Job - Counter Offers (Long)

[supercarrie]

I would love some advice on my situation.

I have been with my employer for nearly two years, taking on board more and more responsibility, to the point where I work essentially independently of my boss. As I've taken on more work, it has often been at the suggestion of my boss's boss, not my boss herself. My boss's boss is not around much at all (only in the office a couple times a month) and not someone I have much direct communication with.

Over the past couple months, the situation with my boss became very nearly unbearable. She also made several suggestions that I should look to leave the company because "my role has a shelf life" (initially I joined as an assistant, and now very much run my own projects - I don't think she is happy with this). She also asked, at the beginning of June, when I was planning on leaving. All of this has been phrased with "I just have your best interests at heart, you should think about your career progression, etc".

Coincidentally, at the beginning of June, a company who has been trying to headhunt me called again. I have gone through the interview process and accepted their offer, thinking that with the political situation at my current workplace, I don't see how I can stay.

I resigned on Wednesday, and my boss very nearly jumped with glee. She immediately started talking about how she could hire an assistant to help her with taking back over my workload, etc. However, when my boss's boss found out, she was VERY unhappy. We have had several conversations about how they can get me to stay, her suggestion being I get promoted to the same level as my boss and report directly into her (the boss's boss).

Now, I am not sure what to do. I am not sure how this would work, given I feel my boss wants me out of the company. It is a small company (75 employees) and we would still have to work very closely together. That being said, I love everything else about the company. I just truly didn't think they would care enough to want me to stay, as I do have limited contact with the boss's boss, and much of what is said is filtered through my boss.

Also, I have accepted this other offer, and I don't want to let them down.

Note: career progression wise, both the promotion and the new company's role would be equal. The stability of staying at my current company would also look good on my resume - leaving after two years isn't great. I'm just worried about my boss's response, and of course, burning bridges with the new company.

 

[Jennasis]

Well...Did they offer you enough money to make staying wworth your while?

And, if you are being promoted to a position of equal power to your current boss and will no longer be reporting to her, then she can stick her attitude towards you where the sun don't shine right? As Glenda the good witch said the the wicked witch of the west "Be gone! You have no power here."

I would stay f the offer was a good one.

 

[golfgal]

I think your current boss is more worried about HER job and not your job. You are in a great situation with your current company, as for the moon and if they don't give it to you, take the other job. I would request a substantial pay raise, a couple weeks extra of vacation and some kind of bonus structure if that is done in your company. My guess is that the bosses boss is trying to train you to replace your current boss but since you don't have the experience yet, this is a solution. If you take this job with your current company expect to see your current boss gone in 6 months or so.

 

[abdmom]

I would be inclined to take the new job. In all my years of working and studying, I came to the conclusion quite a while ago that it doesn't matter what job I have, it's the people I work with that makes the experience enjoyable or miserable. I've had my share of toxic coworkers and wouldn't want to again. Even if you won't be reporting to your former boss, you would have to be in the same location, use the same facilities, run into her frequently, right? She can still make you miserable even if you're not reporting to her. I would say take the new job and get a fresh start, hopefully with people who are a pleasure to work with.

 

[SC Minnie]

I turned in my resignation (had been there 5 years) only to be called in to the General Managers office and offered more money and a promotion to stay. (His offer was still less than the new company I was going to work for) I then asked him if I was worth that much more now why wasn't I worth it 2 hours ago? He had no answer. I ended up taking the new job and have been here 15 years. The place I left has since closed that office.

In these situations you have to follow that inner voice.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I would be inclined to take the new job. In all my years of working and studying, I came to the conclusion quite a while ago that it doesn't matter what job I have, it's the people I work with that makes the experience enjoyable or miserable. I've had my share of toxic coworkers and wouldn't want to again. Even if you won't be reporting to your former boss, you would have to be in the same location, use the same facilities, run into her frequently, right? She can still make you miserable even if you're not reporting to her. I would say take the new job and get a fresh start, hopefully with people who are a pleasure to work with.

I completely agree. With 75 employees only at this firm there will be no way to escape her. And to have you promoted to her level will make her crazy!

And besides, accepting a counter-offer means you are burning your bridges with the new firm. They will never come back and try to get you to work for them. So if it doesn't work out at your current firm with the new promotion, there will be no going to the new firm.

Take the new job!!

 

[bicker]

We have had several conversations about how they can get me to stay, her suggestion being I get promoted to the same level as my boss and report directly into her (the boss's boss).

