After being denied a raise, employee resigns and accepts job at rival company, boss rejects the resignation and offers a 50% raise instead: ‘I couldn't refuse’

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    30 VEDERAL RESERVE NOTE 50 WB157643078 UNITED STATES ОРАМЕННА STEN FIF n
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    Update: I got a 50% pay increase after resigning
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    Here's a follow-up to my recent posts, linked below. Initially, I was prepping for an upcoming performance review, expecting a standard raise after a
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    strong year: I hit 3x my quota and got a lot of positive feedback from management. My total compensation this year was $90k. Around the same time, a headhunter reached out on
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    behalf of another small company. They offered me a sales role handling roughly $1.5M of their business, with a projected total compensation of $110-130k.
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    This led to a couple weeks of discreet interviews with the recruiter and other company staff. When they made a formal offer, I requested my annual review early to discuss a
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    compensation boost. Surprisingly, my boss asked for a day to think it over-despite my request only matching last year's raise. In the follow-up meeting, they said they'd reassess before year-end but couldn't approve a raise now. I was shocked.
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    Meanwhile, I was stalling the recruiter, which became its own saga fit for a dedicated thread. Eventually, the recruiter rescinded the offer the same day as my second review meeting. After
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    some back-and-forth drama, I reconnected with the company directly, and they revived the offer. They agreed the recruiter was hasty as it had been less than 48 hours since receiving the final
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    offer. I accepted, signed the agreement, and prepared my resignation. My boss was blindsided but supportive when I delivered the news.
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    The next day, things escalated. My direct manager wouldn't accept my resignation, asking me to reconsider. I mentioned that I needed to make 50% more this year—and to my surprise, they came back with an offer of $130k.
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    They admitted they hadn't fully understood the seriousness of my request. The new offer included a base salary increase, biweekly commission payouts based on assumed annual sales to get me
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    there, and 9% uncapped commission on anything above that target. Plus, they lifted territory restrictions, allowing me to sell anywhere.
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    I know the common advice is never to accept a counteroffer, but I did. They initially undervalued me, but this is the highest pay I've ever received, and I don't have to wait for quarterly commissions anymore.
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    They even paid out all my outstanding commission upfront, giving me my biggest paycheck I've ever received. Between that and the other gestures, I feel they're making a long-term commitment to me. Or maybe I just have Stockholm syndrome. Cheers.
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    darthcaedusiiii • 20h ago • Your company is completely incompetent. I really hope it works out but you are not reading all the red flags.
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    PaperWindshield OP • 20h ago • You're not entirely wrong. We need to make some serious pivots this year and I have faith in some of our leadership team to make them. I was very frank (because I thought I was leaving) in our meetings, and they've made commitments to change. I will hedge if not.
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    ForgetSanity •20h ago. You really s._d over that other company giving them the run around and then accepting and renegging. 130K salary doesnt mean anything if they fire you next summer. Ive seen this before where they will offer whatever because they know they will replace you in roughly 6 months. Good luck.
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    PaperWindshield OP 20h ago I agree, reneging was horrible and I hated every second of it. That said, our small company is way too overworked to replace me. Bosses are semi-retiring and my manager freaked out when they found out I
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    was leaving, went to bat for me and got me a package I couldn't refuse. I have more than 6 months - but I better hit my yearly targets or all bets are off the table.
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    wafflez77 20h ago • Don't be surprised if they end up hiring someone to replace you for cheaper. Congrats on the raise but be cautious
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    PaperWindshield OP 20h ago • This is my fear. There's a lot of pressure on me now to hit these new targets and I've lost a bit of sleep thinking about what will happen if I don't get there.
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    Ultimately, I think I'm fine if I do, because why fire the golden goose? If I don't, I'll ask for a make up year, but yes, I would say logically I'd be in a bad spot.
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    That said, I'm confident in my sales ability, and even more so in my capacity for survival. I'll likely hedge by firing out applications in Q3 of next year if things aren't looking great.
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    tanhauser_gates_ • 19h ago • Who said never to accept a counter offer? I have resigned twice in my current role. I started at 75K and last year on my W2 I hit 198K. Moving on or the threat is the only way you can get a raise in most companies.
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    PaperWindshield OP 18h ago • This sub can be pessimistic, but there is some utility in that if it boosts odds of survival. Companies are self- serving so always be sure to keep interests in alignment.
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    Hawk Letov 20h ago • I hope it all works out at your current company. You've likely burnt a bridge with the other company by stalling to the point where they rescind a great offer, convincing them to revive the offer, and then declining it. Congrats on the raise.
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    PaperWindshield OP 18h ago • I knew by taking the counter I would be burning a bridge, I'd expect them to feel that way. 50% was the price for that and my company paid it. It's business at the end of the day and my family supported me through it.
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    kittenofd00m • 20h ago • But didn't include a guaranteed term? The only way I'd agree to stay for more money is if a term of 3 to 5 years was also guaranteed. It's why CEOs get golden parachutes. They know it could end at any time.
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    PaperWindshield OP 20h ago • Employment agreement said term is "indefinite" as opposed to a standard 1 year. This is not a ploy to replace me for less, I'm confident in that.

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