What reaction would you expect if you told your boss you were job seeking?

[Multiblue]

I manage a small team, public sector. I'm a fair boss, I give lots of flexibility where I can. I take care of my staff and do what I can to help them develop and progress and generally I get excellent support in return, but I am tied to the salary scales and organisation structure.

I have a staff member who is very good, who I put through a series of profesional qualifications, but really there's nowhere for her to go, unless I leave. She really ought to go elsewhere, at least for a while to get some different experience. She's been with the organisation for c. 15 years, has been at the top of her scale for a while.

I really have supported her and trained her to be ready for her next move. Realistically that's not going to be with us. She told me today that she's job hunting. I've said obviously we'll be sorry to see her go, but that's the right thing for her to do for herself and wished her luck. I'm always grateful that staff do a good job while they're with us but I don't expect anyone to feel obliged to stay forever.

I don't think that's the response she wanted, but I can't offer her more money or a different role. What should I have said?

I don’t think I’d have said anything different.

If there's nothing you can offer that might tempt her to stay, I think you've said all you can reasonably say without getting into empty sentiment.

I’d have said the same. She probably hoped you would be so desperate to keep her you could invent a promotion, but if it’s not possible, it’s not possible.

your response sounds fine

She obviously wanted you to either offer her more money or a promotion. That's on her and not you, your response was fine so don't worry about it.

I don't think it's so much that you didn't try to persuade her to stay, as much as you were very quick to basically say "oh good, can't wait to be rid of you". (After 15 years I think that would sting for anyone.)

It might have been slightly more tactful to ask for her reasons before you told her how great you thought it would be if she left.

I think you said much the same thing that I have done with a member of my team in a similar position. We're also public sector and I've supported her to gain experience and skills. I know her heart isn't in her current role but there isn't anything else suitable within the organisation.
I will be delighted when she gets something that suits her, and she knows that.

Well you said you’d be sorry to see her go, what more does she want? You could’ve also said that if you were able to promote her you would. But then I assume she knows that there is nowhere for her go hence the job seeking.
The only other thing to add is that you would be happy to give her a glowing personal reference to go alongside the factual hr reference.

The actual budget-holder has no money to pay me extra but he'd be pissed off that I was looking, riles easily anyway. The mentor boss would say "You're great, I hope we work again in future, and let me know what I can do to help."

Couldnt you have said something along the lines of "thats a shame we will be sorry to see you leave" instead of "bye!"

@swanling , didn't mean to quote but, however i do agree with what you said

What makes you think that it wasn't the reaction she was looking for?

I recently changed jobs. When I told my old manager that I'd been offered the new job (I'm in a similar position in that I'd done a lot of training and was ready for the next move but it wasn't realistically going to happen in that firm) he said that as a manager he wanted to rush in and counter-offer in the hope that I would stay, but that as my friend he knew this was the right move for me so instead he was going to wish me luck. This was the perfect response for me at the time (I was feeling very guilty about leaving) and made me cry.

As a long-standing employee in the public sector I have to say you sound like an amazing boss which is not the norm in my place or work!

I did?

I think you said the right thing.
I'm not sure what my boss would say, but I work in hospitality so I'm sure it's expected.

This

I think I’d have maybe been a bit more in depth and honest if you have a close relationship. Something like ‘I wish we could promote you keep you here but I know there’s just nowhere for you to progress and you really should be progressing and working up as you’re such a talent/hard worker/so qualified. You need to think of yourself and do what’s right for you.’

Your response was fine. She will know you could not offer more money as it's public sector and that's not how things work. She may have been hoping you know of a specific job she may be able to apply for. I would probably also offer to mentor her and help with any applications she sees if she wants.

Maybe she isn't and was using it as a way to try and force you to give her more money or try and make a position for her.

I think it is fine to say what you said but clearly not the answer she wanted to hear.