Should I stay at this company even if I have no chance of getting promoted?

Unless you have another job, I would stay in the current economy. However I would ask for a transfer to another department if possible.

Thanks. The new job was in another department.

I would carefully evaluate what the co-worker said before taking any action. Is the person who told you this trustworthy?

Then I would think about two possible approaches. I would ask your boss if it is true. Alternatively, you could go to the boss’ boss and tell him what you were told by a co-worker.

One problem is that I’m not really supposed to know any of this information. I am having trouble figuring out how to remain positive at work…and sleep tonight.

Do nothing right now. Your boss’s statement and action has proved your worth and made you more desirable.
You just learned a lot about your boss. That info will be very helpful later. Do not tip your hand.
Go to work tomorrow like nothing happened. Do your job well and pretend all is well in Tachysville.

If you need to sleep, read a book or article pertaining to your work. That should put you right to out. ;-)

I don’t know if this will help you in the current position (or if you even want to stay there right now), but you have now learned an important part of business: If you can’t be replaced, then you can’t be promoted.

If you want to stay with the company and get the next promotion, then start training your replacement now.

You’re really not in a position to talk to your boss until after what ever announcement is made. You can’t “confront” your boss over something the co worker said.

In the meantime, does your company have an internal posting of available jobs? Can you apply for the opening in the other department?

Good advice. I will continue to look around. I appreciate everyone’s input. Truly.

Tomorrow is another day.

@Tachys You have a good attitude and deserve a promotion. Your patience will serve you well. After the announcement you can act. Good luck.

What good is promotion?

Okay, lets break it down. Some people are all about the paycheck. Others are all about the power and prestige, and don’t care about anything other than how far up the ladder they are. Others prefer doing a job they actually like.

So tell me, what is it that makes you want to leave just because you can’t get promoted? Is it that you hate your current job so much that you just want out? Without knowing why you want promotion so bad, it’s hard to say whether you should stay or not.

I think @jerv‘s answer is exactly the right one. So, you won’t be getting a promotion, but at least it’s for a good reason, and not because the boss hates you. If you feel you’re due some more recognition, it sounds like you have a bit of leverage to ask for a salary increase, but if you like your current position you shouldn’t get hung up over the lack of progression. After all, there will always be better jobs.

There is some really great advice given so far on this thread. As a person who worked for the same company for 25 years, had some really great supervisors and a few not so great, and has witnessed all sorts of personnel changes, let me attempt to put this advice all together for you.

First, listen to @jerv. Think about if you really like this company. What about your current job? Do you enjoy it? Putting aside what the supervisor might or might not have said, do you like working with him? What about the other people in the dept? There are times where the current work environment is the side of the fence where the grass is greener.

Think about why you want this promotion. Is it to get out of a job that you currently don’t like? To move up the ladder? I’ve taken another job in a different dept. or accepted a promotion on numerous occasions. Several times, I have regretted it. While the job description may look good on paper as well as in the paycheck, it often means more hours, more work, less satisfaction, and in a few cases, leaving a good environment for one that awful under the surface.

Secondly, please listen to @marinelife. The co-worker who supplied this bit of gossip should never have done so. I wonder what her intent was. What did she expect you to do with this information?

There is a good chance that she misinterpreted what was said. I can imagine a supervisor saying in jest, “No, you can’t promote @Tachys because he/she is my right hand.” I would take a statement like that to mean, the person hiring would do well to get you on their team. As someone who has attended many meetings where this type of banter goes one, most managers, if they are good, want to help their direct reports move on if they so desire and are capable. “Blackballing” someone typically comes with the connotation that a candidate is not worthy. From what the co-worker said, this doesn’t sound like the case.

Third: Listen to @zenvelo. How are job postings made available? Without ratting out the co-worker, how about scheduling a meeting with your supervisor to discuss your future? Let him know that you are interested in career advancement, and would like his input and support. Let him know of areas that you are interested in and why. Ask what it would take to be considered for the next move. Having your supervisor on your side is one of the strongest weapons an employee can wield in office politics.

Without knowing how the hiring and promotion process works in this company, it is difficult to give advice. It is up to you to find that out. Does the company have an HR dept.? That is where I would start if I didn’t trust my supervisor.

And @CWOTUS also has a good point. Start thinking about who would be a good replacement for your current job and start grooming them to step in.

Please keep us posted on what happens. We are rooting for you and want to know what you decide to do.

Since you’re not really supposed to know this piece of information, don’t let anyone know that you know. Whatever the news, you shouldn’t let this prevent you from staying at your current job and still hope to eventually get promoted again in the future. Just because you’re not getting a promotion now, doesn’t mean things can’t change for you. Nothing is forever.

Update: per the fluther I went to work as if nothing happened because nothing has. My plan is to wait it out. There will be other opportunities. Thank you @Pied_Pfeffer and @AshlynM. Nothing is forever.

That boss of yours may not be your boss forever, you know ;)

Keep your job if the money is good until you can afford an opportunity elsewhere.