Counteroffers in the UK: Should You Accept When Your Employer Tries to Keep You?
You have secured a new job and handed in your resignation. Then your manager asks you to stay and offers more money or a promotion. It is flattering, and it is also a decision that needs careful thought.
Why employers make counteroffers
It is often cheaper to keep you than to recruit and train a replacement. It can also be about avoiding disruption to a project or team. That does not mean the offer is insincere, but it is worth asking why they were not offering it before.
Questions to ask yourself
Why did I want to leave in the first place?
Does more money fix that, or is it about the work, the manager or the culture?
Will anything change in a few months?
How will my relationship with my manager feel now that they know I was leaving?
The risks
Some people who accept counteroffers find that they feel less trusted, or they leave anyway within a year because the underlying reasons remain. Others find it a genuine turning point. The outcome depends on the reasons for leaving.
When it might make sense
If your main reason for leaving was pay or a particular role, and the employer is making a clear, written commitment to change it, a counteroffer can be a good solution. Get everything in writing.
How to turn it down politely
Thank them, say you have made a commitment and that you appreciate their confidence in you. Keep the tone positive. You may need a reference and good contacts in the future.
Do not play offers against each other
Be honest with both employers. In the UK, accepting an offer and then backing out can damage your reputation. If you are unsure, ask for a short time to consider.
Everyone in this situation feels alone at some point, and you are not. If this helped, share it with someone who is job hunting, and tell us in the comments what has worked for you.
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