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Most of us have been there before. You’ve accepted a new position at a different company and are ready to pack your stuff and move on, except you have one thing left to do, submit your resignation. Whether you are submitting your resignation in person, through an email, or with an HR department, the process can be scary. During this process, your current employer may try to gain insight as to why you are leaving. Part of this insight may include salary questions or attempts at negotiating a new salary in hopes you will stay. This brings us to the question of should you accept a counteroffer during your resignation? Simply put, no. You shouldn’t. Here are a few reasons why accepting a counter offer during your resignation is a bad idea.
1. You are leaving for a reason
There is a reason you decided to search for a new job in the first place, whether that is better benefits, more flexibility, a shorter commute, better office culture, or a number of other reasons. Don’t sacrifice all the hard work you put into finding a new job only to be stuck again. According to LinkedIn, 80 percent of those who accept a counter offer start their job search again in three months.
2. Change can be good
Change can be a good thing. A new position at a new company gives you an opportunity to expand your skillset. You aren’t pigeon-holed in your previous position. From a change in scenery to a change in pace, switching it up lessens the risk of total burnout down the road.
3. A counter offer can be used as a stalling tactic
Nothing is guaranteed. Even if you accept the counter offer, your employer could still terminate you down the road and fill the position with someone at a lower salary point. All states in the US are “at-will” states, meaning you can be terminated for any reason at any time.. This means that even though you accepted that counter offer, your job isn’t protected. After all, it’s easier to hire someone, when you already have a person working in that position, just like it is easier to find a job when you already have a job.
4. Trust will be broken
Accepting a counteroffer can break down the trust between you and your manager. They now know that you are not happy with your current position or are looking for something new. This affects the overall dynamic of the workplace. Your employer may now question your every move. The autonomy you may have had in your position could disappear. Overall, this will put a huge strain on your working relationship with your manager or managers.
5. You may not get another raise
When a counter offer is presented to you, you may question why you were never given that raise, to begin with. Why did you have to go through all that work to find a new position to only now be given a raise? Why did your employer not value you until now? All of these questions may run through your mind. Accepting a counteroffer may jeopardize your chances of getting another raise in the future. You may be “stuck” at that salary point for a long period of time. Whereas, starting a new position opens you up for another raise after an established period of time.
Submitting your resignation is hard enough, don’t make it harder by accepting a counteroffer from your employer. Leave on a good note and enjoy the new opportunities presented to you.
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