Should I say something?

[gluegun]

OK. Here is my problem. Three weeks ago I approached my current boss with a proposal for a salary increase and new title. She was extremely receptive to the idea and has since been in contact with HR to do the paper work for a "position realignment". Since I work for the state creating new positions and increasing salaries is a gigantic pain in the ass. I really appreciate all the effort she is going through. My organization is even writing my promotion into next year's budget proposal.

This is all good news right?

Well the problem is that last week my Peace Corps application was approved. I originally applied for the PC two years ago and I have to admit that after all this waiting around (and still not knowing if my app would ever be approved) I started getting over the whole idea of joining at all. But of course now that I know it is going to happen for sure I'm ready and raring to go. I'll probably be departing in September.

So do I tell my current boss the truth about my situation or keep my options open knowing that my current organization will eventually get screwed if I decided to up and quit in 6 months?

[bigboom]

so that you dont burn any bridges i would reccomend that you come up straight with your boss. that way there will be less negative feelings.

[hotgirl]

I say keep quiet. Those heffas wouldn't give you advanced notice of a layoff. You'd just go to work one day and not have a job.

[gluegun]

I just don't want to make any moves until i have complete information. I mean, what if they come up with a big enough raise that I'm tempted to stay? I won't know that until they move forward with the HR process. I'm also worried that for some reason or other the PC won't work out, in which case I'll be kicking myself for not getting the raise/promotion when I could.

[gracieTx]

Don't do anything yet. It sounds like both situations are some what in limbo. Ride it out and keep your future plans to yourself until you know something concrete. Professionally, you are really only required to give 2 weeks.

[dliepmanSUX]

I agree with gracieTx...nothing is guaranteed...plus you said you are willing to stay if the negotiations go well...so your mind isn't COMPLETELY made up yet...

also, be careful in your assumptions that HR is 'doing you a favor' here with the salary negotiations...first off you probably did yourself the favor by working hard enough for them to even consider giving you a raise...but also, as I have come to experience it, corporate spending is all about shuffling...the money is there, just allocated elsewhere at the present time (maybe sitting in an account just earning interest for the bigwigs who haven't found someone worthy of a lil extra somethin' somethin' in their christmas stocking)...although it does involve a bit of effort to get capital approved, its not like they are gonna have to up productivity just to give you a bonus...upon approval they will shuffle some cash toward your division which makes your management look good for taking initiative in acquiring capital and for their attentiveness associated with seeking employees worthy of recognition for a job well done...you get the bonus while your management gets great PR...and the bigwigs get some recognition from the employess as well as the outside world for their generosity...generally everyone wins (unless they have to can someone to meet your requests)...but its not so much solely a favor for you...in the process they are doing favors for themselves as well...

anyone else besides me think that insight is worthy in and of itself of an honorary MBA...YAY ME!!!:D

[Layback]

Don't get fucked being the nice guy. Like everyone else has said, nothing is guaranteed and you need to hold onto your cards right now. At the end of the day business is business. The corporation does not put you first, they put the shareholder's first. It's your job to look out for you. No one else is going to.

[gluegun]

Well my job isn't with Corporate America. It is with a small non-profit. None the less I know you're right. I need to look out for number one here.

Here is my only hesitation: The organization has a total of 3 employees. If they change my position from "Admin. Assistant" to "Program Administrator" (and give me a $10,000 raise) then the can't go back and say "just kidding, we actuallly want to replace this person with another Admin. Assistant". Unfortunately state money doesn't work that way. Instead they're going to have to replace me with another expensive Program Administrator who may or may not put the same work into the position that I did. So in that sense I really would feel bad for pressuring them into creating this new position just to leave them hanging in the end.

But, as was said earlier, nothing is for certain yet. If they really do come through with a great promotion then I might be tempted to stay. And if they don't then I'll go with plan A (i.e. the peace corps). I mean I can't exactly feel disloyal for leaving if they never really come through with the promotion.