I have also found that receiving more money or a new position after you've threatened to resign can cause ripples among your fellow co-workers and even some management that you may have to deal with going forward. There can be a bit of resentment because people may beleive that you extorted the increases out of the company. Not always a fair assessment but it happens nonetheless.

I would take the new job and work diligently to prove to that company that you are worth premium they are paying you.

You're not in a different situation. You're in the same situation a year later. Go to the new company and stop worrying.

The current company said the magic words and promised just enough to keep you. They also have not lived up to some of their commitments.

Stop worrying and move along. Enjoy your new situation in a non – ethically challenged environment.

A year a go I was on secondment and my manager from my original office decided to leave the company and highlighted there would be a position for me with a substantial pay rise if I choose to go with him. I went for the interview and got offered the job. About a 50% pay increase on my basic.

At the same time I was being offered a number of promotions at my current company. There was one job that stood out as a good career move. I indicated I was thinking of leaving the company to take the pay increase. The manager was keen to get a counter offer but HR refused even though I was changing jobs, the company has a policy to only give pay reviews at year end.

I was verbally assured my salary would be brought inline with my expectations at year end. Something I now wished I had asked for in writing.

Unfortunately the markets took a downturn and my salary was not increased as promised (company wide pay freeze) but the salary expectations where made up for by a bigger bonus. This helped slightly but I still felt let down and that I could no longer trust my company / managers. There has been no mention of pay reviews this year.

A year later from the first offer and I am now in the same position again. My old manager is offering me the same job to leave for now a 60% pay increase.

My concerns are that I think the job is a slight step backwards and the work might not be that interesting. I am also concerned about how I will be viewed in the new company as a lot of people will know that I have a previous working relationship with the manager (who would then be my new manager’s boss).

I would definitely want to stay at the current company if my pay was even bought inline with market rates and I feel I am only leaving for money, possible to a job I won't enjoy as much.

Does it ever make sense to leave just for money? A lot of people have told me I'm crazy for even needing to consider this given it is a 60% increase.

A.

The fantastic Amusis business blog has a typically witty post on this very topic (called ‘Are all employees spies and thieves?)at:

http://amusis.com/?p=403

Also, There’s no reason for the company to require proof in writing. A company will never pay above market rate for talent. If they think the employee is exagerating then they should call their bluff, say goodbye and hire someone at market rate.

If anyone’s truly in a situation where it’s only about money, then I would encourage an open discussion (about getting paid market rate) with the boss well before job seeking. If they think you’re valuable you’ll get some type of salary increase without even having to look for a job at all. If they say no, then at least you know what they think of you. It worked for me – and I got a bigger raise then I expected, and eventually a promotion 12 months later.

Oddly, I had a friend just ask me this on Monday. I asked, “Why were you looking for a new job?”

He answered, “I am tired of working 60-70 hours a week because they let go of 4 of my 7 staff.”

I said, “There’s your answer, no amount of money can change their expectations of your 60-70 hour work weeks.”

His company undervalued the experience they had. No he’s leaving in two weeks. 9 years of knowledge gone because they over worked their greatest asset…Their employees.

Always act from a position of strength (perceived or otherwise). I disagree completely with She Said, “thanking your lucky stars” and all of that will keep you at the same job you hate for a long, long time.

Saying you’d be amenable to a counteroffer screams, “I really don’t mean what I’m doing. I’m not decisive. You can change my not so made up mind.”

As others have said, going out and nabbing an offer somewhere else evidences the current relationship is busted or at the very least, it’s not something you want to endure anymore.

Wheels have already started moving on both sides of the relationship. If you would stay, things will be different from here on… probably in a bad way. And you will be out of there in a year or less, don’t kid yourself.

Shake hands, and amscray.

Truth be told, they could probably get someone for much cheaper than you now.

This is an employers market. Take the new job, and pray the company does good and doesn’t lay you off.

It appears that E wants a hike which M is ok with but requires a consent from H.
Now, H needs to justify the salary to TM before it approves of it and requires the counter offer to prove it’s point.

Firstly, there is one mistake on HR’s part that it is cauht unaware of the industry standards for compensation.
Second, it relies on another comapny to justify the true potential of the employee or atleast to prove it to TM.

The E on it’s side had 2 possibilities
1) Without any job offer raise the grievances with M.
See if they can be resolved else go to point 2
2) Seek for a job offer and then raise concerns.

Now how many managers would themselves personally do a 1 rather than a 2?

Would the TM actually value the feedback of their own Managers to give drastic raise to employees or would they trust the intelligence of another company?

Why does H not have a mkt research in place?