Progress always involves risk, you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first base. (Frederick Wilcox)
While I worked at EDS a man quit three different times. Twice he actually left the building and went to work for someone else for a week or two. He resigned but let his boss know he didn’t want to leave and could be enticed to stay or return. Each time his boss finally gave him the raise and promotion he wanted. It was blackmail, pure and simple.
By the way, what do you think it did to morale? Well, everyone started saying, “I’ll have to quit to get a raise or a promotion.” Some just quietly started looking for another job, never to come back.
So blackmail works. Right? Sort of. If you want to work for a company where you have to threaten your boss, yes it works.
Try something a little different.
Get together proof that you deserve a raise. Put together a dynamite resume that is a list of accomplishments. Assume your boss knows your responsibilities. Make a list of provable accomplishments. Put together a portfolio if you can. Do a salary survey. Make sure you believe in it and can prove it. Get 5 people to write references saying how well you do your job.
With this project you have gathered proof that your boss would hire you for more than he is paying you now. Go present the proof to your boss and put it in those terms. Tell him he would have to pay more to hire a replacement, so please pay me more right now. Don’t threaten to quit. Give him a chance to do the right thing. No blackmail.
See what he says. Give him a month or two to come up with a raise and promotion. If you don’t get it, go ask your boss, again, what he intends to do. Don’t threaten or plead. Just find out his intentions.
If he’s not moving, use all that material you gathered to look for a new job. Don’t blackmail your boss. Give him a real opportunity to reward you. If he won’t give you what you deserve, look for a new job. Don’t look back.
Something To Do Today
Start your employment upgrade project.
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Tomorrow: I just quit and my old boss wants me back!
Quit or be fired?