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COUNTER OFFER
If a present
employer will not suggest a raise, promotion or better working conditions
without an outside offer, it’s suspect
I define a counteroffer simply as an inducement from your
current employer to get you to stay after you’ve announced your intention to
take another job. We’re not talking about those instances when you receive an
offer but don’t tell your boss. Nor are we discussing offers that you never
intended to take, yet tell your employer about anyway as a
"they-want-me-but-I’m-staying-with-you" ploy. These are merely astute
positioning tactics you may choose to use to reinforce your worth by letting
your boss know you have other options. Mention of a true counteroffer, however,
carries an actual threat to quit.
Interviews with employers who make counteroffers, and
employees who accept them, have shown that as tempting as they may be,
acceptance may cause career suicide. During the past 20 years, I have seen only
isolated incidents in which an accepted counteroffer has benefited the employee.
Consider the problem in its proper perspective.
What really goes through a boss’s mind when someone
quits?:
- "This couldn’t be happening at a
worse time."
- "This is one of my best people. If I
let him quit now, it’ll wreak havoc on the morale of the department!"
- "I’ve already got one opening in my
department. I don’t need another right now."
- "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."
- "If I lose another good employee the
company might decide to ‘lose’ me too."
- "My review is coming up and this will
make me look bad!"
- "Maybe I can keep him on until I find
a suitable replacement!"
What will the boss say to keep you in the nest? Some of these
comments are common:
- "I’m really shocked. I thought you
were as happy with us as we are with you. Let’s discuss it before you make
your final decision."
- "Awe gee, I’ve been meaning to tell
you about the great plans we have for you, but it’s been confidential until
now!"
- "The VP. has you in mind for some
exciting and expanding responsibilities."
- "Your raise was scheduled to go into
effect next quarter, but we’ll make it effective immediately!"
- "You’re going to work for who?"
Let’s face it. When someone quits, it’s a direct reflection
on the boss. 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 abject 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.
Before you succumb to a tempting counteroffer, consider these
universal truths:
- Any situation in which an employee is
forced to get an outside offer before the present employer will suggest a
raise, promotion or better working conditions, is suspect.
- No matter what the company says when
making your counteroffer, you will always be considered a fidelity risk.
Having once demonstrated your lack of loyalty (for whatever reason), you will
lose your status as a "team player" and your place in the inner circle.
- Counteroffers are usually nothing
more than stall devices to give your employer time to replace you.
- Your reasons for wanting to leave
still exist. 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 solicit an offer and threaten
to quit every time you deserve better working conditions?
- Decent and well-managed companies
don’t make counteroffers--EVER! -- Their policies are fair and equitable. They
will not be subjected to "counteroffer coercion" or what they perceive as
blackmail.
If the urge to accept a counteroffer hits you, keep on
cleaning out your desk, and count your blessings.
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