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When Accepting a Counter Offer From Your Current Employer Makes Sense

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Thanks, all the articles I've read on Google are written by HR people, and they ALL say never ever take an counter offer. I am in the same situation now but everyone in the company wanted me to stay and my boss gave me an counter offer that addressed my fundamental reasons to leave. I took the counter offer.
Thanks a lot for the advice!

Alex@NYC of NY 4:37PM July 05, 2011

All the information on the web about accepting counter offers gives me great anxiety, until I think about my personal situation. I didn't ask for more money, I didn't ask for more vacation, I was just honest and told my boss that I didn't like living in this area, and that if I worked from home I could still do the same job. They accepted this. I feel as long as I work hard and continue the quality of my projects, I wont have any problems. Plus, I think my employer values my work and knows that in this economy it is not easy for employers to post new jobs. People may be out there, but the work time lost while posting, searching, and training might not be worth it.

Sarah of KS 4:09PM June 06, 2011

Your article has given me very good views & has helped me stick on to my job.

Nitul 5:30AM November 10, 2010

I have been considering the possibility of a counter-offer from my current employer when I give notice that I am leaving soon. What I don't understand is why you are suddenly considered disloyal if you decide to leave and are coerced to stay by a counteroffer, yet people actually leave jobs and then come back later all the time and are treated just fine. What is the difference between leaving and coming back, and accepting a counteroffer as far as loyalty goes? If all managers are out to blacklist you after begging you to stay, then why would they ever re-hire anyone that left willingly?

Bsmith of DC 9:58PM October 05, 2010

Great points, Andrew.
I believe the success (or failure) resulting from accepting a counteroffer and staying with a current employer depends a lot on how the individual negotiates the new deal.
In most instances, the company and the individual recognize that it would be mutually beneficial to continue working together.
But if the individual uses the outside job offer to "blackmail" the current employer into giving a promotion or raise -- with the attitude of a blackmailer -- all bets are off. The individual may get the promotion if he/she is a key player in an important project, when letting him/her go would cause significant problems for the company.
But the company will never forget, and likely never forgive, being blackmailed. That individual's future career advancement there is dead. Of course, he/she might be able to move on to another company... but what kind of references do you think he/she'd get?

Bonnie of CA 10:27AM September 29, 2010

Good article. Author makes some good points.
Having been a small business owner of two companies for 23 years and now personally being back in the job market for an employer, I have to agree with the author. It is a matter of personal situation.
As an employer, I have always understood, and could never fault, an employee to want to better their employment situation. Any owner, corporate officer, HR person or Manager believing otherwise is in la-la land. The days of Grandpa working for the same company for 25 years is over.
I will admit that it is a dangerous game and you better make sure you add significant value or you are a top producer for your current employer and you are prepared to make the move if you are called on it. Either way, the situation will always be in the back of your boss's mind.

Phil of NY 6:54AM September 22, 2010