I work as a HR Associate at a Therapist company. I started at $18 an hour just to have a job to keep me on my feet.
After about a month in, I received a job offer in another city as an HR Assistant starting at $21 an hour. I started putting together my resignation letter and when my manager found out, she matched the pay and then I stayed because it is closer to my home.
That manager was recently fired for unknown reasons and now my boss is trying to undo the pay raise I received, saying that the average HR Associate should be paid closer to $17.73 per hour. He also said that paying me $21 per hour is “not in the cards for [him] right now”.
Excuse me, what?? He really had the gall to tell me this when he has no problem handing out large sign-up bonuses for new part-time employees?
The competitive market has positions as low as a HR Assistant start at $20 per hour AT LEAST.
My boss told me to “think about what [he] said” and that he will give me an offer at the end of this week. I've started looking elsewhere for other employment last night.
Also, since I live in an “at-will” state, this is legal, even though I think it shouldn't be.
I honestly don't know I should do when he gives me the “offer”. Should I just say no or should I accept it and then resign when I have another job lined up?