Fake Promotions: New Title and NO RAISE.

Send us Fan Mail You got the new title, the bigger scope, and the shout-out in the team meeting. Then you waited for the number, and it never came.

That's a fake promotion, and it's everywhere right now. I walk through fresh 2025 and 2026 data. 69% of workers say they now handle responsibilities that used to be split among several people, and three quarters got nothing in return.

Managers, I'm direct with you on this one. Consolidating roles after layoffs and calling it an opportunity is not leadership, and I give you four questions to ask first.

Then I turn to employees, because there's another side nobody says out loud. Some of the best career moves don't come with a raise on day one.

I share how saying yes to an assignment in Nigeria that nobody wanted shaped my whole career. I also explain why the ain't gunners keep getting passed over.

In this episode: • What a fake promotion looks like, and why "opportunity" is doing so much work • The numbers on unpaid extra work after layoffs and consolidations • A four-question gut check for managers before handing one person three jobs • Nigeria, career bridges, and the research on who actually gets rewarded for stretch work • Five questions to tell a real career bridge from a fake promotion • The Ain't Gunner Scorecard, plus a little Karate Kid Subscribe or follow so you don't miss the next episode. Join the Water Cooler newsletter at and connect with me on LinkedIn at Your job is meant to support your life.

Your life is not meant to support your job. Support the show Visit: Instagram: myfriendin_hr LinkedIn: Njsane Courtney Email: myfriendinhr@