When the employer is short-sighted...
one of the oldest traps in the book. The employee approaches the employer and asks for more money, something more in line with the current market. The employer doesn't understand why he should pay more and tries to talk the employee into staying by pointing out all of the other positives about the job. The employee feels unappreciated and leaves for a better offer.
Tick tock. Times goes by. Potential employees all want a higher salary than what the former employee was asking for. Employer ends up spending money on ads and then hands a headhunter a large check to do the job for him. In the end, the employer will pay a good deal more than if he had just given the former employee a meaningful raise.
Time is money, people! This is happening at my husband's firm. I have no real say but I had been telling my husband to bump up this guy's salary for the past couple of years. He wasn't a perfect employee but he was good and honest and a hard worker. They are so busy that they didn't really take the time to mentor him into being in a more supervisory role. Deep down, I think they thought he would grow on his own and they hoped he would become a partner eventually (he's much younger).
I am trying not to say I told you so but I am annoyed at the all the huffing and puffing they are doing right now when they could have avoided the whole thing.
I have been in this employee's position and it stinks. WHY do employers do this?