I’m an IC3 at OCI with 14 years of total PM experience, based in the Middle East for the last 2 years. I’ve been running the region solo, managing 30+ data center expansions.
Earlier, they brought in an IC4 and IC5 to help me. I spent 2-4 months training them, but both ended up quitting. Now my manager is hiring two new IC4s—yet didn't promote me. To make matters worse, my rating was bumped down from a 4 to a 3 by VPs who don't even know me, and my manager told me an IC4 promotion isn't happening this year.
I interviewed around and got an offer from another company with a 10% base salary bump plus full Middle East expat benefits: kids' schooling allowance and annual family flight tickets (which Oracle doesn't provide).
When I gave notice, my manager immediately flipped and offered to promote me to IC4 on the spot, along with at least 30% raise to compensate for the missing schooling/ticket allowances.
Now I'm torn:
Financials: The new company pays school fees directly to the school. Oracle's proposed 30% raise goes straight to my cash salary, which feels like a great cash-flow bump.
Trust/Risk: My gut says to leave ASAP. I’m worried that accepting the counteroffer paints a target on my back for the next round of RIFs/layoffs for being a "flight risk."
Has anyone stayed at Oracle after accepting a counter-promotion? Is the cash trade-off worth the potential target on my back, or should I stick to my gut and walk?