How were you treated after accepting a counteroffer from current company?

13 Comments

1. AnonymousJuly 3,2024 at 1:47PM UTC

   I'm having trouble understanding why you would stay IF you receive an offer at a new company.

   A counter offer seems like something you are hoping for.

2. christine soderlundJuly 3,2024 at 1:47PM UTC

   The majority of people who accept counters are gone within 12 months (used to be 80%, not sure what the current numbers are).

   The reasons for the high turnover: the company is just buying time until they can replace you on their own schedule, your coworkers and boss know you accepted a counter and the trust is broken - you had to threaten to leave to get a better situation for yourself, you accept more money or a title change, but the company now holds you to an even higher standard (which is tough for planned time off, unplanned time off like an illness or just "life") which might be hard to live up to.

   You should decide if you want to stay or go and commit to whatever is best for you. I'm not saying you can't ask for a counter, but if you do, it might be challenging to expect this to be a long term solution for you to stay.

3. Nancy CincottaJuly 3,2024 at 2:06PM UTC

   The data show that ( on average) retention offers fail 4 months after acceptance, and the employee starts looking again. You said your manager’s issues will not be resolved, so why entertain a counter?

4. Pamela BaptisteJuly 3,2024 at 2:16PM UTC

   I don't think you are serious at all. You sound as if you are just about the money. Why don't you ask for a raise instead.

5. KatJuly 3,2024 at 2:59PM UTC

   Who cares if they counter? You don't like your job, which is why you're looking for something else. Why would you stay? You're not obligated to accept a counter offer just because they give you one. If you want a different manager, look at an internal transfer. If you're looking for more money, ask for a raise. Otherwise, this just looks like a cash grab on your part. They could also fire you on the spot and then you might not have either job. Also, if you do accept a counter and they don't follow through, you're stuck in the same job you don't like with no leverage to improve your situation. Then you'll still need to find another job. It's not your problem what happens after you leave. Do what is best for you and your career, not what's best for them.

6. AnonymousJuly 3,2024 at 3:27PM UTC

   If I'm to the point where I'm seeking employment outside of my current company, I'm past the point of accepting a counter offer. If they couldn't do what I asked before I had the offer, but now they can? No.

   You do what you feel you must, but I wouldn't. It's may not be convenient for them for you to leave now...but given that they know you have been looking, who's to say they won't now start looking for your replacement and get rid of you when it is convenient for them?

   And I would caution an employer against making a counteroffer.

7. Lynn KleinJuly 3,2024 at 4:17PM UTC

   A counteroffer is just more money to put up with the same ongoing crap. Most people who accept a counteroffer still end up leaving within a year.

8. Kim PfeifferJuly 3,2024 at 4:23PM UTC

   Don’t accept a counteroffer. If they are willing to change now, they should have been willing to change before. If they offer you more money, if you’re worth it now, you were worth it before. And companies rarely follow through after you’ve turned down your job. And they no longer trust you because you were looking to leave. And they may start looking to replace you because you betrayed them by looking to leave.

9. AnonymousJuly 3,2024 at 6:53PM UTC

   Counter offers have been suspect in my experience.

10. AnonymousJuly 4,2024 at 2:16AM UTC

    Remember this once you begin job searching you made the decision to leave. Never accept a counter offer. Your message is oh I’ll stay if you offer more. What they hear? We got her to stay now find her replacement. You are at that point a high risk person. Don’t take it and find a better environment. You were not valuable enough to pay you more while you were alive and well in the job. Increasing your pay is a gap filler for the company.

11. AnonymousJuly 4,2024 at 1:31PM UTC

    A counter offer generally happens to keep you in place until they reorganize or replace you. They simply will not view you as a stable and dependable employee.

12. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJuly 4,2024 at 10:53PM UTC

    "If I find a new position, what do I do if my current company counters? "

    Say no thank you.

    Historically in my experience counteroffers don't work out. Because the things they give to keep employees - money for example - don't change the reason that person was looking to leave in the first place. And if you're worth more money now, why weren't you worth more money 3 weeks ago.

    "if I leave, it'll be a sh!tstorm until they hire/train a replacement."

    That's a them problem - don't make it a you problem.

    I, personally, have never accepted a counter offer - mainly because once I've made up my mind to leave, I've made up my mind to leave.

    I have had candidates accept counter offers and unfortunately, most have ended in disaster. I've had candidates call me within 48 hours in tears wanting to know if the offer they turned down was still on the table. Of course it's not.

13. Maggie SoldanoJuly 5,2024 at 1:24PM UTC

    Be clear in your own mind why you looked for another position. It wasn’t money that drove your decision, it was your unproductive relationship with your manager. They may change how your compensated, but they won’t change who you report to. People don’t leave jobs. They leave managers.