Counter Offers - Will accepting make me a marked man?

[Dixie]

I've recently been offered a new job. Whilst i was initially happy to accept this role (still waiting on paperwork) a bit of research has started to put doubts into my mind as to it being a good move.

I'd be doing the same job as i do now, it should actually be a little easier if the description is right. The money is good and as is the location.

My current company have now countered the new offer (a 33% increase - only to market rate though). This is again making the decision harder.

Pros for staying are:

Familiarity
Senior position
the team is heading in the right direction (although who knows the future)
retaining my 15 years long service in the event of redundancy

Pros for going:

New challenge
taking myself out of my comfort zone
fresh start
close proximity to McDonalds (i jest)

Whilst i'm reasnably confident that if i were to accept the counter i wouldn't be treated any different. Although research suggest this isn't always the case.

Anyone got any advice\fist hand experiance?

Also, the new employer is a big hitter telco ( a very British one) Does anyone have any experience with them (other than them providing their boradband)?

Cheers,

[Foliage]

Never accept a counter offer, deep down finding a new job is always more than just about the money.

Also worth considering is why hasn't your existing employer been paying you this 33% (that's a lot of money) but are all to willing to now that they will lose you.

[deckster]

There must have been a reason for you to be looking around and to consider accepting the new offer in the first place. Assuming that this reason wasn't just money, then it will still be there long after you've spent the extra income.

Take the new job and don't look back. It's entirely normal to start questioning whether you're doing the right thing, but in my experience moving company is almost never a bad move. Just do it politely and positively - make sure you don't burn any bridges as you never know what's coming round the corner.

[Sheepshanks]

Certainly in my last biggish corporate job we would turn ourselves inside out to keep people we wanted to hang on to and it never seemed to do anyone any harm.

It's a good way of testing what they really think of you. We'd hold the door open for some who resigned.

[Moonhawk]

I would never accept a counter offer.

You shouldn't have to get to the stage of applying for and being offered a new job elsewhere before your existing company are willing to recognise your efforts and entertain promotion or a pay rise.

Constantly having to threaten to leave to get on is no way to drive your career.

Edited by Moonhawk on Friday 27th March 12:22

[boyse7en]

IF you start the new job and perform well, you might get a pay increase next year
If you stay at existing company and perform well, next year they'll go "hang on, he got a 33% pay rise last year!" and will probably not increase.

My previous employer did this (matched my salary elsewhere to keep me) and I still went.

[Vee]

Paying someone 33% below the market rate is pathetic.
10% lower an employer can get away with the attitude that culture, benefits, development and opportunities compensate but any more than that is just taking advantage imo.

You're better off somewhere else.

[Sheepshanks]

Vee said:

Paying someone 33% below the market rate is pathetic.

Well, it's 25% below.

There's another thread running where a firm is paying £20K-£50K for the same job.

Apart from my first job, I've never worked anywhere with a rigid pay structure and firms pay what they can get away with. Having a face that fits is just as useful as being valuable to the company. If they've whacked his pay up 33% they must want to keep him.

[deckster]

Sheepshanks said:

If they've whacked his pay up 33% they must want to keep him.

Which is exactly the point. If you work for a good company, then you don't need to resign to get paid what you are worth.

[Vee]

Sheepshanks said:

Vee said:

Paying someone 33% below the market rate is pathetic.

Well, it's 25% below.

There's another thread running where a firm is paying £20K-£50K for the same job.

Apart from my first job, I've never worked anywhere with a rigid pay structure and firms pay what they can get away with. Having a face that fits is just as useful as being valuable to the company. If they've whacked his pay up 33% they must want to keep him.

Fair enough 25%.
This isn't about a rigid pay structure, it's about paying way below the market rate and then changing that immediately when the person find something else.
Personally I'd find that insulting and prefer to work in an organisation that is a little more moral.

OP good luck with your decision but what is the research that has put doubts in your mind ?
From your post it seems your reasons to stay are the extra money plus retaining 15 years service. Nothing negative about the new company ?

