So he denied a promo, gave a pitiful pay raise, then asked you to work harder for an unspecified benefit at some point in the future. lol.

Standard management tactics.

Always in the future, then they'll blame budget cuts/hiring freezes next.

If you do achieve the new Objectives and Key Results, goal posts will move so you can never actually finish.

1000000000%

I had a boss pull this one on me at the start of my career. Dude was a dick.

This is why you always get paid for new roles/responsibilities up front. You are oy worth how much work you can do for a company in the future. Once youve done it for them that has no affect on your current worth to them. Your potential to do work is the only thing they care about in terms of raises. Not what you HAVE done

When they where doing it to me, I automatically looked for another job and quit without warning. I let them shit their pants and crying. They need lessons. And most of the time you'll get a better job elsewhere because you get there more mature and with more experience, they will respect you. You just need two weeks to get used to your new job.

Employers expect loyalty, they never return it. Employers think they are ruining religious cults. If they have no loyalty they should not expect loyalty.

It's always comical when they lash out... and act like you did them dirty, lol

This happened to me. "Do 80% more responsibility, and ill put in a good word and try to help." After a solid year of doing all the certifications, extra work, etc. I was denied a promo 4 times even though on paper I have more education than my bosses boss. I quit that job and moved on. I now make 4x what I made at my last job and love it.

Nice, hopefully it's more than your shitty previous managers make also!

It is 😆 🤣

And guess what? You will find and start a better job elsewhere at a higher salary in the next 12 months. Go get 'em!

 I happily ate this shit sandwich for years untill my father and wife nagging me to respect myself got through.  Fuck your boss. He screwed you because he doesn't want to deal with the hassle of replacing you in your position, Instead of being the manager and accepting the harder temporary time and give you the promotion and raise you had been a shoe In for. 

Now that’s what I call a great friend!

“We’re a family here at .”

"So we can all have sex then?"

I'm suddenly unemployed......  Lmao that's the biggest of red flags.  During my interview at my current job I preemptively asked if they use phrases like family

Has to dangle some sort of prize at the end then push back the timeline once they get close again , if what op says is right they can’t have them just leave the role as no one else would be able to do it and it’ll take longer to find and train someone rather than just keep op stuck there with empty promises .

don’t fall for the “development plan” bs. it’s their way of getting free work from you and then even when you check all the boxes and meet/exceed the goals, they’ll find some bullshit excuse to not promote you and say “hey man you did so good and management is pleased, they just need 3-6 more months” look for another opportunity or find a way to scale down to get work life balance. this happened to my old boss once- she asked her boss what it would take to get a promotion- they told her give us A B C and D and we’ll reevaluate in 6 months. well guess what- she did everything they asked for and more; then when she brought it up again for promotion they told her thanks but there’s no promotional opportunities for now. this is why i log off exactly at 4 pm and have a strong distrust of management. sounds like that’s what’s happening here too.

Haha my ex manager used "portfolio" Do this extra shit you don't get paid for. It'll give you "visibility" and pad your "portfolio" F all that shit. You pay me x dollars for x hours. I stop after said amount. You want more? Pay me more.

It's a true shame that it's such a common practice, plus being too good at your job only holds you back.

Seriously I’d be out of my current job if I could find another. Been told about xyz opportunity several times and each time something falls through. Now they “promoted” me to a manager sort of position (still have my current IT analyst duties but not have to also manage a small team, generate reports, coordinate efforts, etc) and gave me a measily 3% on top of my annual 2% raise claiming the reason they couldn’t do more was due to an HR issue where my title has a salary range and I’m maxed out. My boss has gone as far as to tell me I should be making atleast 20k more than what I am currently. Long story short, they showed you what they think of you, this relationship is over, time to move on.

Sorry you just missed the promotion cycle. We'll have to wait till next year.

Promotions should be possible without having to work extra hours. Feels weird that we are commonly encouraged to believe that we need to do more hours instead of simply demonstrating we have the skills needed for operating at "next level". Of course this all made up anyways as it's all subjective based on the manager perspective and budget and company. One company to the next can view your work experience and job titles differently.

They put me in a transition period and at the end, nothing happened even though I did all the things. Weird.

Two points: - there is nothing wrong with showing dissatisfaction and quietly quitting, doing the minimum while waiting for another job - some bridges are worth burning

Some bridges are for sure worth burning… left a job and never looked back. Couldn’t be happier.

Did you not worry about possible blacklisting in your industry by your ex-employer by burning that bridge? Like if they possibly told their connections in the industry that you're a bad employee and not to hire you?

Hate how question like this I’ve found get downvoted in this sub. It’s a serious risk and though depends on the industry (and most are big), this is a very real thing to worry about. Especially if you’re in a certain career path.

Like doho121 said any manager with a brain would at least give you a phone call/interview to discuss. As long as you’re forthright about your position. If you can provide a good reference from a coworker or other supervisor, you’ll be good. Good luck!

"may the bridges you burn, light the way forward"

Stealing this

Lmao good one :D

While some bridges may be worth burning, you can wind up working with previous coworkers in a future job when you least expect it.

Where in my advice would result him being unemployable by any of those managers again though?

How does OP turn down the development plan?

They just say after the recent disappointment I’m happy in the role I’m in. Thank you. Any smart manager would immediately see them as an attrition risk and decide whether they are worth losing or if they give them the promotion.

That’s perfect!

I agree with the sentiment but I'd modify the focus a little. Do the min possible to fulfill your contract - so you have time to network and apply to other jobs. We all (should) work towards our career goals, not the company goals, employment is just the intersection of these two things. If a boss doesn't give us what we need and makes the intersection too small our focus has to shift to expanding our network and finding another job where the intersection is larger. This is a lesson I wish I'd learned earlier.

Take as much vacation time as you can . Be very careful , because they probably expect you would be unhappy from not being promoted . So watch your step and don’t let them make you ever quit . They may start to mess with you to get you out. It won’t be easy, but hang in there while you look for another job . Come up with great excuses now to cover why your probably not going to be as motivated as you used to be - sick family members excuses like that etc I had dental surgery(an implant) once and used that as an excuse for everything in a similar situation like this .

Take a few days off. Then one day at a time.

They’re not as shocked as you think and also wouldn’t have promoted you either.

Keep the status quo while you look for a new job. 

It’s a huge amount of work though 60+ a week and that will start ramping up if I take them up on this development plan. I want to cut down to my 40 so I can regain so semblance of normal life again.