Suggestion is irrelevant. You need a detailed offer letter from your current boss' boss, indicating your new job, your new manager, and your new salary, "So you can go over the counter-offer with your spouse/partner/sibling/cousin/BFF ..., and make the best decision for your family..." If it isn't in writing, then I would be worried about your boss' boss just blowing smoke, and you could too readily end up back working for the boss who doesn't like you.

Also, I have accepted this other offer, and I don't want to let them down. I'm just worried about ... burning bridges with the new company.

The counter-offer is a normal part of the process. Any new employer who take offense at being trumped by a counter-offer is acting unprofessional. The correct response is, either "What can we do within our offer to get you to come to us anyway?" or "I understand; you have to do what's best for your family and your career. Best of luck." Anything else I would consider a clear sign that you're making a good decision by staying with your current employer.

If the new company counters the counter-offer, then come back and we can give you more advice.

 

[Christine]

The counter-offer is a normal part of the process. Any new employer who take offense at being trumped by a counter-offer is acting unprofessional. The correct response is, either "What can we do within our offer to get you to come to us anyway?" or "I understand; you have to do what's best for your family and your career. Best of luck." Anything else I would consider a clear sign that you're making a good decision by staying with your current employer.

Totally agree with this. In my years of hiring in the private sector and only a few years now in the public sector, we have NEVER held it against any prospective employee who was countered by their own company. In fact, we look at it as a sign that they are a valued employee and are still happy with their current company. We would most definitely continue to try to hire them at any future opportunity.

 

[supercarrie]

Suggestion is irrelevant. You need a detailed offer letter from your current boss' boss, indicating your new job, your new manager, and your new salary, "So you can go over the counter-offer with your spouse/partner/sibling/cousin/BFF ..., and make the best decision for your family..." If it isn't in writing, then I would be worried about your boss' boss just blowing smoke, and you could too readily end up back working for the boss who doesn't like you.

Thanks for the advice. The way I left things with her is to come back to me with a formal counter offer in writing for me to mull over and speak to my husband about.

I'll keep you updated. But in the meantime, any more opinions are welcome!

 

[Pumbaa_]

I have not seen much positive occur with counter offers. Most that have accepted (YMMV) have left within 2 years.

The question is always, why did they not appreciate me enough to make this offer before I found another job

good luck!

 

[bettymae1121]

Well, it's also a question on if the devil you know is better or worse than the devil you don't.

You KNOW that while overall you love the company you work for, that you have a problem with your boss-soon-to-be-equal. Being promoted may make your boss calm down and accept you, she may go on acting like she is, or she may get even worse. On the other hand, you have no real idea of what the new company may be like. It could be the same, better, or worse than the situation you're in now.

It's not an easy choice to make. All I can say is to take some quiet time and try to "hear" what your gut is telling you. I've found in my own life, my inner instinct is never wrong.

 

[bicker]

I'm going on five years after a counter-offer kept me at my current employer.

 

[dakcp2001]

Without all the details it is hard to make an opinion. Do they both offer equal pay, equal time off, same commute? I would be more inclined to go with the new company if all the details were equal. Challenge yourself, try something new. No guts no glory! Trust your gut. I think deep down you know what you want to do. Do not let fear keep you stuck in the same old same old. Beginnings are scary, endings are sad...yada yada you know where I am going with this!

Your current boss sounds like she wants you out of there, because she prob knows that you are her competition. I wouldnt want to be around her. Ugh.

I agree with ABDmom- the people you work with make or break your daily experience. You spend so much time at work, you need to be in a place you are happy.

And I totally agree with SCMinnie. Why were you not valued before?
In my opinion, your current situation needs to change. They know you are worth more, but never promoted you or offered you more money until you threatened to leave. Are you going to have to do that every few years to keep progressing career wise? Or will they keep piling on the work, projects & responsibility without acknowledgement until you try to leave?

Quality of life is the issue. Where do you want to spend your days?

 

[ead79]

My DH was just recently in this position as well.

He was recruited for a new job, and he accepted their offer (which was for the same position, but with an increase in pay). When he told this to his current employer, they countered with giving him the exact same raise to get him to stay.

In the end, DH decided to take the new job, as he feels it's got a better corporate culture and more room for growth. He also said that he read somewhere that around 80% of people who accept counter-offers and stick with their same employer wind up leaving the job anyway within 2 years. Of course, that's just a statistic and not true for everyone.

However, he had issues with the overall direction (or lack thereof) of the company as well as issues about his future career path. If it had been solely a money issue, he might well have stayed.

