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Original poster

I'm unsure whether to accept my current employers counter offer

25 replies

OU1997 · 27/12/2022 16:08

I've been there six months, I get along with nearly everybody there and have built relationships, but I feel swamped, overwhelmed and stressed. The management accountant left a month after I started and her work was passed onto me, I got shown how to do some of it but most of the work was just learn as I go.

I would go home and worry that I can't do the job and it took its toll on me so I started looking for another job. I got offered a job which would be less work and better benefits, but my commute would be over an hour there and back instead of 15 minutes.

I told my manager on Friday that I had been offered a job. My managers boss had a meeting with me and he asked why I was leaving, I told him how I felt and that I was scared about the companies upcoming court case against the CEOs. He went to the CEO and got info on the court case (the worse case scenario is a fine) and offered me more money (about £1k less than the new job). He told me that I was being too hard on myself and that I was doing really well. We discussed how we could better ease things, that I should ask for help more and that it's not a sign of weakness.

He's told one of the directors that I've handed my notice in and not to make a decision until I've spoke with the director.

My new job offers £28k, 15% annual bonus, all pension contributions paid but is over an hour commute.

Current job would be £27k with a 15 minute commute.

I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Neighneigh · 27/12/2022 16:25

Hmm an hour's commute (each way?) will cost you more than £1k (ie the extra salary) a year. Is the bonus guaranteed?

What is the court case about? Something you're happy to work with people who did/didn't do that?

What's the pension and benefits of your current job? Your bosses boss sounds pretty good tbh.

Chewbecca · 27/12/2022 16:26

If your current position offered you more, would you want to stay? If so, say so. E.g. “many thanks for the offer. I would love to stay at the company but would need a salary of (say) £35k considering the package I have been offered”.

If you don’t want to stay at the company, just say no thanks and accept the other offer.

Don’t forget it will cost a lot for the company to replace you.

Reugny · 27/12/2022 16:33

General rule is if you are offered more money to stay they were under paying you, deliberately doing so and you are highly likely to leave in the next year anyway, so you should move on.

If you want to come back then come back when you are promoted at least one level higher.

Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 16:57

Why am I highly likely to leave in the next year?

OP posts:
Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 16:58

Chewbecca · 27/12/2022 16:26

If your current position offered you more, would you want to stay? If so, say so. E.g. “many thanks for the offer. I would love to stay at the company but would need a salary of (say) £35k considering the package I have been offered”.

If you don’t want to stay at the company, just say no thanks and accept the other offer.

Don’t forget it will cost a lot for the company to replace you.

They've said they can only go up to £27k and can't offer me more. My bosses boss went straight to the CEO to ask him to give me a payrise.

OP posts:
Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 17:00

Neighneigh · 27/12/2022 16:25

Hmm an hour's commute (each way?) will cost you more than £1k (ie the extra salary) a year. Is the bonus guaranteed?

What is the court case about? Something you're happy to work with people who did/didn't do that?

What's the pension and benefits of your current job? Your bosses boss sounds pretty good tbh.

It's a 35 minute commute each way.

They can only offer me £27k and a way to feel less stressed with more communication. As soon as I left the first meeting, the bosses boss was asking my colleague to take on one of my responsibilities.

OP posts:
Aprilx · 27/12/2022 17:11

I really don’t see how a payrise is going to resolve the issues that you described. I think you should take the new job.

Chewbecca · 27/12/2022 17:16

But would you stay if they offered more?

Saying 'that is all we can offer' rarely means that is all they can offer!

So you need to decide if you would stay for a better rise, if so negotiate, if you don't want to stay regardless, don't bother and quit.

Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 17:16

Aprilx · 27/12/2022 17:11

I really don’t see how a payrise is going to resolve the issues that you described. I think you should take the new job.

My manager boss did mention redelegating work so things aren't as stressful, and as I mentioned before, as soon as the meeting ended he was asking my colleague to take on one of my duties.

OP posts:
Adviceneeded200 · 27/12/2022 17:23

They can afford more. They've saved the management accountants salary - the person who hasn't been replaced!

I'd move. Simply because things rarely change.....they are only appearing to be taking action at the moment because it suits them.

The commute isn't perfect and you won't be any better off in terms of ££ because of it but hopefully they will treat you better. Plus there's a chance you'll get a bonus (although you might not, but it's a decent amount if you do)

FinallyHere · 27/12/2022 17:24

If I am reading your OP, your main issue with the company was feeling that they were overloading you while not providing the level of support you require, leading to your feelings of being swamped, overwhelmed and stressed.

If they are offering to change that, then I think I would give them some time to make good on that promise. It won't be easy for you to learn to ask for help when you need it, so it would be good to have that experience in your current role.