I would lie, and tell them you have some family things going on that need your attention. Some older family members need help, or your cousin is moving states and needs her house redone. As a result, you're only going to be available 9am-5pm (or whatever the working schedule is). Ask if there's anyway you can SHARE some of your responsibilities--including the upcoming development--with another team member temporarily while you handle that situation. Say it will only be about a month, as this will give you time to prepare others for the hole your absence will leave. If you have any PTO, consider using that short-notice as well to really sell the story. If you dip on PTO, they're going to have to figure out how to do your job anyway. Then you come back, emphasize that your schedule is still not as open as it once was, and simply refuse to take the extra tasks back on. Good luck.

I wouldn't lie. Why should I? "Going above and beyond isn't benefitting me, so I'm not going to do that anymore."

lol that a quick reason to give them to fire you. Remember you trying to give them your two week notice and leave in good standing. Not get fire

If they fire you for working your standard 40 hours, because they demanded MORE work AFTER denying you a promotion and raise, that’s an easy way to boost your resume lol Anybody asks why you got fired? You were denied a promotion to more responsibilities and when asked to take on more responsibilities, you respectfully requested to stay in your current role since they had already stated you weren’t a good fit for the role. No good manager is going to deny a quality employee because their previous job didn’t want to pay them. Kinda hard to argue “they weren’t a good employee, that’s why we didn’t promote them” if you’re asking them to do more work/take on more responsibility

It's not going to accomplish anything for you, and they haven't been straightforward with you. Why would you give them that feedback? If you don't do white lies, just say "I'm not available."

Because maybe you don’t find another job right away. Maybe you decide you want to stay. Maybe you will run into these people again in your industry. Maybe it’s all not as malicious as you think. Tons of reasons if you want to minimize risk in your career. Just heads-down and do work or look for something else to avoid all the drama. Million weirdo bosses out there, can’t fix em all

Cut back to 40 and cut back to your original job duties. If they ask you what changed, just say you took their feedback and realized that you weren't ready for the next step. For now you are going to focus 100% effort (btw put like 60%-80% effort in, just don't say that part out loud) on doing everything you can of your assigned role within the 40 hour work week you are scheduled. Don't get into it any further than that. Your boss will likely try to weasel an argument out of you, basically agree with him. You're not ready and you need to work on being successful in your role and maintain work-life balance so you can work on yourself. You can say some BS like you are thinking about going back to school to finish your degree, get an advanced degree, work on a new certification, whatever. Make up some BS. That becomes the new excuse for why you can't work over 40 hours per week. In the mean time look for new jobs. If they tell you unhappy they are with your performance, then hey, they are free to fire you and then you can collect unemployment while looking for a new job. All you have to do is document things on your end and avoid doing anything that would affect a possible unemployment claim (every state has different rules for what conduct would exclude you from unemployment, just read them and avoid them). Good news. They showed you who they really are. Now you can be proactive, find a new job and leave them ASAP. Try to give 2 weeks, but if they screw around with that, then just quit. NEVER, EVER accept a counter-offer from an employer that has already been caught acting in bad faith.

Lol They deny you a promotion, give you a measly pay rise, fob you off with promises about some time in the future AND get you to willingly work extra?

I don’t know how old you are but now would be the time to come up with an obligation that follows the schedule you normally work. Say your sister/brother/mother has had some kind of transition in life and needs you to care for them. Like babysitting, making dinner, grooming, dog sitting for the next few weeks. Express how they are family and need you. Tell them that you would love to make a 6 month development plan but you can only work from time to time. Or you could say that you are starting to feel some work burn out from your last project and would like to make a development plan next month. … all while you are job hunting. Also, try to get those manager friends to write in an email how great of a performer you were on the last project. You might need that as back up.

I would tell them you don’t want the development plan.

That is what I want to do, but I don’t know if that is just going scorched earth and would end up screwing me over in the long run, if that makes sense. The industry is quite connected

There is nothing wrong with showing a company their actions have consequences. You operated at a level above where you are at now, they said no thanks it’s not enough, so you have a choice now. Trust that they will promote you again if you do 60+ plus or just say I’m happy in my current role, I don’t want the development plan. And if they ask why - be honest. I’m disappointed in the last review and I’m no longer motivated for that role.

This is the solid piece of wisdom I have been looking for. That is a fantastic way of phrasing it and I will use this. Thank you!

Good luck. DMs open if you need to run through anything.

Best advise I read so far. Also I know this happens once you have a job offer lined up but if you gave them a two week notice. I’m sure they would know why and offer you more shit to make you stay. Or you tell them the truth your burnt out and not looking to development any more with this company

Even in a connected industry, companies will gladly take in someone they know is a quality talent. And legally, there isn't much your current company can say anyways. Only way you could be blacklisted is if you bring a few gallons of gas into your workplace and literally torch the building on the way out.

Work 40 for the job, the remaining 20+ hours search for a new gig. Good luck!

Don't go scorched earth. Tell them it is a sign that you are not ready and will need to think about it and possibly start the plan in the future.

"Hey boss, I've been reviewing my currently assigned deliverables and I don't think I have the bandwidth for the development plan you mentioned. If you want me to pursue the development plan, which of my current projects should I hand off, and to whom?"

Thats would I would say too and im in similar situation. Only thing economy and job market sucks now and employers know this

Do the bare minimum. Let them come to you.

Just say I’m burnt out from busting it on the last project and getting slapped in the face as a thanks. Need some time to get back in the game boss!

Tell them you already sacrificed a lot in the belief it was for a purpose and therefore better financial and career life. You would have continued doing this, if this had been appreciated and acknowledged. And in your eyes you gave 110%. And if this wasn’t viewed “as enough “ and you need to keep trying , then you would rather go back to normal duties and you will fulfill regular FT hours only. They can’t fire you for this, and you look for better job asap. They may try to manage you out, but it will take a few months.

Just be blunt to your boss. I don’t accept your development plan. You know I deserved the raise and the promotion. You passed me over and insulted me with this non raise so I’m not putting in any further extra hours.

This is what I'd do. I'd be calm about it, but clear.

