In other words, you didn’t appreciate that employee and you slapped his efforts right in the face, so he is slapping you back. He knows his worth, obviously.
You used him for your own benefit and he knew your game better than you. What did you expect? That he was going to stick around while you played puppet master, and he the puppet? Did you really think he was going to stick around while you had him work hard and offered him peanuts instead of steak?
You know well that you have the luxury of going home to a cushy home at night while your employees bust their behinds and you control their financial status while their lives hang in the balance. If you lost him just because you didn’t want to give him a raise, you need to rethink your priorities. Too many employers treat employees like dirt…and then you realize what you lost after they give you a giant middle finger.
I say, you made your bed, and now you can sleep in it. You could very well just suck it up and offer him a raise. If I were him, I’d tell you that now the price to get me back has now DOUBLED…and that’s if I want to stay back.
It just wasn’t worth it for you to put him in the position to want to leave, now was it? Now you’re desperate to have him help you, and you burned a bridge that didn’t even have to exist, had you just given him what he asked you for. Especially if there’s more work involved. Just pay people what they are worth and you won’t have this issue. Give credit when credit is due or you will have people that you need leaving left and right. Nobody wants to work for an unappreciative boss or company.
Go ahead and call him and see just what he states, but take into account that you offered him perfect sign of intent and mindset and then he might well tell you to go screw yourself. You will be now untrustworthy inside the eyes. You businesses believe that our company is changeable. Really, so might be you. You will need to humble your self. You’re not above ANYBODY simply because you would imagine you hold the leash.