The shorter commute and some more money sound like reasonable sweeteners to given them a chance. If they don't make good on their promises, then fair enough to look again in six or twelve months.

Meanwhile, consider what help you really need and want in your role. You are clearly well thought of and have a chance to fashion your role exactly the way you want it. Learning how to do that would be a great skill to have in your arsenal.

All the best.

Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 17:30

Adviceneeded200 · 27/12/2022 17:23

They can afford more. They've saved the management accountants salary - the person who hasn't been replaced!

I'd move. Simply because things rarely change.....they are only appearing to be taking action at the moment because it suits them.

The commute isn't perfect and you won't be any better off in terms of ££ because of it but hopefully they will treat you better. Plus there's a chance you'll get a bonus (although you might not, but it's a decent amount if you do)

They have replaced the management accountant, but he's currently looking at how to streamline certain tasks, instead of doing the tasks.

My bosses boss said if he didn't like me he wouldn't be offering me a counter offer.

OP posts:
EmergentThoughts · 27/12/2022 17:31

I was in this position earlier this year, my employer counter offered with the same salary as my new position, but the overall package and career progression was not as favourable. I took the new job, have improved my skills considerably since I started, and have received a COL pay increase with potential for bonus and performance based pay increase on the horizon to boot. I have no regrets leaving, several other staff left after I did, including the department head!

Summer2424 · 27/12/2022 17:36

Hi @OU1997 an hours commute can be stressful. They really like you in your current job, i think stay.
All the best which ever one you choose 😊

Treeeeeeee · 27/12/2022 17:37

2 hours a day commuting is a lot for someone on 28k. How much would the travel cost you each month? Could you afford to live on less money (as realistically you will have less to spend after your travel costs are accounted for)

Oblomov22 · 27/12/2022 17:40

They only offered you a tiny amount. And you've already taken on the work of the management accountant who left. This isn't a good deal. They should be offering you a lot more. You can't just take on a whole persons job, and cope easily.

Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 17:40

Treeeeeeee · 27/12/2022 17:37

2 hours a day commuting is a lot for someone on 28k. How much would the travel cost you each month? Could you afford to live on less money (as realistically you will have less to spend after your travel costs are accounted for)

It's 35 minutes each way, so just over an hour a day.

OP posts:
Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 17:41

Oblomov22 · 27/12/2022 17:40

They only offered you a tiny amount. And you've already taken on the work of the management accountant who left. This isn't a good deal. They should be offering you a lot more. You can't just take on a whole persons job, and cope easily.

They have taken on another management accountant, but he's focusing on refining tasks instead of doing them (which I'm doing). He is slowly helping.

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 27/12/2022 17:41

The extra commuting will be stressful, and something you can't influence.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 27/12/2022 17:44

So, they have a new management accountant, but you're still doing the actual work while the new accountant is titting about?

Tell them the tasks that will need to be removed from you in order for you to stay. Pick the two or three that you find most arduous, don't let them decrease your load by removing the easy/nice stuff.

I would say that their salary offer is probably ok considering that a longer commute will cost more. Plus you lose more time from your day, it depends on your lifestyle how much that will matter to you. If you have school runs or need to be home in time for something in particular then it might be a huge issue.

Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 17:48

They have told me that I'm doing really well and that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, but I'm scared that by asking for help and admitting that I'm stressed proves that I can't do the job and they've think less of me.

OP posts:
1Wanda1 · 27/12/2022 17:51

A 35 min commute is nothing. If you'd be happy to stay at your current job with some of your responsibilities handed to someone else, and the pay rise to £27k, I'd say to current job that you'd stay, but only for £28k plus pension contributions to match the other offer. If they say they can't do that, point out that a recruitment consultant's fee to place someone new in the role will easily exceed £1k, plus the dead time involved in bedding in a new person. They can obviously afford another £1k a year. If they can't, or won't, then it's not somewhere you'd want to stay anyway and you take the other job.

Good luck.

DrekIsLonelikk · 27/12/2022 17:54

A half hour commute is barely anything, it’s fairly standard for most people IME. I’d take the new job, your current job were happy to overload you and stress you out before you spoke up.

Original poster
OU1997 · 27/12/2022 17:56

DrekIsLonelikk · 27/12/2022 17:54

A half hour commute is barely anything, it’s fairly standard for most people IME. I’d take the new job, your current job were happy to overload you and stress you out before you spoke up.

My bosses boss mentioned that he thought I seemed to be taking it all fine and quoted a duck swimming on water, saying how it seems smooth on the surface but the legs are running at 1000mph

OP posts:
Original poster
OU1997 · 29/12/2022 21:39

I accepted the counter offer and my manager was happy

OP posts:
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