As the single point of failure for a huge firm, I had to quit. They hired me back in 6 months at the numbers I wanted. They didn't have to, but they also didn't really care. They gambled I wouldn't leave. They were wrong. You have to be willing to leave. 'Fuck it, fuck you, fuck this' are words to live by, in my opinion.

Edit: this will not always work. And you might burn bridges. Be warned.

Edit2: Also dont actually say fuck you, that's internal monologue. Stay professional!

> 'Fuck it, fuck you, fuck this' are words to live by, in my opinion.

Agreed. Life's much too short to get screwed by a job for a long time.

This is a few weeks away from happening to my current employer. They've been gambling that I wouldn't leave, would keep putting up with bullshit and massive underpayment.

As soon as a certain security clearance gets approved, they're in for one hell of a shock.

OP is trying to get out but hasn't been able to. Adopting a "fuck you, pay me" attitude when you have no ability to leave is not a smart move.

Absolutely they should be somewhere they're more valued, but should be patient while they work out how to do that.

The argument seems very all or nothing, being increasingly visible about interviewing elsewhere might get the employer to take actions that help the OP prepare for a new job.

Perhaps not in the way the OP wants though.

> "Good team player" is how companies manipulate you into getting more value out of you than they are paying you for.

How is this any different than the recent uprising of the r/antiwork movement?