<prompt> Human: My Mom is in a high stress job where they keep adding on work without increasing pay. She has talked to her boss about Her workload and there is no end in sight. She was then told that if she was to look for a new job that they would need her to resign first before looking for another job. Is there anyway to get around this or does she just have to apply on the down low? I am not sure if I have all the information, and I am just worried about her situation. EDIT:I talk to my mom again and the resignation wasnt really a treat but more like her boss though that is what you had to do before finding another job. The problem is she working under a giant health system where most the jobs that could transfer here work experience in under the same system that is why applying for another job is hard.  <response>: Your edit makes the situation a lot more clear.Her boss no longer sounds like a complete moron. He instead sounds like a manipulative asshole who doesnt want her to put in for a transfer to a different departmentfacilitywhatever with the same company.That said, he may or may not have it right - But your mother should ask HR about it, not her boss. Her boss has a clear self-interest in keeping someone who will put up with an ever-increasing workload without a pay increase to match, and she should not trust his opinion on corporate policy.And if she really does want to look for a job totally outside the company, then his opinion and even corporate policy simply doesnt matter in the least. She can look all she wants, although keeping it discrete will certainly help her remain employed while doing so. 