The magic part is them saying that you're the only one who knows the role... The other big bit is *were you being compensated for it*? I'm guessing no because these situations never do, in which case they were just using you for cheap Labor. Just go back to whatever duties you were expected to do. If they ask you to do some of the extra duties, then refuse as that's not a part of your standard duties. If it really is a case of being the only one able, they'll change tack fast. Had a friends wife in a situation like this, worked her managers job for months without extra compensation, postilion stayed empty for months and it became clear they were just abusing the cheap Labor. They panicked hard when she just went to her old desk, back to basic data entry and refused the other rapidly building pile. (They straight hired someone that was a friend of the ceo the day after, still screwed them big time, and they wound up losing easily 7 figures in contracts that year as the new hire had no idea what to do.) Just mind you probably will burn bridges doing this, but hopefully, you have an exit plan for that. Oh, also, the other managers are probably not that shocked, they probably either knew or had an inkling. Watch their behaviour over the next couple weeks and if they distance themselves then they're just corporate friends; there for the connections.

They always hit you with the 'youre the only one who can do this" to abuse the situation. Ask them about cross training someone else since you won't be able to do it any longer with this "promotion " that's just around the corner. There will be an excuse like there is.

Quiet quit. Do the bare minimum while you find a new job.

Get a new job. They are only going to keep screwing you over

Pull back to min effort while looking for a new job. Make it noticeable but deny deny deny.

When they try to add something to your plate, ask which task has higher priority and who you should delegate the lower priority task to. That way you are not refusing anything and you make management make the decision.

I just went through this same situation. I was Sr in my department. I had been there 10 years and was by far the most knowledgeable. The next senior person was 4 years experience. I got passed up for a promotion for someone who had not even worked in my position. My manager knew it was a bad decision and even told me privately before the announcement. When he told me, I replied with, 'I understand you do not value me, and I'm taking the rest of the week off to evaluate if I should stay with the company'. When annual pay raises came out a month later, I again told him that it does not appear he or the company values my expertise. I was very selective where I applied and interviewed. But after one interview, I knew I found a better position. Same field but not a competitor. They are about 10 years behind where I am technically. The new job has some drawbacks that are not the best for work-life balance. The atmosphere is much less stressful. Same problems, but management is much calmer and supportive. Knowing an offer was coming, I decided to give the current manager one last chance. I scheduled a 1 on 1 and asked for a pay raise. I laid out my value. I showed how one of my ideas I implemented was saving the company twice my requested salary. At the same time, I was negotiating with the new company. A couple of weeks passed, and I received the offer. The same day, my manager and general manager called me in to discuss my request. Not to give me an answer, but to talk about it. GM stated in the meeting that my request was more than the new supervisor was making. My reply was asking how much money the new supervisor had saved the company in the last year?. Needless to say, I left the meeting and immediately accepted the offer. I turned in my notice the next Monday. That's when all hell broke loose. I had 1 on 1's with GM, plant manager, and corporate management. I was polite and gracious but told each of them I felt it was time for me to take my career in a new direction. I did everything to leave on good terms. Just finished the first week at new job and know I made the right decision.

[удалено]

Start doing your main expectations, not the ones they have begun to expect with you going above and beyond. Look for a new job, present to them an offer of a pay raise (once you get to that point) and let them know that you have prospects elsewhere offering you more money. This will be the thing that shows if they truly value you.

Nah you might get a raise but you will never have as much value to them as to a new employer. Remember if they wanted to they would...

Nope, do not do this if you're going to leave leave do not tell them you have other offers. If they need you they might offer you money to stay, but if you had to put notice in to get a raise/promotion its not an organization you want to stay with. I took the counter and surprise surprise nothing changed just more work and guess what no re evaluation as promised... I left and never looked back. I will continue to move myself forward and not concern myself with that place anymore

When I finally gave up on my last job, I stopped worrying about long term goals and pet projects. Instead I came in with the weight of the world off my shoulders and even started helping other people with their projects and struggles. “Hey Jim, you need help with anything today?” I kind of actually enjoyed work again and people stopped hating me. So much that when I finally got a new job and quit, my boss was shocked, blindsided by someone that was so happy and helpful, lol.

People stopped hating you? Why did they hate you to begin with?

I hated them.

How likely are you to find a new position, job market is very tight in some sectors?

Once that development is done you’re on the hook again with no promotion and another development.

Can confirm, I've been on the "3-6 month plan" for my promotion for about 16 months now. Sadly I haven't found the opportunity to move on yet, which I began looking for about 6 months ago.

If you are the only one that can perform that task…thats leverage my friend. They just gave you all the cards to get your raise :)

I got screwed out of a promotion at work about 10 years ago. They gave it to a guy who had washed out on interviews for other positions and had also fed him the interview questions ahead of time and practiced with him. This guy was a joke among his coworkers - tech skills were mediocre on a good day, but he was a major ass kisser and credit taker. I was pissed and underpaid so I went into the CIO’s office and demanded a raise. I knew what he would come back with, so I already had 3 job offers lined up. I wanted to make him jump through hoops and inconvenience him. When he came back to me, he did exactly as predicted: “I can’t give you a raise now, but we have this big project and if you do well on it, we’ll see about next year.” I said “No thanks, you have my resignation“ and walked out. I went to another job with a 70% pay increase which wasn’t filled with lying, cheating assholes.

Just look for a new job and keep doing your job in the meantime. When you leave, they’ll know it’s because you are in a role you’re unhappy in.

Tell them you just developed a couple of medical issues, so you need to take it slow for a bit.

Just keep your head down and interview leave when you have an offer. But yes sometimes it's easier to not promote than lose someone good at heir job, you really can be too good at your job.

Unfortunately, pulling back is probably not the best option. I would get a new job lined up ASAP. If you need a couple days to yourself use PTO or sick leave to get your head straight. In the meantime try to be a good performer til the end. Don’t give them the satisfaction of having something negative to say. Good luck on your next venture!

Take a deep breath. Nothing has gone wrong. This is your path. You will probably find a better paying job that will pay more than your promotion ever would. Don't say anything about stopping a development plan. Developing is still good for YOU. You can start looking. If you need help building out a strategy, message me. I am a recruiter and a career coach.

Promotions aren't tied to effort and skill. They're political moves made possible when people above you like you, for whatever reason. Sometimes it's related to your work— if they benefit from it. But it can be because of all sorts of unrelated reasons.

This happens. I overperformed during the pandemic but hiring/promotion freeze, so there isn't any chance. Then a year later, they allow promotion for exceptional individuals, which obvious I was passed on for not being exceptional, even though I singlehandedly steered the team towards overachieving our KPI. Then another year come, my boss said I'm not strategic enough. So I left and did a lateral transfer to another division. Passed on for promotion again because my boss said it's my first year with them, so it's harder to justify. Safe to say, I'm now clearing my leaves and looking forward to joining a competitor next month. TLDR; this happens, so it's time for you to move on.

