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DON'T EVER tell your boss you're compelled to dip your feet in the water. 1. If you ask us for a payrise, we have to weigh the cost of the payrise vs the risk

DON'T EVER tell your boss you're compelled to dip your feet in the water. 1. If you ask us for a payrise, we have to weigh the cost of the payrise vs the risk you WILL leave to get one somewhere else. We KNOW that if we turn you down, there's a chance you're going to be looking elsewhere. 2. By telling us you're dipping your foot, you've essentially given your notice. You just haven't told us when you're leaving. As of right now, you're not going to get the same level of attention and I'm looking for your replacement. 2b. If you don't tell us you're dipping your foot in the water, but we can't give you a pay rise, you'll get more attention and you'll get anything else we can possibly give you. We might give you a nicer desk, or replace your PC before anyone else's, or take you out for coffee more often.

ricardobeat 14y ago
Buying a new desk/computer or increasing amenities is a short-term solution. He will still be looking for the better salary.
- hfsktr 14y ago
  Depending on the situation that is probably ok with some people. I think a lot of it would come down to quite a few variables. I can't think of any clear examples but I'm sure there are cases to be made.
michaelochurch 14y ago
DON'T EVER tell your boss you're compelled to dip your feet in the water. Yes. This is probably the #1 case of high-performer termination: suspected flight risk. Nothing gets you fired faster than indicating that you might be interviewing elsewhere.
- mhurron 14y ago
  I'm firing you now because you might leave later is a fantastic indication of shitty management. It's a last ditch attempt at lording power over you. Everybody moves on at some time. Management doesn't have to act like children about it.
  - pasbesoin 14y ago
    I think what was being described might be more akin to management seeking to hire a replacement before you leave and they are caught with their pants down. If they're at least somewhat clueful, they know that a high performer's position (by virtue of the high performance, if nothing else) is critical. They may not be happy, but they may do their best to cover the anticipated gap. And some people argue that some management sees interviewing or "looking around" as an incontrovertible sign that, sooner or later, that employee is leaving. Or could leave. And they don't want that risk. P.S. OT, but I'm really tired of LinkedIn and others' heavy-handed Javascript dependencies for blog entries and articles (whichever this one is; I didn't enable scripting) -- essentially for static text.
mikeash 14y ago
> 2. By telling us you're dipping your foot, you've essentially given your notice. You just haven't told us when you're leaving. As of right now, you're not going to get the same level of attention and I'm looking for your replacement. I must say that I don't really understand this one. Anyone could get fed up and leave. Is the person who is up-front and honest with you, and indicates a desire to stay really more likely to subsequently leave than the rest of them?

ricardobeat 14y ago

Buying a new desk/computer or increasing amenities is a short-term solution. He will still be looking for the better salary.

hfsktr 14y ago
Depending on the situation that is probably ok with some people. I think a lot of it would come down to quite a few variables. I can't think of any clear examples but I'm sure there are cases to be made.

michaelochurch 14y ago

DON'T EVER tell your boss you're compelled to dip your feet in the water. Yes. This is probably the #1 case of high-performer termination: suspected flight risk. Nothing gets you fired faster than indicating that you might be interviewing elsewhere.

mhurron 14y ago
I'm firing you now because you might leave later is a fantastic indication of shitty management. It's a last ditch attempt at lording power over you. Everybody moves on at some time. Management doesn't have to act like children about it.
- pasbesoin 14y ago
  I think what was being described might be more akin to management seeking to hire a replacement before you leave and they are caught with their pants down. If they're at least somewhat clueful, they know that a high performer's position (by virtue of the high performance, if nothing else) is critical. They may not be happy, but they may do their best to cover the anticipated gap. And some people argue that some management sees interviewing or "looking around" as an incontrovertible sign that, sooner or later, that employee is leaving. Or could leave. And they don't want that risk. P.S. OT, but I'm really tired of LinkedIn and others' heavy-handed Javascript dependencies for blog entries and articles (whichever this one is; I didn't enable scripting) -- essentially for static text.

mikeash 14y ago

> 2. By telling us you're dipping your foot, you've essentially given your notice. You just haven't told us when you're leaving. As of right now, you're not going to get the same level of attention and I'm looking for your replacement. I must say that I don't really understand this one. Anyone could get fed up and leave. Is the person who is up-front and honest with you, and indicates a desire to stay really more likely to subsequently leave than the rest of them?