'I declined, obviously': Employee receives low-ball counter offer from current employer

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jun 26, 2023 9:00 AM EDT

When you receive an offer from a new employer, you may be incentivized to approach your current employer and see if they'll match the offer. After all—as we often discuss, your current employment is a known entity, and so it will often seem preferable to stay in the comforts of the known—rather than branch out into the unknown of the new role that is being offered.

Usually, your current employer will come back with what they can reasonably offer, seeking to match the offer you've received. It's then up to you to weigh the qualitative aspects of the two roles against each other and make your final decision. While it might seem tempting to stay in your current job, with everything being even, that would often be the wrong choice to make.

The reasons for this aren't readily apparent, but it would be unwise to stay with a company that knows you're looking at other options if you don't know they won't retaliate–and have a history of not retaliating against employees. After all, your employer now knows you'd leave if you had the choice, so what's stopping them from replacing you when they first have the chance? Also, if they know what you're worth, why weren't they willing to pay that to you without another offer being on the table?

Of course, there's always the chance your employer counters with an offer that is lower than the offer you have on the table—just like this worker received from their employer after asking their employer if they were willing to counteroffer. They shared their experience on Reddit's popular r/jobs workplace discussion community, sharing their frustration.

While it might feel frustrating and insulting when this happens, at least you know where you stand and that your decision has been made for you… Now the new job is the only way forward.

Read on to see some of the discussion that took place on the original thread. Next, see this job seeker who admitted to inflating their previous salary in order to get the offer they needed.

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  • 01
    Font - Posted by u/terrapinstadium 22 hours ago Mind blowing "counter offer" from employer Leaving a job So I'm officially employed as a sales rep on $47k/year, but I've been doing the responsibilities and tasks of the sales manager AND operations manager all year. Both of these official positions have technically been available, but my boss just hasn't bothered hiring for them. I recently got a new job that I start in 2 weeks, which is going to pay me just over $99k/year with additional benefit
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  • 02
    Font - my boss came at me with the "official" promotion to the role I'm doing - $55K. I declined, obviously. He seemed shocked, told me that the money shouldn't be a factor, that I've built up such a great reputation here I'd be throwing my "career" away (I've been there for less than 2 years). I told him that it's insulting at this point, and that if he had offered me the position a few months ago I
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  • 03
    Font - wouldn't have started job searching and would've been elated. I advised him to reward people when it's due, not when you're going to lose them. Now as a result, the location I work at is going to be shut down because he can't find anyone to replace me and the other managers are leaving with me. Karma is sweet.
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  • 04
    Font - jcpainpdx 22 hr. ago Hmm...20% call. 830 . raise or 100% raise. Tough 621 terrapinstadium OP 20 hr. ago In the words of my boss "the novelty of the money will fade and you'll be back to wanting more in a few months"...I didn't realise that survival and basic comfort was a novelty... Reply Share Reply Share Lets_Bust_Together. 19 hr. ago Then surely he'd be willing to take a pay cut so others get a raise. Reply Share 221
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  • 05
    Font - whotiesyourshoes told me that the money shouldn't be a factor, throwing my career away +2 - 22 hr. ago Such BS and lame tactic. Noone is working every day for kicks. Mortgage companies dont take payment in the form of "reputation". 222 117 Reply Share terrapinstadium OP · 21 hr. ago Yep. My mortgage is more than half my current salary, and my loan was only $280k. I have sacrificed a balanced diet, travelling the 150km to see my family, heating my home and many other things because of the
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  • 06
    Font - TigerUSF 19 hr. ago "If money isn't a factor, then pay me $120k" 104 Reply Share broadfuckingcity. 17 hr. ago Why not 240k? Novelty is novelty. Reply Share 45
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  • 07
    Font - Live_Power_2843 · 18 hr. ago I had a boss that tried to give me a bunch of new responsibilities. I asked him what kind of raise does this come with? He scoffed at me and said money isn't important you will feel fulfilled with the extra responsibilities. I said money is important to me. He said well it shouldn't be. I said ok then if you really feel that way let's just trade salaries then as you are satisfied with doing the work. Boy was he pissed off and backed off. 98 Reply Share terrapi
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  • 08
    Font - Tacosofdoom__. 21 hr. ago Tell him if the money isn't a factor then they wouldn't have a problem matching your new pay to take that factor out the equation of staying or leaving 10 Reply Share
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  • 09
    Font - Momo-kkun 19 hr. ago Just start your hand-over and leave them. 55K over 99K is insulting. Reply Share 10
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  • 10
    Font - razorrred 21 hr. ago Congrats! 11 Reply Share terrapinstadium OP · 21 hr. ago Thank you! 44 43 Reply Share
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  • 11
    Font - #more Suka_Blyad_ 15 hr. ago If money isn't a factor then why is the company shutting down? Is reputation not paying their bills? Didn't think so FLO 'em follow the money 11 ↓ Reply Share
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  • 12
    Font - Payment Low1905. 15 hr. ago the boss did not "have you" then "lose you", this human trafficking language is sign of a slavers mindset. he was benefiting from your services which are subject to market value shifts. this is the risk of running a business, if he doesn't understand it reality will catch up sooner or later. feeling underpaid probably one of the most toxic feelings Reply Share 8 ♡
    via u/terrapinstadium

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