In today’s corporate climate, professionals have moved away from traditionalists who stay at the same company for most of their career. Job-hopping is a common trend, and most individuals are prone to “play the field” throughout their employment in the hopes that something better may arise. Or there’s the counter-offer (named the “kiss of death” by employees).
Let’s give a for instance. You stumble across an opportune contract at another firm, with better pay and better benefits. A small seed of doubt remains as to whether you should accept. Should you use this as a bargaining chip with your current employer, giving him the opportunity to raise the stakes with a counter offer? It’s a dangerous game, albeit a profitable one. Not a guaranteed win-win situation, you will need to be prepared to walk away from your current position in case negotiations go south.
2 Reasons to Accept an Employer’s Counter Offer
- Money: The most common snippet of advice you’re likely to encounter during your career is to do work that you enjoy because it’s not all about the money. While this is true, money is the reason that you get up every morning. In other words, if it was the ONLY reason that you were searching for a new job, a counter offer might reason enough to stay put.
- Loyalty: Loyalty to a company is almost nonexistent in today’s workplace - own it. You don’t owe your employer a slice of your career, just like they don’t owe you your position. You could get fired or retrenched with little notice, at any time. Keeping this in mind, it’s fair to only be loyal to yourself; even if it means resigning and going elsewhere or leveraging your options and accepting a counter offer contract.
The common question most professionals battle with is whether to accept the counter offer. If you stay, your employer will know that you were on the job search (unless you were headhunted) and might hold a grudge. This conclusion however, isn’t exactly accurate. Job stability is tenuous at the best of times. Keeping your eyes trained on the market is a good practice, especially if you find a better position elsewhere, or form a back-up plan in case of unforeseen changes. You’re playing your cards as is your right. If your boss chooses to put forward a counter offer, it isn’t a threat as much as it is a compliment. It means you are valued. Perhaps a reason to stay?
About the Author
Bella Gray is a professional blogger from her office space Edinburgh. A wealth of tips and strategies for getting around the workplace, Gray is the perfect go-to-person for all your corporate solutions.
