I was the group accountant. When they hired me, I was meant to be the school accountant. However, upon onboarding, I discovered that ‘any other duties’ as described on the JD meant being the group accountant, in charge of three companies including the school, the hospital, and a fellowship. When I asked, I was reminded that in the interview discussion, they had mentioned increasing my salary by about 30% upon confirmation. They argued that they knew the question would come up, so they ‘volunteered’ the 30%.
Well, patience pays, or so they say. And so I waited. My probation was 6 months. But no sooner had it ended than threats started. Suddenly, I was among the favored few who had worked in such an organization. It was indeed a privilege to have a job in the organization, an opportunity to be Group Finance head, and the exposure it gave me was unmatched — I needed to see that– I was told. Any mentions of salary review by the promised 30% or at least an assistant fell on deaf ears and only brought more resentment from the managers. as a matter of fact, I would leave that organization 2 years later without ever receiving my confirmation letter (although all benefits accorded to permanent employees I too was granted), because they did not want to write the figure that was rightfully mine on a contract.
I had to adjust my working hours by default. I would report at 7:00 am to about 9:00 pm for me to handle the workload alone. And since i needed to prove a point that I can get things done and maybe gain their approval of a salary review, I tried every effort possible to ensure all required reports were submitted on time. Looking back, I feel like I lay down my life for that organization. My health deteriorated, but i wont on working hard. It was hard. I would ring my sister and cry a river. I look back often and think, I know I am hardworking. and i get shit done. Trust me with any assignment, deadlines, etc and i will deliver. so why on earth did i succumb to a created pressure – a pressure that was created by my narcissist employers who
I was the group accountant. But when they hired me, I was supposed to be the school accountant. However, during onboarding, I realized that “any other duties” in my job description actually meant being the group accountant, responsible for the finances of three companies: the school, a hospital, and a fellowship. When I raised the issue, they reminded me of the 30% salary increment they had mentioned during the interview. Apparently, they had anticipated my concerns and “volunteered” the offer to preempt questions.
Well, patience pays, or so they say…. and so I waited. My probation was six months, and I gave it my all, thinking things would change after confirmation. But as soon as probation ended, threats started. Suddenly, I was reminded how lucky I was to have such a role, how privileged I should feel to gain exposure as the Group Finance head. Any mention of the promised salary review or the need for an assistant was brushed aside and replaced with resentment from the managers. I ended up leaving two years later, still without a confirmation letter. Despite receiving all the benefits of a permanent employee, they didn’t want to formalize my contract and write down the salary I was entitled to.
The workload was enormous, and I had to adjust my hours just to keep up. I started working from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM most days, trying to prove I could handle the job and maybe earn the salary review I had been promised. Looking back, I feel like I laid down my life for that organization. My health took a hit, but I pushed on, trying to meet every deadline and exceed every expectation. It was tough. There were days I called my sister and cried, feeling drained and undervalued. I knew I was hardworking, someone who could handle any assignment and deliver. So why did I allow myself to fall into the trap of created pressure — pressure imposed by narcissistic employers who had no intention of rewarding effort?
Let me tell you how narcissistic employers operate. First, they make you feel like working for them is a privilege, like you’ll never find another job if you resign. They pay you peanuts and constantly remind you how poorly the company is doing financially. Then, they create an environment filled with unnecessary fights and degrading interactions. I remember my supervisor once throwing a checkbook at me because of a minor mistake on one check. I bent down to pick it up, feeling utterly humiliated, like I didn’t deserve to exist. Another time, I heard of a manager who was fired on the spot for eating a snack left on his desk that was meant for someone else.
Since I didn’t realize I was working for narcissists, I persevered. I laughed at their jokes and accepted the random gifts they gave instead of proper recognition or rewards. They claimed formal acknowledgment would make me too proud. Still, I kept pushing and kept applying for other jobs. One day, I got a call. The company on the other end had heard of my work and offered me a role at three times my current salary.
I quit.
And guess what? They hired three people to replace me. Turns out, they knew all along that my job required three people. But because I wanted so badly to prove myself, they let me shoulder the burden — both the grunt work and the executive responsibilities.
What did I learn? Work hard and work smart, but never at the expense of your well-being or mental health. Know your limits and stick to them. If your efforts aren’t appreciated, keep applying for other jobs. Eventually, the right organization will value your work.
Keep up friends!
If you have an interesting workplace story, would like to sign up for our HR coaching course, or need help with training your management team, or HR outsourcing, reach out to us. People Wellness Consultants is a HR firm established to offer guidance to HR people and coach business leaders.
