I did the same thing about 2 months ago. I gave the previous company nights and weekends to "fit the needs of the company." I went into my boss' office and tried to negotiate a raise, seeing as I took on 3 full-time positions and was only getting paid for one. No dice. I then got an offer for a new job that came with an i stant raise and less responsibility. Two months later I have been promoted with another raise. I was terrified at first, leaving a company that I was used to for something new. The clincher was the previous company offered more when I put my 2 weeks notice in. I am worth more than that, and you are too. Take the offer and go to a place thay will value you for who you are, not just what you do for the company.
I Refuse to Settle for “Employee of the Year” After Bringing in $3 Million

Career success doesn’t always bring the recognition people expect. Many professionals work beyond their limits, sacrificing weekends and personal time, only to feel overlooked when it matters most. Workplace loyalty, ambition, and self-respect can collide in moments that force tough choices. One reader recently sent a letter to Bright Side about a situation that left her questioning everything.
The letter:
Dear Bright Side,
I brought in $3 million for my firm this year. I worked overtime, answered calls on weekends, and even on my holidays.
My boss congratulated me in front of everyone and gave me an “Employee of the Year” trophy. No raise. No promotion. Nothing.
I declared, “Cheap awards don’t pay the bills!” and put it in the office trash.
My boss replied, “You’re nothing but an employee! Don’t mistake success for power!”
I smiled.
Next day, I froze when HR sent us all an email. It said: “Effective immediately, all major client accounts will be reassigned. Please direct inquiries to management.”
My heart sank. They were stripping away everything I built carefully for years.
But hours later, everyone froze when they discovered I’ve been secretly interviewing with our biggest competitor for the past month. They offered me the same as my current salary, and it would give me a fresh start.
I was ready to sign. Then my boss walked into my office, closed the door, and said something I never expected.
“We’re giving you a 10% raise. Increase of benefits and more flexibility. Plus a performance bonus structure... STAY.”
Now I can’t sleep.
I gave this company 9 years. My friendships, my routines, my growth — all built here. But they only valued me when I threatened to leave.
The competitor wants my answer by Friday.
Part of me wants to stay where things are familiar. Part of me thinks I no longer have a future here.
Sometimes the hardest career decisions aren’t about money. They’re about self-respect.
What would you do?
— Paula

I would see if the other company would match your raise if so then go
Leave now.
Leave immediately
Leave .I did in this scenario.
Go to the new job.
If you stay, after a few days, the present company management will show its true colours and take revenge against you by humiliating and insulting and ignoring you beyond the limits.
Once a step is taken forward, do not take it back. Have self-esteem.
WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST IN YOUR NEW JOB!
Regards!
S G. Saraf
Go to the new job what's to say that along with all the new benefits at present job you won't also be met with attitude hostility
Go for new adventure
Run !! They will find a way to force you out. Had something similar happen to me .
That’s what I was thinking they’ll do it after some time so the other job offer will be gone. Leave now.
Go where you will be happy working, it's your decision not the company who's trying to buy you back, you have to decide, after it's going to be your. Decision right !!!!!
I'd go.
10% is not that. If you feel undervalued now, ask yourself 2 questions. 1st) is there something in the near future that will change this empty feeling. 2nd) how much longer do I want to be their doormat
I had same confrontations twice. Stayed both times and regretted believing my value was finally recognized. Once you discover insincerity is inherrent in the group, you should either move on, or join the deceitful club.
Stay , don't take things personal. They came thru. Dont fool.yourself in thinking the other company is any better. By the way , you can ask for 20 percent raise and meet at 15 percent.
Time for a big adios & pack up your desk
Leave, they're only asking you to stay to save face and to make sure you don't take those accounts with you to their competitor.
Good point
You shamed your boss in public while he was giving you an award? That should have been handled in a private mature conversation. SMH And I could understand if the other company offered your more of something but instead of accepting a raise in a job you're valued you're going to make a lateral move to a company that will be the exact same over pride? I think you need to do some self reflection
Handled in private? When you see a fire you put it out. Especially if what's burning is your self respect.
I'd get the competitor to match your current company's new offer. If they do, leave your company. Take some accounts with you if you can.
No, because once you agree to the terms of your current job, they will know that they got you right where they wanted you! Better to refuse the offer and walk out with your head held high! Who knows, you may be responsible for the current company's losing their clients in order to follow you to your new employer, and the old bosses will sorely regret losing you when they lose their money!
Happened to me years back. I was ready to leave after being disrespected at a committee meeting. I handed in my resignation letter, the ceo came in and wanted to give me a raise of 25k. WOW! I asked why I was all of a sudden worth 25k more? Crickets. I left with my head high.
Don't stay. As soon as your new job offer disappears so will the new raise from your current boss and all the benefits he's offering.
Go where you are valued and Never look back, always look forward
Please, LEAVE. You can't trust your current boss or company. Even if you get new terms in writing, you can be made to feel unwanted so you leave if they can't fire you. It's what constructive termination means. They don't want their competitor to have you because they know you are an asset, but once that offer goes away, you are a neutralized threat they can dispose of. Don't use the raise to barter with the new employer either. They may withdraw the offer and then you are stuck.
Same thoughts
L E A V E... if they valued you, they would have shown it. They want you now, because competition values you.
Leave. Your replacement is being interviewed now if not offered the job already.
tell your boss there is bag of diks you'll leave in your desk for them to suck on. treat your employer as well as they treat you
No, it’s only a ploy they will get rid of you. This is to smooth things over so you don’t sue.
Sue for what?
Go, they want to keep you, but have already shown they don't respect you. It's possible they'll keep you long enough to train your replacement.
Move on. There going to use your experience and not value your skills and achievements. Talk to your new company and come up with a better deal your been offered. Then ask both for a weekend to think things over.
You work for a toxic company that will never truly value what you do; leave now, don’t walk, run!
Go start fresh
It's time to take a bow and move to the competition. You are up for replacement anyways and that won't take long if you decide to stick around.
Ask the compeditor to match, if they do then join them. Current job will likely get rid of you later when they can.
If competitor does not Mach get it in writing then stay, being able to say you make more improves pay when negotiating with another competitor. Then keep looking.
Though there is the chance that they where restructuring in order to get permission to get you that raise. If stuck with option 2 then find out if that's the case, it's rare but has happened.
surprised any work got done that day considering how much everyone froze up
Take the the trophy and stop nagging. You re not that important. Your boss is right. Employees are easily irrecplacable. That's the hard truth we all have to face
Clearly wrong.
Stupit reply again from a stupit arrogant human being. What's your problem with someone's success and fighting to be recognised? What do you do for a living? Explain. You constantly put others down for doing what they deserve. Talk. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Well Sloane D, your wrong, workers are what makes a company thrive, without workers they are nothing.
Employees are easily replaced. Good Employees aren't. Companies can b replaced also as u see. Companies keep getting away with this crap bc people like u keep simping for them & under valueing urself
Spoken like a business owner who does NONE of the actual work themselves.
Nonsense. Show some pride.
100 percent leave they had the money they just wanted to shaft ya and your boss sounds like someone I wouldn't wanna work for let the clients know you are leaving and tell them where you are going if they would like to continue the working relationship in the future best of luck
Thank you, Paula, for sharing your powerful story with us.
After everything you’ve built and sacrificed, it’s understandable that this decision feels heavy.
Here are our tips to help you choose what comes next.
Leverage the Panic Moment.