 

[pixiewings71]

hmmmm your situation sounds similar to mine.....I was gradually taking on more and more responsibilities with my job. I eventually mentioned I would like to know what it would take for me to be more "formally" in the position I was already doing, I wasn't looking for a raise I just wanted the title and more recognition in the company...well about a week after I made my request my boss's boss told me it wasn't going to happen and I accepted that with no issues. He told me I was not going to be that department (that is ONLY MEN currently) and that I had no qualifications to do it, I said I disagreed because I had been doing that job for over 5 years and I never had any complaints regarding my job performance, only compliments and he told me it wasn't going to be a move, I would continue to do what I was doing (including the job I was asking about) but that I wasn't going to be "in that position" so I interpreted that to mean I was to carry on as I was every day. So I did....2 weeks later he fired me because apparently that "discussion" was my "warning" and he claimed I committing insubordination and he fired me......that was 6-10 so very recently. Keep in mind my actual 2 bosses (that I was working directly under) loved my work, loved my work ethics, sense of responsibility etc etc but the "big boss" decided I was getting too big for my britches and he fired me.

My point is, tread carefully and consider carefully. Your boss already has issues with your work (apparently she thinks you're doing her work) so a promotion to be equal to her would probably not go over well.......consider how that will affect the office as a whole (the company I worked for was very small, our office consisted of under 10 people) and how the atmosphere will change. It could also be that your boss's boss will promote to your boss's position and then fire her......

 

[supercarrie]

Just a small update. I had the official counter offer confirmed in writing from my current job. They are offering a 20% increase in basic pay above the other offer - however, the other job's compensation is more tied in via bonuses and has a much higher bonus potential (bonuses are all discretionary there).

Essentially, when you break down the figures, my current role could offer a more lucrative amount if the bonuses were not to be good at the new place - but the new place could potentially offer a much higher overall compensation.

In addition, my current boss has kicked up a massive fuss - I had an e-mail confirming the salary details but also saying this:

"We expect you to ensure that you interface effectively with XX going forward particularly in ensuring there is a smooth interface. More generally it is important that while you will have your own area of responsibility you continue to solicit input from others."

Based on this, I have a feeling she will do everything she can to complain that I am not "cooperating" with her effectively or "soliciting input". (Our jobs will still overlap day to day.)

I am leaning towards turning away from the basic pay increase (which will make me cringe) and trying out the new job. (They can't increase their offer - but have promised a salary review in six months.)

My other concern is that we will be moving back to the US in 2-3 years. Making this move, having only been with my current employer for 2 years, makes my resume look a bit choppy - although each move will show progression.

 

[bettymae1121]

Just a small update. I had the official counter offer confirmed in writing from my current job. They are offering a 20% increase in basic pay above the other offer - however, the other job's compensation is more tied in via bonuses and has a much higher bonus potential (bonuses are all discretionary there).

Essentially, when you break down the figures, my current role could offer a more lucrative amount if the bonuses were not to be good at the new place - but the new place could potentially offer a much higher overall compensation.

In addition, my current boss has kicked up a massive fuss - I had an e-mail confirming the salary details but also saying this:

"We expect you to ensure that you interface effectively with XX going forward particularly in ensuring there is a smooth interface. More generally it is important that while you will have your own area of responsibility you continue to solicit input from others."

Based on this, I have a feeling she will do everything she can to complain that I am not "cooperating" with her effectively or "soliciting input". (Our jobs will still overlap day to day.)

I am leaning towards turning away from the basic pay increase (which will make me cringe) and trying out the new job. (They can't increase their offer - but have promised a salary review in six months.)

My other concern is that we will be moving back to the US in 2-3 years. Making this move, having only been with my current employer for 2 years, makes my resume look a bit choppy - although each move will show progression.

No, she's going to do everything in her power to completely sabotage you. Not only is she not going to cooperate with you in anyway (and then turn around and blame it on you), based on what you've posted, I wouldn't put it past her to actually go out of her way to make you look as bad as possible (including actual honest-to-God sabotage of your work).

It depends a bit on the career your in, but generally it doesn't look bad any more to "job hop", especially if each new position shows a promotion, added responsilities, etc. If you have three new jobs in a year that's one thing, but a few jobs two years a part shouldn't raise any red-flags, especially if your references are good and former employers say they'd hire you again when the new company calls to verify employment.

In your shoes, I'd take the new job. But whatever you decide, good luck!