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The original was posted on /r/antiwork by /u/Katasia on 2025-09-24 01:57:05+00:00.

I left a company 10 years ago on good terms. Recently I applied for a role there that was similar to what I did back then, only now it is a Director role instead of Sr. Manager with eleven direct reports (vs just a few).

This is at a Fortune 10 company, yet the pay for the role is only about $20k higher than what I made a decade ago. Prices since then are up around 36%, and that increase is only about 14%. So in real terms I would actually be making less now with way more responsibility and experience.

I walked away from the phone call today feeling defeated. I do not know if I will ever be able to catch up, even after having what most people would consider a successful career earlier in my life. It feels like I have been running in place for 10 years, working harder for less. I am so sick of this rat race where no matter how much you grow you still fall behind in this capitalistic, greedy country.