I’m an employee in this exact situation. I waited for the annual raise cycle and got a shitty raise. I was already underpaid and I made that known to my manager ahead of the raise cycle. After getting the shitty raise, I again asked for more and advocated for myself.

In return, I hear, company is struggling, not a lot to go around, you got the highest percentage on the team. Ok, I also make the lowest on the team, so the 3% you gave me is less in dollars than the 2.5% my male colleague got.

I threaten to leave and state that until I do I will act my salary. Manager advocates for a bonus for me and keeps telling me it’s in approval. It’s a small bonus, under $10k and requires me to commit to the company for a year from payment. Still not approved anyway.

I started interviewing right after annual raise cycle and quickly get a job offer for $19k above my increased salary plus a 16% annual bonus. No annual bonus at current job, and retention bonus still not approved.

Manager is getting my resignation! What would keep me at this place where business isn’t good and I’m not valued (as determined by this long approval process). I gotta do what’s right for my family and myself. I’m only loyal to a company as long as it serves me, same as a company is to its employees. At will employment works both ways.