ultimatums in general but really i just told my boss that i'd quit if i didn't get a raise by november c/d?

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do ultimatums work for you guys? being dealt one is really irritating too, on the other hand.

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Monday, 27 September 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Hope you have another job lined up.

― Michael White (Hereward), Monday, 27 September 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Better start typing your CV I would say.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Monday, 27 September 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

i have prospects to make the same amount of money and would have the opportunity to pick up more freelance work (i write and do design stuff)... so it could go either way.
also i might enjoy to not have a job for a while. i had two years off at my last go and
haven't had more than 1 day off in a row for 2 1/2 years now. i either need more compensation to justify my fatigue or a drastic change.

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Monday, 27 September 2004 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Money might never be enough.

― Michael White (Hereward), Monday, 27 September 2004 20:40 (twenty-one years ago)

yes. trying to figure out what $ amount makes the steady diminishing of the soul seem worthwhile has proven to be quite difficult.

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Monday, 27 September 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck, dude! I have my annual performance review tomorrow, and if my raise is not substantial, I am going to start scouring the classifieds.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Sometimes they can work, but they must be realistic. You have to be prepared to carry out your threat.

How did he react?

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I just heard a story of an ultimatum that worked for a co-worker. I myself freaked out and walked into an administrator's office today, obviously very upset and it ended up resulting in a change in policy in my department that I was looking for. This is not the first time I've brought it up (though not with this person), but this is the first time I've done it while feeling like I might be ready to have a heart attack.

But I don't think ultimatums or freakouts (not the same thing obv.) necessarily work. It depends on all the other factors, like how much resistance there is to fulfilling your requests or how important you are to the organization.

― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 27 September 2004 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

He reacted by saying that it was ludicrous to assert that they're not paying me enough. He then said that he'd have Jeff (a co-worker) print out a list of various expenses and bonuses and salary that i've gotten over the last year. i said that i was not trying to debate the amount because i was well aware of the amount and that it's not enough. he said he'd print it out anyhow. so i see him talking to jeff, and can tell that they're IM'ing eachother. Jeff prints it out, sets it on my boss's desk and looks at me but then doesn't say a fucking thing. he hadn't mentioned it... and actually literally just now as i was writing this i just got a voicemail from him saying that they could not afford to lose me right now as we're in the middle of a few projects. but that towards the end of them, in fairness, he would give me half of a final bonus the other half to be paid out after completion, and that after that i could work for them freelance as they need me, but that he understands that i need a new job and would happily give me a good recommendation.

i am elated.

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

this worked for a co-worker of mine. she was pretty unfairly underpaid, they never raised her up to the salary she should have been getting after she was promoted, just gave her increasing 5% raises on the salary she started at which was really low. She went and found another job, got an offer, and forced them to counteroffer to keep her. But it required a huge amount of support from her boss and her boss's boss and I've never seen this happen anywhere else.

― akm (akmonday), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Good for you, if it means you get what you want.

xpost

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Good on ya. For future reference, alls I'll say is that I've learned to never deliver an ultimatum unless you're fully prepared for the answer to be "no."

― Formerly Lee G (Formerly Lee G), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks and thanks.
yeah... secretly i was kind of hoping it was no. the fact that it was kind of yes and kind of no is even better.

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

the only thing that's unfortunate is that the next job won't be movie director as i'd hoped from the age of 8 on. but it will be slightly better than... well... we'll see when we get there.

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:46 (twenty-one years ago)

good luck firstworldman!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Monday, 27 September 2004 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Thing about ultimatums -- if ya don't follow through, they become meaningless.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 September 2004 22:14 (twenty-one years ago)

When I was in first grade, I had a friend who would always get mad and say, "I'm going home and never coming back again," but he always did. I can't remember what tpye of thing used to upset him. It's hard for me to imagine that I could have been doing anything that seriously justified this. Anyway, I never worried about it. I probably didn't worry about it the first time. Back then I had the advantage of making friends easily and also being pretty content to spend occupy myself alone.

― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 27 September 2004 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

When I was in first grade, I had a friend who would always get mad and say, "I'm going home and never coming back again," but he always did.

I know a 30-year-old who does that.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I do this all the time. They always give me the raise.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:37 (twenty-one years ago)

That's why we hate you.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 28 September 2004 00:15 (twenty-one years ago)

All becomes clear.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't been in this situation for awhile but I said that I'd gotten a better offer, told them what it supposedly was, that I needed to look at my priorities, but really would like to stay blah blah, and it worked.

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 01:21 (twenty-one years ago)

One of my coworkers tried this two weeks ago but he didn't get very far, our boss was like "do you know how many 22 year olds would kill to make what you do? You're already overpaid, you'll get a raise in october like everybody else" and met the possibility of him quitting to go find work elsewhere with "oh well." This coworker was musing yesterday on moving to Atlanta.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 28 September 2004 08:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Tried it a couple of times to graeter or lesser sucess. Sometimes management needs a kick in the pants.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 08:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, quite often, if you don't demand, you don't get.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 08:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I've tried this before & it's worked, so i think it's always worth a shot, although I wouldn't say 'do this or else'!!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't remember the last time I was actually valued by my employer to the extent that I could make an ultimatum. I suppose when I was a chatroom moderator I could name my price when it came to freelance work, but that was within fairly low boundaries that I knew there was no point crossing.

But yeah, if you really want to leave anyway, then it could be a good thing. Having said that, if you hate a job, then a bit more cash isn't going to make you like it any more. Ultimata should probably be for promotions or transfers or similar.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm planning on doing this in a couple of weeks - i won't quit but i will start looking for a new job

― teh pow! (blueski), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I have had freak-outs about outrageously unfair things but have never felt able to give ultimatums. Chances are, I wouldn't even notice being underpaid if I was happy in the job so if it gets to that point I might as well just quit.

Last time I got upset about being 'promoted' but not actually paid at the appropriate rate, I was accused of being unprofessional. Ha.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

disgraceful

― teh pow! (blueski), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

(To be fair, I may have inadvertently stamped my foot in impotent rage at one point in the 'discussion'.)

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude, I'd totally give you the promotion arch if you stamped your foot at me!!
I've got a job interview on friday, wonder what my boss will make of that!!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Heh. Does your boss know it's happening?

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Not yet, he's on his honeymoon!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Just don't quit - its not like your employers have any real respect for you anyway so you won't have anything to lose!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 10:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I did this about 8 or 9 times at my last job.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:30 (twenty-one years ago)

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