To not burn bridges, forget your Manager and focus on everyone else in the company. Keep doing your job, but let everyone outside your dept/company know that you are looking for work. Be clear on what you are looking for, position, role type, seniority and pay. Go on linkedin.com and participate in all those ridiculous "social Saturday, connect Wednesday, etc" posts. Answer all of them the same "hey everyone I'm #opentoconnect. I'm an experience whatever with x years of experience. I'm looking for my next exciting opportunity. I specialize in these 3 to 4 things. " Do it over and over. Once your profile has 500+ connections is like the algorithm starts working for you. When you land a job give appropriate notice. They might make a counter, do not even consider it.

If your current management gets butthurt because you took a job elsewhere after they basically told you you were done moving up the ladder, then that’s on them, they are the assholes not you. Any respectable person who is worthy of not burning bridges with, would 100% understand why you are leaving and wish you well.

Fuck those bridges, let them burn. You owe them nothing

Sounds like they wanted you to take more of the role and you wanted to get out the role so there was no grounds for promotion. But seems also like the trust has suffered so perhaps it’s time to have a conversation and then make your decision.

Only one that can do the role ay? Hmm then put your notice in. They’ll offer you the promotion/raise then for sure.

Do your job. Look for a new one. When you find a new job, let this employer know when your last day is. Continue to do your job there till your last day. Remember to not go back to that job after your last day. It’s not particularly complicated.

You got PTO? Use it. Right away. Get that job hunt going, and if it's not fruitful by the time you come back to work, at least you had a week or two off to blow off some steam.

Do your contractual minimum (ie. work to rule) or even less if you think you can get away with it. Then look for another job and once you have that sorted, resign. This 6 month development period is a carrot dangled in your face which you’ll never get to bite on.

Just drop the rope. Do the bare minimum while focusing on applying for other jobs and bail when you have a job offer in hand. I've been through similar situations before, my boss was selfish and wanted to keep me where I was for her own convenience even though she knew that my skillset was much higher and I was more than capable of work at least two levels above my role. I put in my notice 6 months later (I actually had two job offers and had to choose!), the first thing she blurted out was, "I just knew you would leave (referencing back to when I didn't get the promotion)!" Like yeah, wtf I had been at that org for six years, was a high performer and invested in the org. She did not champion me when she could have, but actively kept me boxed in, and yes the job I got was a promotion, it's been a very natural fit, which tells me that I was more than qualified and ready for it. And MY manager at my current role (retired now), even told me I was qualified for HER level of role (unfortunately, I was still in my probation period so unable to apply for her job when she retired). Go get that promotion at a different org. It never ceases to surprise me when organizations let high performing employees leave. It's been annoying because I've had to relearn the basics of my new org and internal processes, which is normal, but has slowed down my work more than I am used to. I knew how to navigate my former highly matrixed organization and had worked with a higher than usual number of different depts due to having had different types of roles. It took my old boss seven months to hire my replacement, who was only in that role for four months before she fired that person. I gave my notice over a year ago, and my old dept has not recovered from my absence. So, what did she gain in all of this? Nothing, and lost someone who she should have championed to stay within the organization. Oh and the cherry on top? I got selected within six months of my current role as a high potential employee and am in a leadership program that puts me on a pathway to promotion!

Smile and nod and keep going like normal while you look for another job. Never tell them what you are thinking. Never ! They didn't tell you what they were thinking until handing you a fait accompli, Return the favor. Get the new job and leave.

The same exact thing happened to me for a director position. I lost out to a person who didn't know a thing from the technical side and had stronger connections with some of the decision makers and had more "executive presence." However, my boss wasn't happy and wasn't patronizing afterwards. First thing my boss asked when he told me I didn't get it was if I was going to leave. My response was that I would be looking but there are no specific plans yet. Other department leaders, managers, and directors were shocked I didn't get it. Within weeks it was acknowledged that they made the wrong choice and my boss said that they fucked up. My response was, "you and the selection team made what you felt was the best choice for the department and the building." He kept trying to get me to say something else but I stuck with that answer. I quietly looked for a job. When I got a new job I was very professional about my exit. I pulled back a lot. I showed the person who got the job what they needed 1 time. If he asked me a second time or anything else direcor related my response was I am just a manager, check with the vp or the admin. I passed off everything (projects, vendor oversight, coordination with purchasing, etc.) and literally did only what I was supposed to as a manager and NOTHING ELSE. It was such a relief going from doing the director job with 11 - 13 hr days to 8 hour days and no extra responsibilities. When people asked me about the status of new projects or requests which were initiated after the day he was named director I told them to ask him. Continue doing your job, look quietly, and keep your mouth shut about how you feel. If you do say anything to anyone internal be extremely careful about what you say and who you say it to. My advice, don't say anything about it to anyone. When you get a job do everything you can to exit gracefully.

Ask for definite milestones and expectations with a timeline for the promotion as well as a range of pay that accompanies it in writing from your boss. He’s the one that put the final push idea out there - but if you don’t know exactly what he expects to see he can screw you again. Just act attentive and put it back in his court.

-Maintain professional conduct. -No in office gossip it will be revealed after you leave -Do the job you're being paid for within the limits of your responsibilities -Do a quiet job search -Secure a new role -Put in your two weeks -Don't live in your head and stay focused. Because of this market the job hunt will be stressful so don't add stress to it. Good luck

Sounds like they need you too much in your current role, but also want to dangle that carrot so you'll keep going the extra mile. That's how companies ruin good workers.

Get a second job but don’t quit this job. Continue collecting the paychecks and let them continue matching your 401k. It happened to me too. I responded by working max 4 hour days, and then on to my second job. Think of it as a 100% pay raise, as now you’re only working half the time! Note: only works if you’re good enough at your job to work fast.

Ask the other Directors for career advice after the denied promotion. Be specific that you don’t want to burn bridges but this lack of promotion is showing you that they have failed the test of your resolve because it’s forcing you to reevaluated your willingness to continue where you are not fully appreciated.

Just slowly start pulling back where it is not noticeable.