Dixie said:

a bit of research has started to put doubts into my mind as to it being a good move.

Edited by Vee on Friday 27th March 12:54

[Shaoxter]

I've done it twice - first time I went out interviewing with a deliberate view to getting a counter offer and payrise as I was being paid under market value, and second time I was actually prepared to leave as it was the end of a project, but got counter offered an even better role and slightly more money than I interviewed for so I stuck around.

Never had any resentment towards me, but these were both at big blue chip companies and I guess it's a little different for smaller companies.

[Jasandjules]

Two ways to look at it:

1. Your old company were taking the p**s and you've been underpaid for years
2. You've simply negotiated well.

However, accepting won't make you a marked man - they want to keep you hence the increased offer. Beware of course that if you are now earning more than your team mates that if redundancies ever get considered, your salary may be taken into account...

BUT the real bottom line is your new company have already offered you more and you wanted to leave the old company. It is usually not (IMHO) simply a pure financial decision to move companies, but the overall attitude of the company, the managers and I rather suspect better opportunities in the new firm as well.

[shirt]

i'd only take the counter offer if you can negotiate something other than the extra cash. otherwise leave.

e.g. say you've gone elsewhere for a new challenge. what can your current employer do to match that? seniority, more responsibility etc. get them tied down to performance markers which comes with more money further down the line if you perform.

if you stay simply because they match the offer and keep the same role/responsibilities then i can't see the benefit for either employer or employee. you're basically saying you only care about the wage and don't want to develop or make progress up the ladder.

[Sir Humphrey]

Dixie said:

I've recently been offered a new job. Whilst i was initially happy to accept this role (still waiting on paperwork) a bit of research has started to put doubts into my mind as to it being a good move.

I'd be doing the same job as i do now, it should actually be a little easier if the description is right. The money is good and as is the location.

My current company have now countered the new offer (a 33% increase - only to market rate though). This is again making the decision harder.

Pros for staying are:

Familiarity
Senior position
the team is heading in the right direction (although who knows the future)
retaining my 15 years long service in the event of redundancy

Pros for going:

New challenge
taking myself out of my comfort zone
fresh start
close proximity to McDonalds (i jest)

Whilst i'm reasnably confident that if i were to accept the counter i wouldn't be treated any different. Although research suggest this isn't always the case.

Anyone got any advice\fist hand experiance?

Also, the new employer is a big hitter telco ( a very British one) Does anyone have any experience with them (other than them providing their boradband)?

Cheers,

Is redundancy likely? How much would redundancy insurance to match the 15 years cost?

[Mike22233]

Remember you don't have many rights in the first two yrs of new job

[SkinnyPete]

Has anyone resigned from a job without another lined up and then been offered more to stay?

Ive got my reasons for wanting to leave (including under average pay) but I've also got significant savings should they not object to my resignation.

[TheAngryDog]

SkinnyPete said:

Has anyone resigned from a job without another lined up and then been offered more to stay?

Ive got my reasons for wanting to leave (including under average pay) but I've also got significant savings should they not object to my resignation.

I'm in the same boat. I detest My job but i dont want to leave without another job to go to

[dingg]

SkinnyPete said:

Has anyone resigned from a job without another lined up and then been offered more to stay?

Ive got my reasons for wanting to leave (including under average pay) but I've also got significant savings should they not object to my resignation.

very risky strategy to play I'd have thought , two chaps I work with both left at the same time even though they were offered a substantial uplift to their salaries - I have found that once people start looking seriously for alternative employment, not much will keep them with the original employer

[SkinnyPete]

dingg said:

very risky strategy to play I'd have thought , two chaps I work with both left at the same time even though they were offered a substantial uplift to their salaries - I have found that once people start looking seriously for alternative employment, not much will keep them with the original employer

Whilst I agree, I have enough savings to not have to work for a while so it wouldn't be the end of the world.

I just don't want to underestimate the difficulty in getting a better job especially while unemployed.

[dingg]

thats my point really - its always easier to find a better job when your working IME , also you'll feel a bit of a fool if nought turns up and the savings are dwindling rapidly.