Might be moving to Montreal.

[DaShi]

Why be loyal to a company that isn't loyal to you?

On that note, I'm opening a small office supply store online.

[Japher]

how much do small offices go for these days?

[Kontiki]

I'm generally not a fan of counters from an employee perspective either. My thinking is basically "if you think I'm worth X dollars more than you're currently paying to keep me, then why aren't you paying me that in the first place?". Obviously, there are exceptions.

[DaShi]

Depends on the location.

[Asher]

Only counters I've done are for my first job, post-graduation...before I got the job. I got two offers within a day of eachother, and they essentially had a bid-off. Ratcheted up my pay quite nicely... I was upfront about it because I was still months from graduation and I had only been looking for jobs for a week or so.

[rah]

Before the hire is a totally different matter and provides more wiggle room.

And to your point Kontiki, my job as a manager is to provide services for the least amount of money. But more importantly, if I'm paying someone less, then it's easier to give them bigger and more frequent raises/promotions which make employees feel more appreciated. If an employee gets a raise by blackmailing you, they don't get the feeling of being appreciated.

[DaShi]

They get the feeling of being clever in a workplace that they are now a confident member of.

[rah]

It just makes them a target for payback down the road.
The only thing worse for a manager than being blackmailed is to have to buckle under to it.

[KrazyHorse]

rah, how is it blackmail?

The employee is trying to get the most amount of money for his services as possible. If his services are worth more to you than they are to his new employer then you should be able to pay him more than they're offering and be thankful you got him for cheaper than that before.

If an employee has a bona fide offer for more money from another company, and is willing to make the switch then he is doing you a favour by giving you the option to match.

[rah]

Don't get me wrong, I have supported many of my workers that got (or were trying to get a better offer than I could provide) But these discussions are best done prior. I.E. I'm looking for a higher position in another area of the company. If you see me attaining the higher position here in the future, I'm willing to stick it out. Come off much better than If you don't give me a raise now I'm out of here in two weeks. I know that company loyalty isn't what it was but personal loyalty between boss and employee is still a very valuable asset. I do everything I can to assist my employees in personal growth. Unfortunately sometimes I can't do enough and they have to move on. If you support that, those that stay behind will realize that you're doing the best you can (within the constraints)

So yes, I do take it personally when out of the blue someone comes up and says now or bye. I Should already be aware of the situation if my employee was treating me like I try to treat them. I know it sounds a bit old fashioned but I you had ever worked for me, it might be easier to understand. So yes, I consider it blackmail.

And As I mentioned previously, there have been times when there was no bona fide offer.

[KrazyHorse]

rah, an employee can't take a chance on telling you before he gets an offer that he's going to be looking for a job. What if he doesn't find one? Now he's stuck working for a boss who knows he doesn't want to work there, and who knows that his exit options are limited. He's shown you all his cards.

[rah]

Normally I would agree with you. I'd like to think I have a different relationship with my employees. I generally have the highest retention rate in whatever company I work for so maybe my strategy isn't a bad one. I am old school. This has hurt me promotion wise in places but at this point in my career, it doesn't concern me anymore. In a few years I'll be on a golf course in Florida. (with a smaller list than most of how many people I had to sacrifice for my own advancement) It would be nice not to have a conscience.

[Richelieu]

In all my years managing I only countered once. And that was for my #1 critical employee. I had many reasons.

1. I don't like being blackmailed. And no matter how you phrase it, it's going to seem like it. I have no problem and still have respect for employees that leave to take better offers.
2. If they do it once and succeed you can bet they'll do it again.
3. Two times I didn't, I later found that the employee was bluffing
4. As much as I hate to say it, everyone is expendable. And if the person is out there looking, it's usually just a matter of time. (if the offer just popped out of the air, it's different, but 9 out of 10 times nothing pops unless someone blows.

As I was telling my manager about the offer i did feel like i was blackmailing him. It wasn't my intention but, as you said, no matter how i tried to phrase it, it did come out like that.
We've been downsizing for the last year now, which has prompted me to start looking elsewhere, but not actively. This is the first serious offer i've had and it came through a head hunter.
Anyway: my current employer didn't come back with anything. No money, and maybe a promotion in the current year. But even my manager told me that the last guy who did get a promotion only got a 400$ raise. (That's right: i'm not missing any zeroes)
He said he was sorry to see me go but that his hands were tied. Turns out we had some more downsizing coming and this just makes it easier on them. Now they only have 1 person to fire instead of two.

Montreal: here i come!

[Asher]

You didn't work for CGI before, did you?

[Richelieu]

Yeah, for about 4 years.