The Perks of Being “New” at Your Own Job

Loyalty doesn’t pay. Literally.

Intro

This cartoon was sparked by a moment of pure new hire salary humor — the kind you only notice after spending enough time inside real workplaces.

I’ve watched long-time employees discover that newcomers walk in with better pay, better perks, and better negotiation power than the people who’ve been loyal for years.

And once you see this imbalance, it’s impossible not to poke fun at it.

The punchline

“I already work here. Since new hires get better deals, I’m applying as one.”

This line came from imagining what would happen if employees stopped pretending the system made sense — and simply played along with its absurd logic.

Why this new hire salary humor cartoon works

I love cartoons that expose contradictions, and this one highlights a big one: loyalty rarely gets rewarded, but joining fresh somehow does. The humor comes from reversing the logic — instead of HR questioning the employee, the employee questions the system. It’s a simple “what if,” but the truth behind it is what makes people laugh.

The real-world mirror

Many workplaces unintentionally incentivize turnover. Existing employees get “annual adjustments,” while newcomers negotiate from scratch — and often walk in earning more.

This cartoon exaggerates that reality just enough to make the frustration funny instead of bitter.

Let’s stir the comments

• Have you ever discovered a new hire earns more than you?

• Should companies offer “re-negotiation windows” for loyal employees?

• What’s the most unfair HR policy you’ve experienced?

• Would you reapply for your own job if it meant a better deal?

• Does loyalty actually pay off where you work?

If this one made you smile — or reminded you of your own HR battles — you’ll enjoy the rest of my workplace compensation humor.

👉 Explore more posts in the Career category and see how deep the salary absurdities go.