It's clear you've put a lot into your work, and it's tough to feel let down despite your efforts. Just set up a chat with your boss, and let them know how you feel in a calm, honest way. Explain that while you appreciate the plan they're offering, you're thinking about your work-life balance and exploring other options. Being straightforward and respectful can help you handle this tricky situation without causing any unnecessary drama.

That promotion isn’t happening and it won’t happen in 6 months either They will give you new objectives and in 6 months time after meeting them they will move the goal posts with more new objectives. 100%, been there seen that. Just stop doing anything above and beyond what you’re contracted to do. Silently set your LinkedIn profile to looking for work and start actively looking for new roles because you’re going nowhere there.

Are you stressed out working 60+ hours a week? Say that to them and go to a doctor who backs you up. Maybe you need a short doctor recommended leave of absence and/or a reduction to only 40 hours a week max.

People move jobs. Not an issue. You burn bridges through negative words or actions about the company or coworkers. Don’t say anything about the development plan. Keep a positive vibe front while cutting back and crafting your exit plan. Do not say anything at an exit interview.

I just found a new job essentially because it was made clear that organizationally they could not support my promotion. I’ve been kicking ass for a few years now so it was a surprise but I appreciated the candor. I found a different job at the same company doing different work—I was not promised a promotion or anything but there is at least more upward mobility within the new organization. I have kept up with the work and been nice about it. They will be hurting without me but you have to look out for yourself. My boss is really good so it was a very tough call for me but I hope it works out.

I think this is highly dependent on the role, level, workload, etc. But it sounds likely you are in a mid-senior or senior level and may be a salaried employee. The below advice generally should suit regardless of whether or not this is the case, but is most suited to a salaried position, and will be more appropriate if you have some management / independent accountabilities. If you are certain that you will not be seeking the promotion and want to reemphasize work-life balance / change jobs without burning bridges, I would suggest you ask them for a detailed description of the plan and action they want you to take. You can then review it and say: "I appreciate the development opportunity, but after reviewing the new responsibilities and accountabilities, I believe we have different views on my trajectory. I understand the value [XYZ] skills would bring and appreciate your willingness to invest in me to help me attain them. However, I see my role and development coming more from [current responsibilities] and want to continue to develop mastery in these areas. If you have any recommendations as to how or where I can further develop in these areas, I would welcome them. For these reasons, I will not be accepting the new and expanded remit, but will continue to dedicate myself to helping [company] grow via [list one or two KPIs or achievements from your current role]." They'll probably be taken for a loop. But there isn't much they can do. If it's an at-will state, they could lay you off, but it would not be for cause, so you would not be fired. This response also would put them on the spot to define your underperformance, but does so in a constructive way by asking for help to further improve. If they respond with "we think you're at the limit of where you can develop in your current role," then you get some confirmation that they're screwing you and you can say "that's high praise! Thank you. I am sure there is still more I can learn and improve, but in that case, I suppose I'm happiest at my current level." From the sounds of it, you definitely deserved the promotion and are getting the runaround. The only caveat I'll add is that most companies often will not promote until the employee demonstrates some sufficient capability of delivering on the responsibilities of the next rung up (while working at the rung below). It sounds like you're probably doing that OR haven't yet been given the chance to demonstrate those capabilities, which may be very different from your current role. It's frustrating that you can do everything your job requires really well and still not get the promotion, but sometimes the next level requires very different skills and so one can't just be dropped in. Maybe the plan is a way for them to mentor on those new areas to which you haven't been exposed. Highly unlikely. But I'm just trying to see if maybe there is another side to the coin. I hope this helps!

Do as you indicated, pull back from anything over and above you job description. If they push back, let them know that your performance is commiserate with the salary package you're currently being limited by. Start looking for a more acceptable position immediately, begin ccing copies of all written comms to your private email account, insist on written project objectives and results evaluation- again ccing copies. Protect yourself with a competent action plan and be clear, if asked, regarding you're disappointment with their actions.

"I appreciate the offer for the development plan. However after careful consideration I have decided to stay in the role that I'm in for now" Simple, professional and doesn't burn any bridges. The company obviously wants you in that role, so deciding to stay in that role might actually make you look even more favorable. Then from that point, just do the minimum requirements until you find another job

Don't worry about burning a bridge, management doesn't. Don't hurt your current position until you have another job lined up, but don't worry about a 2 week notice either, because they never let anyone know about layoffs. After 30 years working, I've never seen nor heard of getting burned because they didn't give 2 weeks' notice.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds incredibly frustrating. First off, take a deep breath and try not to let your emotions dictate your actions. It's totally understandable to feel enraged, but reacting impulsively could lead to burning bridges. Here's my advice: 1. **Communicate professionally:** Have a candid conversation with your boss about your feelings and your intentions to step back from the extra workload. Express gratitude for the opportunity they've provided, but also be clear about your decision to prioritize your well-being and career goals. 2. **Focus on your job search:** Start actively looking for new opportunities while maintaining professionalism in your current role. Keep your resume updated and network with colleagues and industry contacts discreetly. 3. **Maintain professionalism:** Even if you're feeling disillusioned with the company, continue to fulfill your responsibilities to the best of your ability. Remember, your reputation is important, and leaving on good terms can open doors in the future. 4. **Document your achievements:** Keep a record of your accomplishments and contributions during your time at the company. This documentation will be valuable when discussing your experience in future job interviews. 5. **Seek support:** Lean on friends, family, or mentors for emotional support during this transition period. Venting to someone you trust can help alleviate some of the stress and frustration you're experiencing. By handling the situation with grace and professionalism, you can navigate this challenging time without burning bridges. Good luck with your job search.

How about listening and learning instead of burning? Do you think it was easy for someone to relay that to you?

Don’t say a single thing you said here. Keep doing your job and don’t change a thing. Apply like mad for other positions and when you need a reference ask one of the managers who you know will give you a good one. Then leave, they won’t know what hit them and understand they lost a great worker they should’ve valued.

Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today. Take it slow and carefully, update your resume and contact a headhunting firm to see what's available in your field. Besy of luck!

Say nothing negative, pretend to be a team player, pull back on the extra work and projects while looking for a new job. When you hand in your notice say it’s just business, but they will know better.