Leave company not worth it they didn't see your value. Other people will tell you it's your job your hired to do it and others tell you come back with a better deal but to be honest it's about the respect they will back stab you again and again
They moved your clients hours after the trophy scene, then reversed course with a rushed 10% raise. That sequence matters.
Counter with a written retention package that locks in the exact accounts you built over 9 years, a role upgrade tied to the $3M you generated, and a penalty clause if HR reassigns clients again. Make their fear produce permanent power, not temporary perks.
Force the Market to Speak.

Leave IMMEDIATELY! Look what they pulled in you after you bas8tokd your boss what to do with that participation trophy and only after you say your leaving for another company they offer you more money etc. RUN!
You interviewed quietly while carrying weekend calls and holiday work. That’s rare leverage. Go back to the competitor and renegotiate now using real numbers: $3M revenue, zero ramp excuses, proven client trust.
Ask for a higher base plus sign-on to offset the risk. Even if you stay, this resets your market value beyond one emotional counteroffer.
Read the HR Email, Not the Words.

can I just say something it's not you you work for a company they pay you to do a job if you that good open your own business but you're not you work for company they pay you to do a specific task that's it get over yourself
The HR notice wasn’t a misunderstanding, it was intent. They were ready to erase years of relationship capital overnight. Map every flagship client you originated, grew, and stabilized. Decide based on systems, not apologies.
A company that can strip your book once may do it again when the pressure fades and memories cool.
Choose Identity Over Comfort.

Ask your present employer to put the enhanced package on paper and signed. Then go to the new employer with it and ask him to give you a better deal if he really wants you. Go if you get a better deal. Good luck.
Familiar routines are powerful after 9 years, but so is the signal they sent. Staying may lock you into a cycle where respect arrives only when you threaten exit.
Leaving gives a clean narrative reset: no trophy optics, no weekend heroics, no proving loyalty again. Pick the option that lets you sleep without waiting for the next test of power.
Fortunately, kindness still exists all around us—enough to renew our trust in people and remind us that hope never disappears. Here are 15 Stories That Show Kindness Is the Quiet Strength That Keeps the World Moving.
Comments
I would tell the new job that they have offerd you a raise too stay.... see what they say if they dont beeat or match it.. stay and then look for a new job with that as your current salary + 5 % as base salary
. If you know your good at your job sell your self a lot of the highest paid people just ask for more money, the ones who can do it well keep there jobs.
I think you should definitely leave your current company and go with your competitor. At least your competitor is offering you more money. Your current company took you too much for granted even in the end. You definitely deserve better than that. Never ever settle for anything less than you truly deserve
I most certainly would leave ...you are only of value now because they don't want you carrying your success toto their competitor ..Do not trust them ....GO to the new firm ...
I don't understand why people think they need to be rewarded for doing a job their already getting paid to do they want to make as much money as the fuckin owners it's a sad world greed has created
They don't value you they're afraid that if you leave you'll take their clients with you.
Related Reads
11 Moments That Prove Kindness Is the Warmth the World Needs

HR Told Me to Be Grateful for Pay That No Longer Covers Rent — Then Reality Hit Harder

I Refuse to Earn Pennies While My Manager Cashes a Fortune

My MIL Demanded Rent for a House That Isn’t Hers, I Turned the Tables

My MIL Used a Birthday Gift to Mock Me, So I Returned the Favor

11 Times a Stranger’s Kindness Rewrote the Rest of Someone’s Life

My Cousin Uninvited Me to Save Money—My Petty Revenge Was Absolutely Worth It

I Refuse to Let My Entitled Daughter Steal the Life I’ve Been Saving For

I Refused to Stay After My Husband Secretly Spoiled His Daughter—Then I Heard the Truth

My DIL Refuses to Let Me Babysit My Grandson, She Wasn’t Ready for My Payback

My Sister Tried to Turn Our Family Cabin Into Her Free Resort, So I Changed the Rules

HR Fired Me Right Before My Vacation, So I Used It Against Them
