20-year-old gets offered hospitality job, turns it down because the pay is $10.50 an hour: 'The manager himself agreed it wasn't a livable wage'

In a lot of work environments, we only get an improvement in conditions because we demand them.

The vocal minority who are willing to speak up when something isn't right or could simply be better are often the only reason that unfair workplace practices change. It is no easy task, as it does not always bring immediate rewards. In fact, it sometimes leads things to get worse before they get better.

Learning to advocate for yourself at work is a skill that usually takes practice. Most of us are not very good at it when we first enter the working world, and many never get much better throughout the duration of their careers. It is a vital thing to be capable of nonetheless, and the earlier we learn about its benefits, the better. Early in a career journey is one of the most vulnerable times for employees to be exploited, precisely because they are less likely to speak up.

Still, it remains a downside that being the person who takes issue with these things can involve passing by opportunities that may have been great otherwise. That being said, it is better than keeping your mouth shut and living to regret it.