Handed in Notice but now work have present a counteroffer

[Jourl]

How do you decide what to do in this situation? I've never been in this situation before.

I looked for a new job as I felt like I wasn't progressing how I wanted to and landed a brilliant offer with a great opportunity to become a Partner.

However, when I handed my Notice in, my current employer has suddenly revealed their progression plans for me, stating they will do anything to keep me.

It feels like a kick in the teeth it's taken me hanging my notice in to get what I wanted but it shouldn't have been a surprise as I know colleagues who had to do the same.

I had expressed to them my career desires but they're claiming I wasn't assert enough about how soon I wanted them (I disagree).

My post seems like a ramble of thoughts because that's how my brain is right now. One hand I've a brilliant new job opportunity but I am nervous to take it as I LOVE my current team and I enjoy what we do. But then if I don't take the new job, I'm worried I'll be resented by my MD anyway and I don't want to miss out on a chance to work at this new place with clear route to becoming a Partner.

What would you do and how would you begin rationalising your thoughts?

Leave.

I’d consider their counteroffer the starting point for a negotiation on money, progression and benefits. Nothing to lose.

I have been in this situation before and I say think carefully about your lifestyle - not just the job. If the current role fits your lifestyle (for me, that would be being able to do school runs, being permitted to take advantage of quiet periods and take some downtime). You need to balance being ambitious with the very underestimated value of known quantity!

Recently had to weigh up whether I would take a 20% pay increase but risk losing my flexibility. I am fortunately in the very privileged position of being able to choose my flexibility.

Counteroffers are pretty common. No company will realistically offer a significant raise if it has no reason to think it needs to! That's capitalism... And it's not personal.

I understand your hesitation, but based on what you’ve said, I would confidently say leave. They aren’t behaving as if they authentically value you.

Definitely worth doing some good research on the other partners, where have they come from, what's their experience, why have they changed job (the new ones) Most of the feedback is telling you to leave, I'm in a partnership and have real life experience, it's real tough and very high pressure. Rewards.... reasonable financial situation, but sleepless nights worrying, constant grief and criticism and minimal holidays. Even on days off getting harassed. Not all fun.

All the best whichever way you go.
I'm not saying stay, just be careful. We are living in tough financial times so also consider the markets from and too.

Leave.

I used to work in recruitment, and there was some research done in the US that demonstrated that people who accepted a counter-offer, 90% were gone within 12 months of accepting it - and not necessarily by their own choice. By getting another job offer, you've shown disloyalty. If you weren't good enough for them before, you certainly won't be good enough for them in future. They just make the right noises with a counter-offer as it suits them better in the short term but medium-long term you're done with them, or rather, they're done with you. For more senior roles, the favourite tactic is "we'll get you an assistant if you stay". Which means you're training up your replacement when you think they're actually doing something nice to keep you. ;-)

Your new employers think you are capable of your new job, so you should too. If you turn out to be brilliant at it they will promote you and nurture you.

Your current employers have reluctantly matched the other offer, they know you can do the job, as do you, but when your next review comes up they will just tell you you have just had a promotion. They are not going to be offering you extra, you will have to grovel for it, every time.

Leave - you hated/were unhappy enough in your current job that you spent your free time looking for a new one and attended interviews.

If you stay you will be looking for a new job again in a few months.

Be prepared for things to be frosty between you and your current employer when you turn them down flat though. I've been in your position more than once, never regretted my decision to move on but 5 pm on my last day couldn't come fast enough, and in one job I never even got a leaving card or a good luck, they were so livid I wouldn't stay.

And I agree with @HundredMilesAnHour , the poster above, they are offering you the extra because it suits them not to be forced into a recruitment round. What they have offered is probably only what they would have saved on recruitment and interview processes. As soon as they have their ducks in a row they will be letting you go.

What mentoring and support will there be for you from more experienced partners then?

I would walk. If they only realize you are an asset when you hand in your notice, it’s too little, too late in my opinion.

I recently handed in my notice, there is no changing my mind but there might have been had I got the support I needed months ago when I started to struggle. Watching the panic and scramble to persuade someone else to do my awful job is quite bizarre!

Know your worth and all that!

Under no circumstances should you stay with your current employer. They knew exactly what they were doing. Yes, they were using you and have now tried to make you doubt yourself by putting the blame on you. Your resignation has alerted them to the fact that you are willing to leave and they will now make contingency plans to dispense with you at their earliest convenience. What is there to be gained by staying? Step out with confidence into pastures new. Yes, it is scary, but exciting too. They had their chance to treat you like the asset you are to them ...... but they didn't. Well done to you for acknowledging your value and acting on it. Walk, and don't look back.

Another vote for leave.

Your current employer is begrudgingly offering you a pay rise and only then they're offering the absolute minimum they think they can get away with. If they really valued you and thought you were worth the money they'd have offered it to you long before you forced their hand.

If you stay and you don't miraculously get forced out in the next year (something I've seen happen more than once) then don't expect to get much of a payrise for years.

It’s like breaking up with someone. They can promise to change and things will be better, it can feel comfortable and hard to move on, but once you’ve said the words, it’s time to go.

Leave - if they valued you, they would have given you opportunities already.

💯
go to the new place

companies frequently reneg.
orrrr twist between the lines so you get a bit screwed over.

Eg years ago I stayed because my company said they’d salary match to 50k
Then they paid me 48 not 50 and told me to find a way to creatively expense £2k. thennnn the next year gave me no pay rise because I had such a big one the year before 🙄
I left 18months later thoroughly fucked off.

They aren’t behaving as if they authentically value you.

How many employers authentically value their employees? It's just a business transaction in a capitalist economy.

I would stay.
You've been offered the same benefits/salary as the new job, but in the current job you already know the people and the work. it'll be less hassle all round. sounds like there's more pros for staying.

Leave!! You should not have to be counter offered to progress in an organisation.

I would leave too .

They already blame you for the lack of progression

The research says that accepting a counter offer is a mistake. The majority of people regret it and start looking again in 6 months - I can't remember the exact figures but they were ludicrously high.

It is a mixed bag, ime, whether they will honour all of the promises. Money, yes, but anything else, opportunities and development and suchlike, perhaps not.

Another vote for leave, you were job hunting and looking for something else for a reason. They thought they could get away without promoting you and are now blaming you for that not happening. The new job sounds like a great opportunity, good luck.

Leave. Counteroffers very, very rarely work out. If they valued you they would have offered you progression without you having to line up something else. At the moment they feel backed into a corner, and what they give you now they'll resent.

Leave.

At my exit interview for one job I told them how much I was getting in my new job and they advertised for my replacement at the salary I was getting in my new position.

You have no guarantee they will actually pay you what they promised if you stay.