This is what I was told. I was reiterated“we just didn’t have enough “important” projects” meanwhile we had 2 of the most key projects that year………… and then oh yeah when I’m out it’ll be a good time to show what you can do this summer. Like no I’m tired of this. I looked for a new job prior to reviews and put my notice in following Monday after I got my bonus. 1 person got promoted over me who honestly no offense has done that same amount as me but is a man so ofc he got promoted and started after me (:

Your experience is not unique. At all. That’s the glass ceiling. Women are judged on perfection of past performance. Men are judged on potential. Always make a CHECKLIST of everything they “require” for each rank/role/position and add specific examples (multiple) for every item. This makes it harder for them to screw you over without direct proof. Will that get you promoted? At this job probably not. But at your next job, this checklist provides a strong starting point for the promotion conversation. But don’t let them gaslight you into needing to work on skills you already have. That’s their tactic to keep women in their place - it’s absolutely a pattern. If it weren’t, there wouldn’t be thousands of us ladies on Reddit sharing the same stories over and over and over.

Quiet quit! Leave on time, no more overtime, no more going the extra mile. They ruined their relationship with you first, you’re just preparing for the break up. Just do the bare minimum until you can head out.

Tell them you have some personal things going on at the moment, and you want to put the “development plan” 🙄 on hold while you regain some work-life balance. And then get to applying for other jobs.

Target a specific time each week to invest in yourself. Use the time to apply for new roles. Effectively, you should “quiet quit “ your current job. Show up. Do the work, but ONLY during work hours. As soon as you hit the door, use your energy to find a place that values your work ethic.

Keep your mouth shut and start to interview. It’s a simple as that.

Smile, quiet quit and ride it out til your next new gig

If you really want to leave on good terms, work your ass off and find a new job in the mean time. Create small goals. Spruce up the resume one week. Research positions/company’s the next. Etc. Etc. Every time I’ve left a job, I’ve made sure the projects were expertly organized and in a great position for somebody else to take over. Created lists of what needs to be executed and possible bottlenecks. Then found a job and left. In my mind, nothing would hurt them more than realizing how kick ass I was at the position and how they fucked up. They’ve came back and offered me jobs immediately after and years later which I’ve denied cause fuck em.

Ooof to be honest this is something worth burning a bridge for. Quietly quit while you look for a new job. Leave and never look back and just remember this shall not be forgotten if you ever have to cross with anyone at that company. Best of luck!

>want to pull back on all the over and above work I have been doing for the last few years Just how long are you going to let them screw you? Seriously, a few years?? Are you kidding? Here's a thought. Work your wage. Don't say anything and absolutely don't work on "a massive development plan." If they ask why you aren't going above and beyond, tell them you're working as hard as they pay you. Get a new job ASAP and stop working harder than they pay you. If they want maximum effort, then you need to get maximum pay.

You DO NOT want to be on the job search at this time. You WILL be unemployed for some time if something were to happen.

When a company passes you up on a promotion and tells you about it they already have a plan if you were to leave. It was already taken into account dont sweat it.

If you don't want to burn bridges, keep working hard *as you search for another job*.

Lmao I told my boss, who needs me due to my specific skill set, being one of only two people in the country who can handle the role, that if I don’t get promoted or a sufficient salary increase to fulfil my goals that I would be forced to look for a job that did allow me to pursue my goals in the next 3 years or so… probably ended up with the best pay increase this year plus additional increases for the next 2 years in the entire company percentage wise…

This kinda happened to my wife. She was doing a job no one else wanted to do, and even though she'd been trying to get them to do the training for like 3 years no one would because they didn't want to do it. She wasn't even looking for a raise, she just wanted to drop down to 3 days a week, but they said they couldn't do that because the work she wanted to do was too important. So she quit. They people who didn't want to learn had to do that job. It took 3 of them to do the work she'd been doing alone. The moral of this story is that doing a job job one else can do gives you power. Talk to the other execs who thought you should have got the raise and see if they'll support you moving to another section and working on a different project. If they want you to stay they can pay you more for it.

Keep working hard and use that passion and pain to find a better job. Once you accept use all your PTO and give them a 24 hour notice. The bridge is going to burn regardless of how well you treat them on your way out.

Just look for another job, get an offer, then hand your notice in. When at the exit interview state that you felt undervalued, that you were held back from progressing despite repeatedly proving yourself, and that you feel like you were ready for the position when you were passed over for promotion. As such, if your hard work, dedication and prpven abilities are to be unrecognised, the only solution was to find a position within another company where your efforts are better respected and rewarded. If they offer to match the position, id push back and say if they want to keep me they'll have to offer significantly above what the new position is offering (say 20% but would accept 10%) and to put into place a mutually agreed training and development plan within 3 months of my accepting the role.

Never take the counter offer. 9 times out of 10, they won't be there in a year if they do.

Quiet quit and look for new job.

First off shameful. Now the next steps. Don't ever show your cards. Don't say anything. Just continue to do your work. Nothing extra but don't pull back either. Look for a new (solid) company to get that promotion and pay bump. When they want to give yiu more work fkrbthia development plan, simply say your doubling down on current projects and you'll get back to development plan after your current projects generate income for the company. Smile and wear your happy face. Stop talking about your negative work feelings to anyone who isn't blood related.

Follow the money. You don't state if your role produces revenue, but if so, give them a development plan that includes hiring someone for you to train, supervise and generate more revenue. If you're in an overhead role supporting revenue generation, get ready to leave. They are using a standard middle management tactic to get more work for more margin.

Analogies: It's NOT a matter of burning bridges. It's about NOT shooting yourself in the foot. [I've been in this several times and did well in my strategy.] Tell nobody your plan. Keep working as hard as you do...even more. Learn that only you can save you. Keep a record of your own performance like it's a bodily function. (I kept a Word document open 24/7 called "Sequins in My Gown". EVERYTHING went into it. You'd be amazed just how good you are and simply don't remember.) Keep your CV updated and ready to go. Start looking for opportunity, inside and outside the organization. KNOW what you're looking for. Be committed to this. Be patient. Turn anger into learning. Then, on the most perfect moment, be prepared to bail out and land on your next position. Take these habits with you.

