Opinions on Counter Offers

I would never take a counteroffer, but others disagree

Scroll down to read more!

I would never take a counteroffer, but others disagree

Scroll down to read more!
Opinions on Counter Offers

Table of Contents

I’ve never accepted a counter-offer in my ten years of working, as flattering as that is. (And, yes, I have received counter-offers.) Why? According to conventional opinion, it will cause resentment among peers and reduce your days at the job you have opted to keep. After all, how can they know you’re “really” a team player when you were (clearly) considering brighter pastures elsewhere? But, hey, that’s just my opinion. Check out the logic in the following CareerJournal article.

I would never take a counteroffer, but others disagree

Question: Is it true that taking a counteroffer is bad for a career? I accepted a new job, but then took a counteroffer from my current employer. I thought it would be better to stay at a place I knew, plus I was told I could head up some new activities. Do you think I made the wrong decision?

Answer: Knowing when to accept a counteroffer to stay with your current company can be tricky. Mostly, the decision turns on whether you can be sure that the factors that made you want to leave will change, say human resources experts.

Do you believe your employer will keep its promises to give you more responsibility? Did you get your new terms in writing? “Where it gets gamey is when the company says, ‘Oh, we want to keep you and here’s what we’ll do for you,’ but you don’t have it in writing,” says Ken Stempson, director of administration and human resources for IntelePeer Inc., a communications company in Foster City, Calif.

Usually, counteroffers result in bigger salaries for employees who find out they’re worth more than they’re currently paid. If all you wanted was more money, taking your company’s offer may have been the right decision.

Often, though, other reasons exist for leaving when you’ve gone through the effort of looking for another job. If you want more things to change, you need to have a detailed discussion with your manager. The best time to do this is after your employer indicates it wants you to stay but before you take a counter.

Some employees don’t recognize that the counteroffer discussion is a time for serious negotiations, almost akin to discussing terms with a new employer. “The employee needs to probe deeply and almost over communicate why they wanted to leave and see if it will change in future,” says Peter Vergano, senior manager of human resources strategic staffing for Samsung Electronics Americas (SEA) in Ridgefield Park, N.J. Make your final decision based on which offer and company best meets your career goals, he suggests.

“The key is what made you unhappy in the beginning and whether the counteroffer is going to mean it will change,” says Mr. Vergano.

Read: Will Taking My Employer’s Counteroffer Hurt My Career?

Did you like this post? Share it!

A Word From Our Sponsors

Ads help make Workology resources free for everyone. We respect your privacy. To see our Privacy Policy click here.

Recommended Posts

Episode 406: Digital Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility With Oneisha Freeman and Nikhil Deshpande

Workology Podcast powered by PEAT with Nikhil Deshpande and Oneisha Freeman talking about making the digital world accessible for all people....

What Jobs Are Available in the Online Casino Industry?

When the first online casino went live in 1994, it launched an entire industry. Many people were skeptical about the safety of gambling online,...

How Generative AI Can Support HR and Recruitment

How Generative AI Can Support HR and Recruitment

Learn how generative AI tools like Chat-GPT can help streamline your workload - with real world examples for HR and recruiting leaders!...

Checkout Our Products

Ads help make Workology resources free for everyone. We respect your privacy. To see our Privacy Policy click here.

More From Workology

How Generative AI Can Support HR and Recruitment

How Generative AI Can Support HR and Recruitment

Learn how generative AI tools like Chat-GPT can help streamline your workload - with real world examples for HR and recruiting leaders!

What Jobs Are Available in the Online Casino Industry?

Click on read more to open this post on our blog.

Episode 406: Digital Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility With Oneisha Freeman and Nikhil Deshpande

Workology Podcast powered by PEAT with Nikhil Deshpande and Oneisha Freeman talking about making the digital world accessible for all people.
best business books for HR consultants

The 8 Best Business Books for HR Consultants

Want to develop your HR consulting skills? Get our list of the best business books for HR consultants right here.