I trained the new guy. He makes $14k more than me. My manager is the only reason I still have a job. Wat do?
Throwaway because coworkers know my main.
I'm 31, and I've been working for six years at a mid-size logistics company. I started in dispatch at $41k, and now I'm an operations coordinator at $63k. I've never missed a deadline.
Three months ago we hired a new guy for the same role as me. Why trained him? Why, me, of course. In trying to do a good job, I taught him all the weird workarounds in our systems and policies that aren't written down anywhere. Nice guy, honestly. No beef with him.
Last week he left his offer letter on the shared printer and I saw what he was making. I went to my manager. She didn't deny it. Said the market changed, they had to pay to fill the seat, and she'd "get you an adjustment in Q1 next year."
Here's where it gets hard. Two years ago my dad was dying and I was basically useless for four months. Late, distracted, gone half the week. HR wanted me on a PIP. My manager went to bat for me, moved my shifts around, and covered my work herself sometimes. I'm pretty sure she put her own neck out and that I wouldn't have a job without her.
Yesterday a recruiter I'd been half ignoring came back with an offer. $81k, hybrid, similar work. They want an answer by Friday.
Part of me says I should take it because it's just business and I'm not really enjoying having trained someone the company values more than me. But the angel on my shoulder is telling me I'm walking out on the one person who didn't let me fall when I could have. Negotiating doesn't feel like I'm honoring that effort either.
Has anyone been in my shoes? What did you do, and did you regret how it turned out?
Tl;dr trained a new hire who makes $14k more than me. Manager saved my job when my dad was dying. Have an $81k offer that expires Friday. Loyalty or money?