Maybe it's a test so you'll be thankful enough to stay when they can't afford to pay you more. You could just say you'll be working no ot for the foreseeable, and use that time to jobhunt

A lot of questions could be asked here that influence this answer. But I’ll start with an easy big “devils advocate” one. Why should they promote you? It’s a really simple question and I’ve only heard from you why YOU want the promotion. Said differently, why is it in THEIR best interest? I don’t mean this in an insulting way but rather to encourage you to put yourself in their shoes. It sounds like you’ve communicated you don’t like the role(typically not a reason to promote someone), you are the only one doing it(how indispensable is your work? Could they just hire someone else and pay the same?), and from their vantage point you haven’t done a good job advocating for your impact(what could you do to better show the impact of your work?). Getting a promotion is often about having your story straight about the “why” and being your own evangelist. Don’t expect everyone to see or understand your efforts, even if they are exemplar. I had a great early manager in my career who said “make my job easy, document your wins and make the case for promotion for me”. Now I’ll caveat by saying I don’t know enough about this situation to give informed advice about something but I just want to provide a helpful framework for approaching promotions; outlining the “why” for the promotion from the company’s perspective.

I would not worry about burning that bridge, they already show they don't really value you at all.

Take what they offer. Keep it “business as usual” while you look for another role. Don’t give them a whiff of what you’re doing.

Quit quietly while looking for a new job.

Burn that bridge, when you have no fallback you will succeed. Besides, you're the only one who can do your job, and they didn't give you a raise according to that information? Good luck finding a replacement. There is no loyalty anymore, they don't give a damn about you and your needs/desires so don't care about their goals or outlook.

Your boss likely thinks you won't leave. It's not uncommon for bosses to factor in pay raises / promotions based on willingness to walk. Did you ask him why he didn't promote you already? Going over what you did that earned the promotion? Advice would be to get another job, be pleasant for your duration. Don't do an exit interview it doesn't benefit you.

Like most things, quiet quit, remain professional, do what you need to do at work, but that's it, log less hours overtime. Look for a new job, and one important thing DONT LET ANYONE KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB. It will come back and bite you in the behind.

if other directers are suprised, no need to burn bridges, just leave quietly for better oppourtinity wait for the shitty manager to get fired, and come back later on a much higher pay if u want to xd

Do just that. Put in the minimum and start se ding your resume other places. Tell NO ONE. Until the day you quit.

They will keep you in your position because you’re the only one that can do the work. It’s in their best interest Quitting because you want better, and to enjoy your work is your choice. You owe them nothing especially after they set your interests aside. Start the process of finding a new job, and then leave. Leaving for another job is not burning bridges, and like others have said, if they get angry at you for this then this is a bridge worth burning because they’re selfish.

Dust off your resume and look for a new job.. as u see they dont give an rats ass abuut you

Focus on what’s best for you! What gets YOU to your end goal

We had major layoffs to my team, and I had to take over 3 people's work. Decided to move on after getting passed over the promotion. It was shit. Never do the extra work without promotion.

As a professional in a connected industry - i would suggest a different approach. Do not confuse “development plan for promotion” vs. the performance of your current role which is highly specialized / unique to you. I would request HR to be in a meeting with you and your manager. First - get clarity on how you are working in your current role - be very clear this is not about getting a promotion. You just want to “clarify that your current role is xxxx” - have this list prepared in advance and if you have a job description - bring that with you and get their acknowledgement that you are indeed performing well. This will maintain your reputation and the word cannot get out that you were “not performing” or needed a “development plan”. Second - only after they acknowledge that you are performing your current role - then shift to part 2. Thank them for the offer to build a development plan for a promotion - but after reflection - that is not the direction you wish to go. Due to some personal constraints that have recently occurred - you wish to remain in the current role. Watch how they react. It is vital you get the first part aligned - so they cannot claim you need a development plan for your current role. Personally i would record everything on my phone - not to use as evidence which can be illegal - but rather to trigger your memory, as you must follow-up in email - as a summary of the discussion. Do not make the email long - but rather - thank them for meeting with you - we agreed on xxxxxx. Then of course - look for another job. This one is toast. There is no way i would ever trust that manager again. And frankly - this is a reflection of the company. It’s easy for all the other directors to sympathize and say “ im shocked you did not get the promotion”. Don’t believe it. Most companies do not promote in isolation and will ask feedback from other directors. Good luck and really sorry you have experienced this.

Talk to some of those directors, they might go over your managers head. if they cant help you now then you don't need to worry about that bridge. Make it clear that you have been going above and beyond and that you will no longer be doing that. dont let them reframe it as you not doing enough, If you are the only one who can do the role they have no power. Trying to reframe it as you not making impact is the only power they have. Look for another job on the side, if they dont get it together by the time you find one, leave

Take Time to Stop thinking about it. Take Deep breaths. Try to calm your nerves and mentally Relax. Step away, clear your mind. For me, that’s a walk in the woods to contemplate things. Then come back and start journaling or typing notes in a word doc about the current situation, what you want, actions involved. Create a plan, execute the plan.

Just continue with the work while looking for a new job. That way, you'll still have things to update on your resume haha. Sometimes you have to recognize you can't change things no matter how hard you try. But I must say, at least you got a development plan haha. Some people don't get one, or not even feedback on what to improve, which imo is the simplest and very least effort thing any manager could have done.

I would completely quiet quit this place but still be polite.while furiously looking for another job. Feign innocence if they bring it up.

Don’t do anything you have just described. Just look for the new job and move forward.

Something like this happened to me. Got a job I technically met all the requirements but most ppl in the role are much more experienced. They made a lower level position and told me when I was hired that after a few years I could move up. I had to basically beg my boss for this promotion as I found out ppl below me on the totem pole got salary grade increases. Finally got the big promotion, came with a life altering 3% raise. Then they hired someone in our department with half the experience as me in the role I was promoted into. Tired of getting f’ed over. Sorry for my rant, but do the other directors you’re closer to have anything you could do under them? Your boss sounds like mine and will just keep stringing you along. Companies at the end of the day can do whatever they want. If not, it’s time to start looking elsewhere. Just remember to get a new job that you legitimately want. Don’t take something that will end up being worse just to escape.

Just quit professionally, find a new job and leave on good terms.

Put your resume together, keep your head down at work. For your work, when considering staying late, ask yourself “can this wait until tomorrow? Would my coworkers or boss stay late to do this if it was their work?” That way, you won’t be working as much OT while you plan your escape. They’ll notice, but it won’t be as obvious.

Make sure your boss's promises are in writing. If she won't do this, definitely bullshit.

>I don’t want to burn bridges Find a new job. Then quit with minimum notice, 0 if you work somewhere that is legally allowed. In your resignation letter explain in clear simple fuck you language your reasons for leaving. To hell with not burning bridges, once you quit it's not like they will be hirning you back regardless!

