Update: 'I quit without thinking twice': Boss flips out on employee who quits $120k salary job for $250k job

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 2, 2024 3:00 PM EST

Who among us wouldn't quit their job for double the salary? It'd be a hard question to say no to, that's for sure. No matter how much you love your job, you could vastly improve your life with double the amount of money. 

Usually, when you find a job that could double your salary, you have to inform your company that they either need to match that amount, or you'll be leaving. It's not personal, it's just finances. But still, some bosses think that your loyalty to their company should be stronger than your loyalty to the almighty dollar. An extra $50k, $100k, or even $120k like this person was offered, could all provide you with an amazing life. It would mean more vacations to luxurious destinations, or giving gifts to all your friends and family, or maybe buying a badly needed new car or home. Most bosses understand that loyalty just can't compete with all that… but not every boss gets it. 

This person had an odd interaction with a boss who did take that salary boost personally. This person, u/raredontstare, also posted an update a few weeks later sharing what happened in the aftermath of the whole situation. Check it out below!

Then, read about these irritating bosses, like one who asked an employee, "Can't you just be late to your other job? You have responsibilities here." 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10434847744
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    AITA for telling my old boss I don't believe in loyalty and its unreasonable to expect me not to quit for a better paid job?
    via u/raredontstare
  • 03
    Worked at my first job for 6 years. They trained me from ground zero on everything. I had a great boss (fought for my promotions, etc. - in those 6 years my salary doubled). Got an offer from a more prestigious company with better growth opportunities and double the salary [Edited. Maths are hard - thanks u/automatic691212]. We're talking substantial money (120k vs 250k).
    via u/raredontstare
  • 04
    I quit without thinking twice, and thought it was more respectful not to ask my old boss to use any of his political capital to get me a match (he couldn't, part of my new comp is stock in the new company and the salary is likely more than his pay). So I simply gave him my notice and explained my transition plan. Boss was truly devastated and very very angry. We both stayed professional throughout the discussion but it got heated and
    via u/raredontstare
  • 05
    he questioned my loyalty as if it's a character flaw. I said my view is I paid him and the company back with my hard work so we're at the very least even. Arguably they got a bargain deal because I could have jumped ship for more money 2 years ago. [EDIT: didn't say this last sentence out loud.] Should I have handled any of this differently? My wife and some friends say I'm being rather cold and calculating. I should have shown more loyalty since the
    via u/raredontstare
  • 06
    company gave me so much. I think it's disrespectful to assume I didn't give them anything less than enough in return - I know my worth and my contribution to the company's bottom line. I've seen people walked out of the door after 2 decades with a "pink slip" and no one shed a tear the morning after. I respect my old boss, but what the holis "loyalty to your job" supposed to even mean?
    via u/raredontstare
  • 07
    EDIT: I can't possibly respond to everyone and read every comment so if there's something super pressing you wanted to ask or share feel free to DM and I may be able to answer. Thanks for the engagement and helpful insight everyone! Verdict - NTA (Not the A-h e)
    via u/raredontstare
  • 08
    UPDATE - 20th October 2020 Probably a bit mundane, but some folks wanted an update. Took my old boss out for a beer to not burn that bridge as some of you have suggested (we sat in an outside pub garden for all the health-conscious redditors). Both had a great time. A couple months helped us cool off and getting together turned into a lot of reminiscing about the
    via u/raredontstare
  • 09
    good old times together. It also got us taking even more frankly about the things that would be viewed too political if we were still employed by the same company. I think I may have kept my mentor in my life after all. I apologized for perhaps ending things with my old job too abruptly. He said I couldn't have left at a worst time but then again there was no better or worse time to lose me, and to not sweat it. Said he understands why I took
    via u/raredontstare
  • 10
    the job, respects my reasoning for trying to protect him from using up the goodwill he built to save me as an employee/get me a match, and that giving him an earlier heads-up might have given him more time to find a replacement but didn't make a huge difference at the end of the day. It's all water under the bridge now. The company already hired my replacement for about 25% more than I was paid (he didn't
    via u/raredontstare
  • 11
    disclose the exact amount but that was the implication). He was blunt I wouldn't have gotten that much even with the offer I had. He also said his priorities in life are very different and he's happy where he is due to personal reasons and work-life perks, but that I need to seek what is the right answer for me. Said he's be happy to work with me again if an opportunity presents itself (and I echoed that sentiment). Who knows, we may
    via u/raredontstare
  • 12
    end up on the same team one way or another. A few things I took away from the reddit discussion and our talk with the old boss: • Look out for yourself. Your company is not the same thing as your boss. There are structural obstacles to fight against, and because you're loyal to one person doesn't mean the company as a whole feels that way
    via u/raredontstare
  • 13
    about you. I don't regret my choice. • Be good to people who were good to you and do right by them, if that doesn't go against #1. I wasn't a my final interview and in thanked my old boss. profusely. It made a difference, but obviously he was still upset in the moment. Which leads me to #3..
    via u/raredontstare
  • 14
    . People are people. They are imperfect and have lapses of judgement. If you see them as such, you will find it easier to move on and move up in your professional life. Good luck you all, and thanks again for your input. Sometimes consulting reddit does put a good spin on a trivial story.
    via u/raredontstare
  • 15
    Edit: apologies but I'm going to struggle to respond to every award and comment individually. I've tried to answer all the questions though. Thanks for your support and good luck with your careers!
    via u/raredontstare
  • 16
    tsg79nj My best friend recently left his job of 25 years. He wasn't even looking but got a call from a former co- worker offering him a 30% raise, better benefits, bonuses, extensive training, and networking opportunities. He took it and got a lot of backlash from the company he was leaving.
    via u/tsg79nj
  • 17
    But they weren't willing to match anything and it had been a de d end with no growth for years. He's so much happier now and has zero regrets. Always do what's best for you. The company does.
    via u/tsg79nj
  • 18
    drpepperorbust Companies willing to pay more to hire someone new instead of giving current employees raises seem to be a dime a dozen. What's the rationale? That it's somehow cheaper to hire the new employee because
    via u/drpepperorbust
  • 19
    they likely won't discuss pay with anyone as opposed to the employee getting a raise and disclosing it to everyone existing and having them ask for raises?
    via u/drpepperorbust
  • 20
    OffByOneErrorz Loyalty made sense in the 1950s. You work hard, do your job and progress up the ladder with a job for life and a pension coming. In 2020s f that. You can languish for years, never see pay raises, get fired at random in an "everyone has to cut 10% of department" deal. Pension ha ha.
    via u/OffByOneErrorz
  • 21
    Corporations threw their labor under the bus decades ago there is no loyalty either way anymore.
    via u/OffByOneErrorz

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