame anyone but themselves."
— u/EnigmaGuy
Know your worth—or walk
This isn’t just one worker’s success story. It’s a wake-up call. Companies that underestimate or underpay their top performers might soon find themselves with empty desks and no good candidates to fill them.
If you're being asked to do more for less, remember: you’re allowed to leave. Sometimes the best way to prove your value is to walk away—and watch the chaos from a better-paid position elsewhere.
Furry friends are importantRepresentative image via Canva
Couple has annoying conversation
The one phrase people most want to ban forever—and 20 more that drive us all nuts
If you’ve ever cringed at hearing “It is what it is” or rolled your eyes at someone saying “No offense…” before delivering something totally offensive, you’re definitely not alone. Some expressions are so irritating, so overused, or so grammatically cursed that hearing them once more might just push us over the edge.
We asked our Facebook audience, “ If you could ban one annoying phrase from existence forever, what would it be?” and holy moly, did the floodgates open. Typically, a given question might rack up around 5,000 comments—but this one? Over 14,000. People shared responses that were funny, petty, brutally honest, and occasionally downright poignant. From phrases that try (and fail) to sound wise, to those so overused they've lost all meaning entirely—here are the top contenders folks are completely done with.
The one phrase nearly everyone wants to vanish
By far the most repeated offender was:
Over and over, users cited this as the ultimate non-response. It’s dismissive, it ends conversations, and it offers exactly zero comfort or help.
Another big category? Expressions meant to comfort that end up being painful or insulting. These include:
Many commenters explained that these phrases, while often well-intentioned, feel dismissive in times of grief or hardship.
Grammar gripes and word crimes
Grammar lovers had a lot of feelings. Some of the most-cited “please stop saying this” phrases included:
And let’s not forget the collective rage over “pacifically” when people mean “specifically.”
Words that reveal more than they intend
Several users took issue with phrases that feel passive-aggressive or intellectually lazy, such as:
As user Jacqueline C. put it, “'To be honest...' What does that mean? That you're not honest any other time?”
Phrases tied to racism, sexism, or toxic positivity
A significant number of respondents took aim at harmful or politically charged phrases. Among them:
These comments weren’t just about annoyance—they were about the emotional weight and social impact of language.
James G. didn’t mince words when he wrote: “‘Go back to your country, then’ 🤬. The epitome of racist. I love my country, plus my ancestors did not ASK to be brought here the way they were.”
Corporate speak and empty buzzwords
You knew these were coming.
These phrases sparked a different kind of rage—one reserved for staff meetings and marketing emails.
Iris H. summed it up: “Most corporate speak. Downsizing. Low hanging fruit. Pivot. etc…..” Just say what you mean, please.
Why this resonated so deeply
There’s something unifying about shared irritation. These phrases might seem harmless or routine, but for many people, they’re like verbal paper cuts—tiny annoyances that, over time, sting a lot more than they should.
Whether it’s poor grammar, dismissive condolences, or flat-out hate speech in disguise, we’re collectively craving language that’s thoughtful, clear, and kind.
So the next time you find yourself reaching for one of these expressions, take a beat. Maybe there’s a better way to say what you mean. Or maybe… just don’t say anything at all.
And if you’ve got your own phrase that should be banished from existence? Don’t worry—there’s still time to add to the list.
Got another phrase that needs to go? Drop it in the comments on our original Facebook post.
Bonus: The top five most hated phrases from our poll
Let’s make 2025 the year we finally stop saying all of them.