You’ve received a job offer with a new company – congratulations! But then, your current employer makes a counteroffer to keep you around. What do you do? This can be a complex and confusing situation, but taking the time to think it over carefully is the best way to make the right decision. Let’s examine the pros and cons of accepting a counteroffer from your current employer.
Should You Stay or Should You Go?
Pros of Accepting a Counteroffer
There is one main advantage of accepting a counteroffer: the money. You’re leveraging your value to make a higher salary. And if money is what’s most important to you in your job, this can be a good move.
However, note that 80% of employees who accept a counteroffer leave within six months, and 90% within one year. Meaning even with the salary bump, many employees who accept a counteroffer find that they’re still not happy.
Cons of Accepting a Counteroffer
We’ve just touched on one of the cons of accepting a counteroffer – it’s not likely to make you happy, even with the salary increase. And if you were considering leaving your job for reasons like a bad boss or a toxic work environment, more money isn’t going to fix those issues.
Another reason to reconsider accepting a counteroffer is that it can damage the employee-employer relationship. Many employees who accept a counteroffer report feeling ostracized and “pushed out” of the organization in a way they weren’t before. And some employers start to consider you expendable – after all, you’ve expressed an interest in other companies, so your current employer might see you as less than loyal.
To Accept or Not To Accept?
Ultimately, deciding whether or not to accept a counteroffer from your current employer is entirely up to you. You know your current employer, your job situation, and your future goals best – you’re the person who is in the best place to make a decision. But be aware that accepting a counteroffer can drastically change your relationship with your employer. And most employees who accept a counteroffer end up leaving the company within a year anyway. Sometimes, moving on and accepting a new job offer is a cleaner, simpler path to take.
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