How do I tell my boss that my resignation letter was just a way to push for more salary?

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of the business and time management books TimePeace: Making peace with time – The Book of Answers:  105 Career Critical Situations – and I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management, and work-life balance strategies.   

This question came from a busy professional.

How do I tell my boss that my resignation letter was just a way to push for more salary and not actually resigning? They’re taking it seriously.

Sadly, if you had asked me my opinion before you sent the letter, I would have advised NOT TO LIE about your intentions.  Your boss and company have no other course than to take your resignation letter seriously.  It was a mistake to manipulate your coworkers and management.  But everyone makes bad judgments every once and awhile.

So – Let’s see what we can do now.  A quick review of your actions and consequences:

  1. You wanted a higher salary
  2. To get this, you wrote a resignation letter
  3. Your boss took it seriously
  4. Your employer now expects you to leave

Possible outcomes

  1. Explain to your boss why you wrote the letter.
    1. You have now admitted to lying or trying to manipulate him or her
    2. Your previous actions may now come under suspicion or review
    3. HR and anyone else involved may gave started reorganization and hiring steps because of your scheme
    4. Your scheme may have cost your manager and HR time, effort and money
    5. Your relationship with your team, your boss and management will change
  2. Go through with your resignation but offer to stay as long as they need to replace you
    • This may allow you to continue to work
    • This may give you time to smooth over any awkward situations or see other opportunities to turn things around
    • This may give you time to research within the company (but different department) for a higher paying position
    • This may give you time to interview external companies for a higher paying position
  3. They may not accept your offer to stay to work with your replacement.
    • They may choose to escort you off the premises
    • Keep your attitude professional and reiterate your offer to assist your replacement
    • Invite them to call you at any time for your assistance
    • Leave on a friendly note and tell them that you hope to work with them in the future

Stay Professional

Even though the resignation bluff was not a very professional move, you can move forward professionally.

This was definitely a mistake, but there are things you can learn from this moving forward.

Next Time

Next time, be transparent with your desires.  Outline your outstanding performance, all positive customer reviews, data on your increased revenues or decreases costs on the company behalf.  In short, outline legitimate reasons for your salary increase.

If your manager is not in the position to increase your salary “now”, discuss options to re-evaluate in 6 months or 8 months.  During that time do the following:

  • Work with your manager to outline things you need to accomplish to achieve a salary increase
  • Discuss manager’s discretionary powers (things the manager can handle without executive interference)
    • Flex time
    • Additional comp time or vacation days
    • Reimbursement for school, technical journals, local seminars or technical conferences
    • Working from home (part or full-time)
    • Reduction of hours or part-time
  • Find out if your company compensates for other extraordinary activities like
    • Writing a book
    • Writing articles, whitepapers, presentation for technical conferences
    • Patenting an innovation in procedures, products, etc
    • Creating utilities or procedures that reduce costs, expenses, and manufacturing time
    • Pay for leads and referrals that leads to sales and increased revenues

Bottom line:  There are a number of legitimate and professional ways to get a salary increase. 

If you need some help with this, please setup a one-on-one consult session.

To participate in a confidential One-on-One Laser Coaching Session with Coach Laura, just click the link below, pick the session time that works for you, and sign up. Each session will include 20 minutes of Laser Coaching with time afterward for a few questions. Take advantage of this opportunity to experience coaching. Sign up now and come ready to chat. One-on-One Laser Coaching Signup