HR wanted him on a PIP when his dad was dying, manager intervened and saved his job; now, after discovering the new hire he trains earns $14,000 more, he faces a dilemma with a better-paying job offer in hand

While changing jobs, other than the pay, a lot of things remain at stake. And when loyalty came into the picture, a seemingly easy decision looks troublesome. A Reddit user is facing this dilemma; on one hand, he recently got to know that a new hire whom he trains earns more $14,000 more than him, and there is a job offer in his hand that pays much more than the current one. To cap it all off, his manager was supportive and once saved his job when his father was ill.

The 31-year-old employee who shared his pandemonium on Reddit's r/careerguidance has been working in a mid-sized logistics company and has never missed a deadline. He started in dispatch on $41,000 a year and eventually became an operations coordinator, now getting $63,000.

When the company hired a new employee for the same role as his three months ago, he was asked to train him.

Employee discovers new hire earns $14,000 more after training him

The employee said he taught the new hire the company's unwritten policies, workarounds and other job details.

He had no personal grudges with his colleague, “nice guy, honestly. No beef with him,” he shared.

Also Read: Senior data analyst who trains new hires and covers manager’s workload got just a 4% raise; then recruiter accidentally sends him a job brief for his own role paying $18K more

The irritation began when the employee found out the new hire’s offer letter that was placed on the shared printer; to his astonishment, the new hire was getting $14,000 more.

Heartbroken, the employee raised the issue with his manager, who told the employee that “the market changed,” they “had to pay to fill the seat.” And made a vague promise that she will seek a pay adjustment for him in the first quarter of next year.

Another job opportunity and his history with his manager now complicated matters.

Manager stood by him when his father was dying

Two years ago, the employee went through a tough time when his father was dying. He struggled to function at work for around four months; late arrivals, work distractions, and unplanned leaves were common.

According to the post, HR wanted to place him on a performance improvement plan (PIP). But his manager intervened, adjusted his shifts and sometimes covered his workload herself.

Also Read: Employee gets 35% higher-paying offer from their ‘biggest client’ after boss skips meeting, now wonders if he should tell his company

The employee believes she saved his job. Now, he feels torn between accepting a better offer and staying out of gratitude to the person who stood by him when he was struggling.

He has been ignoring a recruiter who offered him $81,000 a year for a similar role with hybrid working, and it's going to expire.

Taking it would mean an $18,000 more salary per year over his current salary, but he worries that leaving would feel like turning his back on his manager.

“Part of me says I should take it because it's just business and I'm not really enjoying having trained someone the company values more than me,” he shared. “But the angel on my shoulder is telling me I'm walking out on the one person who didn't let me fall when I could have. Negotiating doesn't feel like I'm honoring that effort either.” he concludes about the dilemma.

Reddit users tell employee not to confuse loyalty with staying

Several commenters encouraged him to accept the offer while maintaining a good relationship with his manager.

Also Read: Manager faces career dilemma after being told to ‘manage out’ 20-year employee who ‘exceeded expectations’ for 7 years because firing her could cost $200,000 in severance

Reddit commentator somehow found a middle ground to the situation. One advised him to “leave on good terms and send your manager a thoughtful note,” as she (manager) appeared to care about him as a person, not just as an employee.

Another put the financial difference bluntly: “loyalty isnt keeping you warm at night and $18k is real money, she’ll get it.”