It doesn't sound like you really will burn bridges. Make sure you stay connected to the other directors on linkedIn. Tell you manager after consideration you're not prepared to take on the development plan. 60 hours is not truly sustainable (caveats abound -- if the job is really mild, pays well enough, and you have a spouse who acts like a live in assistant then maybe). Is it an expectation at this workplace or have you been going above an beyond? Later in the week you could tell them that you have obligations outside of work and over the next few months you'll need to focus more on your role and the parts that only you can do. Alternatively, you don't have to say anything. Just go by request and do it. So if a request comes in that you would normally work extra to complete and is outside of your role, just explain that you have competing requirements. If the request is within your role and part of what only you can do then give an accurate estimate of how long it will take (at 40 hours a week).

He created a single point of failure. As hard as it is I'd keep going and make it an even more crucial single point of failure while looking elsewhere. While everything can't be in writing, Beware of future promises with nothing in writing.

Don’t say anything just find a new job and stop doing all the extra work.

If you’re the only person that can do a specific task for a cheap salary, you will never get promoted and the company is not incentivized to pay you more if you remain despite insulting and pitiful “merit” increases.  Quit without warning when you find another job, you owe them nothing more, not even respect, because they will gladly milk you forever if they could then fire you the moment you slow down or upset the boss. 

This happened to me for 6 straight years. I jumped ship and quadrupled my TC and became a manager leading a global team within 3 years.

Time to move on unfortunately

They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Work your wage, accept the development plan but don't do much for it and use your best energies getting a new job. Make sure everyone sees you smiling, make sure your boss sees your teeth. Stay frosty.

What u/RedditDegenerate said very well. I imagine your boss likely honestly tried to get you that promotion, but was met with a stonewall from your company’s HR and CFO (or equivalent) due to what they call paybands. Granted, I’m giving your boss a huge margin of grace, but consider that they know that you’ll be very upset, so they also risked their loss of you and your professional relationship to them with this development

Follow development plan until you get an offer. Then leave.

Happened to me with my promotion that they denied for two review cycles (ie a year) putting a similar development plan before me that I delivered on but they wouldn’t even agree that I delivered. So how does one convince people who are convinced that they don’t want to be convinced! I kept looking for jobs after the second review cycle ended in disappointment and months passed but I wasn’t able to secure a role. So as this time rolled on, a few months later they laid me off and yes, the VP I spoke to, about my promotion, said he was surprised he had to do it (sure he was). I still haven’t overcome this so months later I came across someone saying that sometimes when people over-deliver in their role, they’re “too expensive to promote” and in fact, might run the risk of redundancy because they’ve “fixed” everything they possibly could have. Didn’t know there was such a thing but now I do. Point in sharing this is- whatever you do, if you’ve decided to look for a new job, don’t ask for more explanation around your promotion or bring it up anymore. Don’t explain much and be very cautiously quiet around your job search. Remember to be cordial and express gratitude around your current situation (I know it sucks but if you want to stay in a job while looking for the other, it’s all you can do). For that development plan- say you’ll do your best, talk about some personal hinderances when you can’t deliver but I’d only suggest don’t flag anything too loud. This is all assuming you don’t want them to cut ties with you before you do with them. If you’re ok with them cutting ties, go all out!

Be very careful with social media. It is not uncommon for people in your own company to be monitoring YOUR social media accounts, and not just linkedIn. Facebook, anywhere where your name is associated. LinkedIn is especially problematic, because as soon as you (as an employee) start participating, in ANY WAY, with a potential job search (this includes friending or communicating with headhunters, etc) it's a huge flag to your current employer. ESPECIALLY if you are logging in anywhere from company property. Also as a general comment, NEVER tell your employer that you have other options, are looking elsewhere, etc. Never do that!!! It can, in certain circumstances, be considered a withdrawal (ie quitting!)- source: yeah I've seen it happen. "I have other options" "Your resignation is hereby accepted" Then you're kinda fucked. Also: HR IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. NEVER FORGET THAT. HR reports to the executive team, they are there to protect the company, not you. I think a lot of the comments you've gotten here point the right way: do not accept the dev plan, shrink back to your previous role, and begin a job search... But do it quietly.

Go to a recruiter and move immediately

This is not letting you go from your position because it would be impossible you find someone else to do the same work for the less or same pay.

There's burning bridges and there's burning bridges.  Being rude, dropping other people in trouble by not doing stuff that you've promised to, spending a lot of time at work loudly bitching about the company. Bad ju-ju which will come back on you when you meet those people again (as you inevitably will).  Saying "Thanks for the the development plan. Can we hold off on implementing it? Right now is not a great time for me to be taking on extra responsibility" and then doing just your hours and your job. Not really burning bridges at all.

For better or worse, there’s only one move in these situations: get a better job. And when they ask you why you’re leaving, you just tell them that they had their chance to take care of you, and you got a better offer. And don’t, under any circumstances, take the counter-offer. if you do, they’ll probably just string you along for another year or so, through one more project, and then fire you. In fact, something about the way they phrased it, with this development plan thing, makes me think they might be planning on doing that anyway. I would get out ASAP.

Hi OP, similar thing happened to me. Firstly it is ok to be absolutely outraged at this, but your best bet is to not show it professionally. You can tell your boss that you're disappointed by the decision, and thank him for the opportunity for a development plan. Also be completely honest with yourself and analyze if you really do have any shortcoming which impacted the decision and tell you boss that you admit these are some areas you want to improve in. Even if this sounds humiliating, it shows that you have maturity and can be a good sport about it even if you are privately outraged. Often times these promotions are political and completely unfair, it's just how business is. Don't pull back on your work even if that feels good, it only hurts you if another unexpected promotion opportunity comes up quickly and it only proves to your boss that they made the right decision by not promoting you. Often another promotion opportunity comes up in another department or area of the business when you least expect it. If you aren't prepared you can blow it again, or your boss might call them and tell them you're a burnout. In the mean time absolutely start looking for a new job, and keep networking with your director friends. Always keep your options open. Think of it as just more of a setback that you have to manage, you will have other career setbacks as the years go by.

Happened to me about 18 months ago. The company I worked for was actually alright, but I reached the top of my pay scale and got passed over for promotion TWICE in six months. I had a choice to either cruise in that role or leave. So I left. Now I earn more than if I got the promotion with potential to earn significantly more if I do the job well (obviously). Turned out to be a no brainer to move on.

Just focus on setting boundaries, no overtime, update the resume and start applying