REASONS WHY NOT TO ACCEPT A COUNTER OFFER:


HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE REASONS WHY A COMPANY WOULD EXTEND A COUNTEROFFER?

1. IT IS MUCH CHEAPER TO KEEP YOU THAN TO LOSE YOU:
Your company have to pay a placement fee for someone not as familiar with the system. There is always a downtime expense when someone leaves and it is costly to train a new employee;
2. MORALE SUFFERS:
Your company runs the risk of others following your lead. Understaffed departments are not happy departments;
3. COUNTEROFFERS PROTECT MANAGEMENT FROM LOOKING BAD:
Everyone has an ego. Your manager is being evaluated by the ability to retain staff;


COUNTER OFFERS COME IN MANY FORMS:

  • More money;
  • Promotion / more responsibility;
  • Modified reporting structure;
  • Training;
  • New projects or technologies; and
  • Promises of above or future considerations;


    • 10 REASONS WHY NOT TO ACCEPT A COUNTER OFFER:

    1. From here onwards, your loyalty will be in question;
    2. When promotions are considered, they will take your lack of loyalty into account;
    3. Your relationship with your co-workers will never be the same;
    4. You could feel like you’ve been bought;
    5. In tough times, cutbacks will begin with you;
    6. They will start looking for your replacement;
    7. Statistics show that you would be leaving within 1 year;
    8. Where is the extra money coming from now?
    9. What type of company are you working for? Why do you need to threaten to resign before you get what you are worth?
    10. What changed? (Reason for leaving);


    What are the thoughts of a manager when extending a counter offer?

    Here are a few motivating factors they might be responding to:

  • "This is a bad time for the resignation to be happening. This person has in-depth knowledge of our system, and replacing the person will set us back on deadlines."
  • "This could ruin our budget!"
  • "This is one of our best people. Others may leave too."
  • “I've already got one opening in my division; I don't need another right now."
  • "If I keep losing people, the company will fire me!"
  • "This will probably screw up the entire vacation schedule."
  • "I'm working as hard as I can, and I don't need to do his work, too."
  • "How do I shift the workload? A consultant could ruin my budget."
  • "Maybe I can keep him/her until I find a replacement."


    • Typical comments you would hear:

  • "Your manager has some exciting plans for you. We were waiting for the right time to initiate this."
  • "We can give you a review earlier than you expect. Why wait until next quarter? You deserve the raise now!"
  • "Let's meet later with your manager before you make a final decision. You need all the facts and plans before you go ahead with a firm you don't even know."
  • "You've been with us for years. You know what we're about. What do you know about that firm?"
  • "Why would you leave us in this bad shape? I thought you liked it here?"
  • “This is really disappointing after all the opportunities we have given you.”
  • “This will really affect the rest of the division.”
  • “Sometimes we just can’t tell you everything that is happening. I guess now must be the time. You have been promoted.”
  • “Raises have just been approved.”
  • "You're going to work for whom?"


    • Counter-offers are typically made in conjunction with some form of flattery:
  • "You're too valuable, and we need you."
  • "You can't desert the team/your friends and leave them hanging (guilt trip)."
  • "We were just about to promote/raise you, and it was confidential till now!"
  • "What did they offer, why were you leaving and what do you need to stay?"
  • "Why would you want to work for that company?"
  • "The Director/Executive wants to meet with you before you make your final decision."


    • Let's face it. When someone quits, it's a direct reflection on the manager. Unless you're really incompetent or a destructive thorn in his side, the boss might look bad by "allowing" you to go. His gut reaction is to do what has to be done to keep you from leaving until he's ready. That's human nature.

    Unfortunately, it's also human nature to want to stay unless your work life is hopeless misery. Career changes, like all ventures into the unknown, are tough. That's why bosses know they can usually keep you around by pressing the right buttons.

    Attempted buy-backs demonstrate disrespect for your well-thought-out decision, and your commitment to a new company. Should your current employer decide to eliminate your position, or skip you for promotion, just try to counter and change their minds. Fat chance!

    Your main reason for wanting to leave still exists. Conditions are just made a bit more tolerable in the short term because of the raise, promotion or promises made to keep you.

    Counteroffers are only made in response to a threat to quit. Will you have to bring in an offer and threaten to quit every time you deserve better working conditions? You've analysed, accepted and committed to the new company, which has surely made plans and accommodations around you, and is counting on you. Don't sell out or back out. Stand by your word. Everyone will respect your decision and integrity, and if the previous employer was sincere about your value, they'll likely make a spot for you in the future.

    Look at the two opportunities, your old job and the new position, as if you were unemployed. Which holds the most real potential? Probably the new one or you'd not have accepted it in the first place.

    Two things are certain:

    1. You can expect a counter-offer; and
    2. You should hold a steady course from the beginning, and stick with your decision to move on to a bigger and better future.

    If the urge to accept a counteroffer hits you, keep on cleaning out your desk as you count your blessings.