Employee resigns after 10 years at the company after expecting salary boost to get him to stay: '[I'm] offended that they didn’t counteroffer when I first presented the resignation'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 11, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

This corporate worker learned the hard way that you're only valued so much at your company.

Despite giving a full decade of his professional career to his current job, this employee found out that the president of his business did not have much of a desire to keep him following the submission of his resignation. He had expected that there would be more pushback, or at the very least, a performative effort to try to convince him to stay. 

But it turns out that the author of this anecdote was not exactly as valued as he thought…

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  • The employee turns away from his desk and poses while sitting in his office chair.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The employee turns away from his desk and poses while sitting in his office chair.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I resigned after 10 years

    TLDR: Resigned after 10 years. Boss asked me to stay or leave, I chose leave. No counteroffer I've been with my job for 10 years.
    via Poetically-Lucky
  • This month was/is my 10 Year anniversary. I have a manager, but he's utterly useless, just a body.
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  • He was hired about 3 years ago to replace my previous manager. On the company chart, I report to him.
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  • But I mostly work under the president of my company. My manager literally has no managerial power over me.
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  • (which s S, because I really want to expand my knowledge with a good manager )... anytime I have a problem, his answer is "I he doesn't know, ask the president "... it S S.
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  • The position gets rotated every 2-3 years because it's just that kind of job. I've refused the promotion to that position for the better part of 7 years, as I've already seen as "Doomed to fail ".
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  • So I stay in my lane. and just run my portion of the business. I WFH, and my pay is realistically 1/2 of what I should be getting paid.
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  • I've been working from home since 2022, no raise since then. But I'be justified it, because I've been able to watch all of my children come into this world and grow.
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  • Albeit they are all under 4... I've accepted the trade off. I've been looking for jobs that are like 7/7 (certain amount of days on / off, so when I'm at home, I can just shut everything off.
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  • My job is currently 24/7 365 monitoring status, with physical presence required several times a month.
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  • An employee carries a box of belongings and walks down the hall in a modern office.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    An employee carries a box of belongings and walks down the hall in a modern office.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I've interviews with about a dozen places over the last several years, but there just wasn't one that I really wanted.
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  • Now I have just rcvd an offer to work 3 on 4 off at a pretty good company.
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  • I was waiting for the background check to come through and everything else. I finally got the "welcome to the team" I made sure to tell them I needed 1 months. notice, so I can do a proper handoff to the next person they would hire.
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  • I went to tell my President. Hey, thanks for all the time hear... truly appreciated... would like to offer 1 month to help transition.
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  • On my off time, I can offer contract work if you'd like... I'd be super cheap than having to find a replacement.
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  • But my main job is my priority, so if they need backup... please be open to it.
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  • The employee smiles while standing against the windows of the office.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    The employee smiles while standing against the windows of the office.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Many of us have had our own versions of this experience. We've all fantasized about what it would mean to confront your manager with the news that you have a better offer elsewhere and to receive nothing but incessant begging and pleading to get you to reconsider. For some folks, this is the only route to convince an employer to offer you more money or even pay you what you should have been compensated for years.

    Still, this should only be a risk worth taking if you're prepared to receive zero counteroffers. It seems that the author was expecting more from his manager, especially since he knew in his heart of hearts that his entire team would be lost without him. Unfortunately, management prioritized ego over strategy in this case and opted out of considering a scenario where the author could remain employed there. 

    What does this say about the author? He might have been a bit too sure of himself going into this resignation process. On the other hand, however, this was his best and final shot at a decent raise there. So, regardless of whether or not he was delusional about how needed he was at the company, he had to take the opportunity to try once more to at least see if management would bite. 

  • As I never had any backup for my job. He told me there are concerns that we are playing favoritism with having you work from home and that they would not allow me to have a second job.
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  • I told them my start date... he said you have to stay or leave. That's it.
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  • I think he thought I was going to do the new job part time? Because I told him... okay I will leave.
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  • Then he told me to submit my formal resignation. I sent the formal resignation to finish at the end on the month.
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  • He never countered with anything,.. but he responded by saying thanks for your time here, but don't forget what you make hear.
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  • Insert s y salary / insert medical bonus... he said for what you provide here, this is competitive.
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  • I hadn't responded to that message. The date he offered was in a few days. I don't know if they are going to try and counter offer... but I'm just a little offended that they didn't counter offer when I first presented the resignation
    via Poetically-Lucky
  • UnluckyAssist9416 Bosses never know what their good employees do. This is why you should always be your own biggest promoter. If you don't promote yourself, they just won't appreciate the work you do.
    via Poetically-Lucky
  • footdragon there's going to be no counter. move on and enjoy your new job.
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  • Northcoast90 Don't give him a month. Give a 2 week notice.
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  • judgeejudger Happy Liberation Day. Hope the new one appreciates you more!
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  • PFic88 You shouldn't have given a month. Give them a week
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  • Space_69999 You have ZERO obligation to stay there a month to "help them transition" unless they are paying you more for doing that work as well. Just walk away at this point, this guy does not care about you or anything other than profit (definition of a business in a capitalistic system.)
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  • Polyboy03g Congrats for standing up for yourself. It is empowering knowing YOU are in control of your future not old boss McGee. Ill bet he walked away from the encounter thinking, "gosh I cant believe he left. That line always works!" His lack of counteroffer spoke volumes. When I left my last job of 5 years they called the regional director and she begged me to stay. It felt great to say, "im leaving thank you.'
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  • mikemojc It honestly sounds like he simply does NOT know what value you bring. About 2-3 weeks after you leave and your phone starts ringing... let it ring.
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  • CoffeePotProphet Congrats They're going to call you in about 3 days because they have no idea what to do. Id recommend ignoring those calls
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employee i quit satisfying quitting story overworked-employees Horrible Bosses resignation
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