'I fully trusted her and she broke her promise': Boss makes verbal promise to high-performing employee, suddenly chooses an outside candidate instead

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    Font - Boss betrayed me. What do I do? Advice Context: I work a six figure job for a for-profit company with a monopoly in its market. As with all monopolies, this one is especially poorly run; it's mainly politics over results. Last October, I had a job offer elsewhere for a 13% raise.
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    Font - When I announced this to my boss, she gave me an immediate 17% raise and a verbal promise of a promotion "come 2023". She constantly dropped hints that I was on my way up. She was always gloating about my performance, critical thinking skills, always happy, and whenever I asked her how I could improve, she'd tell me there's nothing to improve.
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    Font - Now she's done a 180: she took an outside candidate over me for her old position (she was promoted, and it seemed obvious to everyone at the company that I was bound to get her old position), and no hints at any promotion anymore, nothing, and always telling me how I need to improve A, B, and C. I am outraged. I fully trusted her and she broke her promise.
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    Font - I have zero motivation to work and don't see why I can ever believe a word that comes out of her mouth anymore. Leaving for another job that pays better would be a challenge given my current pay. I feel like quiet quitting is the only solution here, but that is not in my DNA; I'm a self starter and constantly looking for solutions and trying to move the organization forward. What the do I do? f
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    Font - Edit: when I brought up the fact she had promised me a promotion, she immediately got defensive and reminded me she had accelerated my pay raise. She knows. She knows I know.
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    Font - DarthArtero 1 day ago Look for another job and take that lesson learned with you. I'd also recommend not doing anything stupid or out of the ordinary that could potentially follow you. If the manager is as petty and deceptive as you say, I've no doubt she'll try to find out where you went to work and cause trouble for you there. Yes I am cynical but I've been burned before so yeah....
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    Font - Dubbiely 23 hr. ago Actually, it is always not the smartest move to tell your employer that you have another higher offer. And when he counters you with a bit higher one he knows you cannot leave because the lower one is your value in the market. You should have left. What can you do now? Leave, even if you have to settle for a lower salary.
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    Font - acerecruiter. 8 hr. ago Great lesson in your words!! Hopefully help other readers from learning the hard way.
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    Font - 197 degrees 1 day ago Sorry to hear this OP, however unfortunately it happens in a lot of jobs. Reading this from the outside, your boss probably needed you to stay in her team to maintain good team performance to allow her to get her promotion. So she did whatever she needed to do to keep you on board. Then as soon as her promotion was finalised, your development wasn't her priority anymore. She probably won't be the first person to do this in your entire working life I'm afraid...
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    Font - I always remind myself that if something isn't in writing, anyone can go back on their word. Always look out for yourself and ensure you're getting a good deal. Your 17% raise over the last few months must have been nice so that's a positive. As others have said, do the bare minimum and focus on getting a new job, maybe there will be something out there that is the equivalent of the promotion you were promised. Take your paid time off if you can too in order to get time away from the work
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    Font - keptyoursoul Yeah, that's the teachable moment here. Many people in a corporate setting prioritize their careers over any and all else. Even the business. 1 day ago
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    Font - adevilnguyen 23 hr. ago This is exactly what happened to me. I asked for a $0.70 raise and was denied, so I ended up quitting due to the disrespect. I was jobless for 5 months and just recently accepted an offer for 37% more than the previous job, and the best part is I don't have to manage other staff. I can just go do my job and clock out at the end of shift.
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    Font - At the previous job, I was working 12+ hrs (on an 8 hour shift), working Saturdays (12-14hours overtime) during flu/covid/respiratory illness season, running my entire department alone, and traveling to other clinics/ patients' homes for vaccines. I personally generated a minimum of $1500/day. When I quit, they ended up shutting down the entire department for $0.70/hr or $1500/yr. This is why employers can't keep employees.
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    Smile - SassySavcy 1 day ago A verbal offer is as good as the paper it's written on.
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    Smile - tommyboy0208. 1 day ago Agreed 100%. Get everything in writing
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    Font - redditorfoureight. 18 hr. ago Yeah, I see why they call it a betrayal, but-- and this isn't very admirable, but I have to admit-- I would be embarrassed if I ever trusted my boss that much. They usually go mask-off on you at some point. I'm not a great employee at all, though, so maybe the hard working kids get the really convincing smiles from the boss.
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    Font - Economy_Row_6614. 22 hr. ago Also, your boss may want the new replacement boss to fail, knowing that you will quit. If you stay, likely whoever replaces her will do fine.
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    Organism - FriarNurgle 1 day ago Do the bare minimum and start job searching.
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    Font - sephiroth3650- 1 day ago To be honest, you're not the first person who was given a hollow promise of a promotion. You won't be the last. You were given an accelerated 17% raise already. So unless you're underpaid, I would recommend staying where you're at, and starting a job search. Even if you're angry at your old boss, why would you opt to give up a well paying job without something else lined up?
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    Font - Anon01234543 - 1 day ago Cautionary tale for why you never accept company counter/offer. Sorry friend.

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