Is Accepting A Counter-Offer Really the Career 'Kiss of Death'?

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I accepted a new job offer. After handing in my resignation my current employer is planning a meeting with me later to discuss my pay. Have any of you ever accepted a counter-offer and stayed with your current employer? I have always read that this is a big mistake.

I was having second thoughts about the new job when the director spoke with me about not wanting to lose me and that she would see what she could do to increase my salary and offer me a better schedule.

I keep going back and forth in my mind now on whether I would like to take the new job. The job I have now is familiar but there are issues that I don't think would get resolved with an increase in pay. Maybe I have just answered my own question.

Has anyone accepted a counter-offer and stayed happily at their job for over a year? I have read that 80% of employees who accept counter-offers either leave or get laid off within a year. I wonder if there is some truth to that.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.

I can sort of relate. I was looking to change units and had the chance. My manager asked me what some of the things were that she could change to make me stay and promised to do those things if I did. I stayed. She tried to make a change or two but never really made anyone follow through so in essence nothing changed.

If it were only money then I would say stay but you said there were other issues. Can you live with these issues if they don't change? There will always be some type of issues. You just have to figure out which ones you can deal with and which you can't.

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Specializes in CCRN.

I took a counter offer once. I wasn't really looking for change, just decided to put my resume out to a few places to see what came up. I got offered a job with a raise and when I discussed it with my manager at the time, she asked what she could do to keep me. I asked if she could match the pay increase and she did so I stayed. I was there for a few years after that and only left because we moved out of state.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I've never done it because by the time I'm job searching, I've made up my mind that I'm definitely leaving my current job. I've never seriously been extended a counter offer either, I've been asked "is there anything we could do to change your mind?" but I've always (honestly) answered "no."

The girl that took my last job is currently looking to leave and I could see a chance of that company reaching out to me after she resigns to ask if I'd come back. (More than one person at the hospital I used to liaise at has told me they wish I would come back and I know this company has a history of reaching out to past employees when the new employees they hire realize what an awful place it is and jump ship.) If they did extend such an offer, I'd politely tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

It probably depends on the reasons you're leaving. If you want to leave because of things that money can't fix, well, money can't fix it. If the reason is only because you want a better schedule, I'd make sure there is a clear understanding of what you want. Chances are, there are a bunch of little reasons that you want to leave. I'm not sure that staying would be good, because you may just get more irritated by the little things and feel the loss of not going to the new job (assuming it is a job you're interested in). When you resigned, you probably emotionally left already. It will be hard to get that back.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Okay so I left my job (of 11+ years) last December for what I thought were greener pastures. However, 8 weeks into it I knew I made a mistake. I just happened to run into my old boss (total coincidence) and they invited me back. So, I came back, very very glad that I did and life is back to normal.

Just my experience

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I started a new job in December, and one of my coworkers had just returning after leaving for two months for something she thought would be better, but it wasn't. At all! She said the grass was only greener because it was over the septic tank, haha. They gladly took her back here, and every day she is thankful she isn't at the other job. So if you are having any misgivings about taking the new position, I would seriously entertain whatever your current employer offers - it's nice that they want to retain you! ? Good luck!!

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It 100% depends on the reason why you left in the first place.

For those 80% who accept a counter-offer and then leave again within the year it is probably because they were leaving in the first place for a very specific reason that an increase in money or benefits cannot compensate for.

In the corporate world it is not uncommon to accept a counteroffer but it typically includes a promotion so the employee gets that career advancement they were looking for. If you are leaving because of conditions then a bump won't matter.

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Why did you quit ?

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My advise to anyone who wants to switch jobs or try a new specialty, don't quit right away. If you are able to keep both jobs until you are sure the new one is what you want, then you can finalize your resignation or probably keep it as per diem. I am so glad I took the advise of one of our agency nurse's as a new grad. She told me that I should never get comfy in one place she encouraged me to get out there and explore. I sure did. Within a year working in Telemetry, I signed up with a Nursing Agency. They sent me to 10 different hospitals, I learned 4 different EMRs, floated to different specialties (ICU, Maternity, Rehab, ER, same day surgery, Med-Surg) you name it. I got to see different grasses and were no greener than the one I was in. I am currently working as a Hospice Nurse and all that experience has paid back. When I left my manager told that will hold my position for a year if I changed my mind, so I won't lose my 10+ years of seniority. But when I resigned, I had been already 3 months into the new job and I felt strongly that it was ok to let go. Money wise I took a cut but I love what I do everyday.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

I took a counter offer at my first job. They did not match pay but agreed to an improved schedule. It lasted a month before someone else quit and my schedule went back to the way it was for the next 4 months before I resigned for another job. I regret not leaving the first time. It worked in my favor because a year later I was able to switch jobs again into my dream specialty at my dream hospital. Still there a few years later.

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Specializes in LTC/SNF.

Crazy but true....received an offer w/ more money, sign on bonus, COBRA paid. My employer asked what they could offer for my consideration of staying. MORE MONEY and a 4 day work week. They accommodated me. Stayed where I was. A year later, was recruited by the company I took back my acceptance from and now making more money w/ better hours and even a sign on bonus. Sometimes it pays to be sure of what you want and what you're willing to do to achieve it.

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