I have been a middle manager at my current job for a couple of years, before that I was a traditional employee. I have always aimed to take my boss´ seat, but for various reasons (I won´t bother you with the details) I have come to the conclusion that it ain´t gonna happen.
Basically, I want to give my boss an ultimatium - Either you give me permission to step down from my current position and go back to my old role (so I can pursue working on my side hustles instead) or I need to find an employer who will give me what I want. I have some alternatives, but nothing solid for the moment (obviously, he doesn´t need to know that).
Before I pull the trigger, do you see any downsides for this?
For the record I am high performance employee who always tops the charts when it comes to results. The board likes me and my boss also, and I will of course do my job seriously but only on my terms from now on. I don´t really care anymore if this means that I won´t "develop within the company". My main goal isn´t to pursue something here, but I don´t want to be fired either since for the moment need the income. I want to stay since the job offers some stability for my side hustles, if I switch I need to delay those things.
Any advice, especially from those of you who have been in a similar position, much apprechiated.
benzino 2y ago
Someone I know did something similar, she resigned from her managerial role due to health reasons. She found a benign tumor and stress would make it worse so she got back to her old desk job
Ibanez 2y ago
What?
benzino 2y ago
What dont you understand? She went to the boss. Said the doctors found a tumor in her throat and stress would make it worse, hence she cant work as a manager anymore. The boss moved her to her old position (non-manager) and got someone else to be a manager
Ibanez 2y ago
You are in no position to give corporate bosses any ultimatums. You are not an intrapreneur in this economy and everyone is replaceable.
The only time you can walk up to him and smash his fuckin' head on the desk is when you have a SIGNED OFFER FROM ANOTHER COMPANY. That's when you go and say "Either give me this or that or I'm gone 'cause I have these guys that made me an official offer".
Any other than this, you will most likely find yourself in the position to go back to him and you will be his own personal bitch until he says stop, because you went full retard with your cards.
Also, your "side hustle" (lol millennial, you ain't got any real side hustle, chill) must make at least a steady 2x your income from the day job for at least 3-6 months in a row before you consider quitting your full time job.
Overkill_Engine Endorsed Contributor 2y ago
Then you need to keep your mouth shut until those alternative are solid and firmly in your damn possession. You desperately want to be able to bluff as a shortcut past the hard parts, but it WILL bite you in the ass if you try. Want in one hand and shit in the other, see which gets full first. All ultimatums are is a warning that you are disloyal, giving your employer time to find their own alternative to you.
Be sure that you can survive the odds beating you before you try beating the odds.
Play it smart, cultivate your alternatives until they are real and actually yours, then pull the plug and see what offer they make.
whytehorse2021 2y ago
OK, I did about 11 years in corporate. You should get your resume up to date and start applying elsewhere. If you get a new job paying more, take it and leave. Employers like to take advantage of covert contracts. You think if you work hard you will be rewarded. That's a covert contract. You think if you're a good employee the company will be loyal. Covert contract.
I suppose you could be assertive and ask for a raise. As a former employer myself, that's not a big deal. Bring up inflation, increased rents, higher gas prices, higher financing costs, etc. I did have an upper limit on what I could pay. At a certain point you can just get someone else to do the job. Like if McDonalds starts paying $35/hr they're going to get top people.
From an employer's perspective, sometimes it's better to pay good people more and keep them happy so the company keeps chugging along.
Problematic_Browser 1 2y ago
This is a terrible idea.
You are not in a position of power. You cannot give any ultimatums. The most you can do is piss off your boss and give him/her the motivation to replace you completely.
If you're dissatisfied, secure a job offer from another company and leave.
GimmeTheUsual 2y ago
Maybe frame the proposal in terms of lack of progress.
If your company doesn't have a defined "track" of progression for a career, that could be a starting point. Maybe they've never bothered because no one asked or had ambition to care.
By saying "look, I want to do more but I don't see a path forward" you come off as someone who wants to do the job, and THEY are the impediment. Its a strong place to be in, especially if your record is as strong as you relate.
This puts the onus on them to figure out how to handle someone who clearly can do the job and wants to assume more responsibility (with the proper compensation of course, implied - but you'd negotiate that later I'd assume).