Leaving your group short staffed

If the mandate came down to cut head count your group head would execute you in a heartbeat.

Fuck 'em. It's all in the game.

As far as references are concerned, everyone knows how it works. Nobody is going to call your current boss before you've signed a letter.

Do what you believe is in your best interest. If they are short staffed, it is due to high turnover or not meeting payroll. In either case, you have to make decisions for yourself, not based on what others will think. References are always questionable -- resentment or not, the ultimate decision to hire you is based on your rapport with your new employer and their thoughts on how you can create value for them.

Fuck your soon to be ex-employer. Who gives a shit about them? Stay in touch with some people for future opportunities (both ways), but you should not remotely feel bad for leaving for any reason. Honestly, if one person leaves and the group would be severely understaffed, whose fault is that anyway? If anything, I would use it as a chance to negotiate for more money if they would be that screwed if you leave. The reality is when one person leaves, everything gets back to normal pretty quickly, no matter how special you think you are.

Do what's in your interest. They will fire you soon probably anyway so I would not worry about the references.

Beny23: What in the OP's post makes you think he's getting fired soon?..Anyways, if you find a good opportunity look out for yourself and take it without thinking about your current employer.

I'm in a strange situation... I have found a great opportunity that suits me well within the firm, but my group is not letting me lateral because they are short staffed. However, they have emphasized that they won't fire me and that the group needs me even to maintain daily operations.