I've seen it happen: someone getting fired for pointing out how they'd like more work and are bored.
I think you just have to leave with an offer in hand, saying politely no to any counteroffers. But, always remember, move jobs like Tarzan, with one hand in the next vine before letting go of the current one. (Have an offer before letting _anyone_ know at your current job).
That being said, I encourage my employees to let me know if there is anything I can do _before_ it gets to that point. I believe in letting people move around between roles, jobs, and teams if it helps them engage better. But I'm a pretty private guy about not being happy at work, so I'm not even sure I'd take me up on it unless I framed it in such a way like "boy this other team is doing some cool stuff, can I help out?"
Something about the asymmetrical power relationship makes me very careful to not harm myself with my own actions: and having been fired once in a humiliating way really opened my eyes to how bad things can go if the person on the other end wants to be cruel.
I think you just have to leave with an offer in hand, saying politely no to any counteroffers. But, always remember, move jobs like Tarzan, with one hand in the next vine before letting go of the current one. (Have an offer before letting _anyone_ know at your current job).
That being said, I encourage my employees to let me know if there is anything I can do _before_ it gets to that point. I believe in letting people move around between roles, jobs, and teams if it helps them engage better. But I'm a pretty private guy about not being happy at work, so I'm not even sure I'd take me up on it unless I framed it in such a way like "boy this other team is doing some cool stuff, can I help out?"
Something about the asymmetrical power relationship makes me very careful to not harm myself with my own actions: and having been fired once in a humiliating way really opened my eyes to how bad things can go if the person on the other end wants to be cruel.