Did you get a counteroffer when quitting? What did you do?

[mystang52]

I gave 2 weeks' notice. Then I offered to work 2 days/month to run/collate financial reports that was part of my full time duties.
My boss accepted....and asked if I would consider working two days per week. Bottom line - it ended up being a great deal. I work 2 non-consecutive days per week from home, it is very easy and non-stressful and quite frankly extremely easy money.
If they are amenable, I'll do it at least thru 2014.

 

[Midpack]

I will be prepared for the walk to the door thing. When I give notice it will be with a bare cubicle.

That's smart. I had already saved all my important work files to DVD, made hard copies of other info that I felt entitled to access (not company proprietary stuff) should I work again somewhere and took almost all the personal items of any value to me home before I notified my boss (in another state) of my intention. Worked out OK, but wanted to be prepared just in case...

 

[Chuckanut]

Brewer12345, whatever happens I hope we will continue to benefit from your thoughts.

 

[Sarah in SC]

All I have to offer is that I wish that I could be there when you pull the trigger to take you out for a beer to celebrate! It is so amazing that you are really doing it! So, so jealous...

 

[brewer12345]

Brewer12345, whatever happens I hope we will continue to benefit from your thoughts.

Its a lot harder than that to shut me up.

 

[RunningBum]

I used the unspoken threat of leaving once to be able to telecommute. A second time I was unhappy with an uninteresting new project I was put on with poor resources to learn it, and told my boss I was ready to leave. They offered me part time and sticking to the work I'd been doing before, which I was happy to accept since I was only marginally FI. The last time they gave me other options but none of them were really incentive to stay and I think that was by design. I don't think they could've kept me but I knew they wouldn't try so I didn't really think about whether anything could keep me there.

I think if you're ready to go, nothing will keep you. If you're not, the right offer could keep you. Don't turn it down or accept it right away. If you go home and feel like you struck gold, take it. For me that second time it was a feeling that it worked out perfectly, and it did for a few more years for me. If it doesn't work out, you can always later give notice again and tell them sorry, this time it's for real. Even if it's two months later, what's the problem? If they get mad, you can tell them they should've just let you go the first time.

 

[Sue J]

Early in DHs career he got a job offer that looked very good and decided to take it. He went to his boss and gave a months notice. His boss didn't want to lose him so his boss got upper management to let him make a counter offer, of a little more than what DH would have gotten at the new job.

We mulled it over and he decided to stay where he was with a nice increase. The funny thing was that his increase in pay put him over his direct supervisor and others in his department with more experience. The result was that they all got increases. He stayed a few more years after that.

He wasn't anywhere close to retiring. That would have been a very different situation.

 

[Moemg]

The first time I retired I was offered a one day a week very flexible job . I took it . It did grow to two days a week but still very flexible . It also helped me solidify my decision to retire so a year later I retired . They offered me a few great options but I was ready . They continued to offer me great options for a year until they realized I was really done .

 

[6miths]

I'll be giving my notice at the end of this month. There will be a counter offer or two, mainly more flexibility but possibly more money too. I'll politely decline. I think that the post above that said that once you are ready to go, there isn't much that can keep you. It's been golden handcuffs for awhile for me and I feel overdue to move on.

 

[Bigal50]

There is another alternative that is a possibility whenever anyone gives notice--being walked to the door with a box of your personal things. Good idea to cull them before giving notice.

That was the history at MegaCorp. I gave my boss 2 months notice on the QT. To be nice to him. It was a mistake because my work was all transferred to other people, and I had nothing to do.

I gave HR official notice at 2 weeks. I had my office cleaned out just in case the wanted to walk me to the door. It was fine. I spent the last 2 weeks saying good bye. Didn't even come in the last day. Just sent out a mass email on the way out the door. Mostly because I hate the triteness of goodbyes.

 

[scrabbler1]

Like RunningBum, I once used the threat to leave as leverage to get a part-time, mostly telecommute (and, sadly, temporarily) deal. Another time, my boss found out I was interviewing elsewhere and offered me a 10% raise to stay (this was in the 1980s when raises were big). He did not know, however, that I had just received a 10% raise to take the offer I had just received, which meant that if I stayed or if I left I'd be getting a 10% raise (not bad, huh?).

But when I ERed 5 years ago, I did not get any counteroffers to stay. I gave one month's notice but remember that I was working only 2 days a week so it was actually 9 days plus the rest of the day after I had given my notice. Furthermore, in my exit interview, I told the HR flunkie that I would not have accepted my old telecommute deal because I was so sick and tired of the commute that I would have needed to come to the office even less often than once a week. I would have also wanted to regain eligibility in the company's group health insurance program if I worked less than 20 hours a week, another requirement which was a non-starter.

On my last day, I had already rejected a farewell luncheon but there was a brief gathering at my desk. I left the office quietly and had to remember to turn in my ID badge to the building's security desk before I began the final commute home.

 

[sunnysideup]

My situation was unexpected. I took a new job/new company this year, expecting to stay only 1-2 years and retire. Then an abrupt change in family situations forced me to look at relocating, and I decided I was ready to just retire. So I told my new boss (of only 3 months) that I may need to quit soon (no specific date), and he told me to hold off and consider telecommuting. Telecommuting has always been a dream for me but now I was getting the offer at a point in my life when I am not sure I even wanted it!!!!

So I think that was a great offer, and as of today I don't have to make a decision for 6 months, but I still may retire at that point. And of course, nothing is static--now it appears my boss may be promoted to a new job/different department internally and therefore who knows if the telecommuting will still be available with a different boss...

I think every situation is different. You need to follow your gut and look out for your happiness....

 

[tryan]

Closest thing I had to a "counter offer" was a VP stopping me in the hall and asking "Why don't you come work for me?". In hind site that gig would have lasted only a year or 2. The President was bent on moving the entire company out of MA - to DC. The building was sold ... the company's only remaining MA employees are on 1 floor in rented space ... their days are numbered.

 

[Danmar]

My retirement was originally negotiated about 2 years in advance. Not totally of my choosing but a very good deal for me. It was extended twice. The second time included 4 days a week for same pay for an extra year. This resulted in a long pre-retirement period which caused some motivational issues but in the overall scheme of things is water under the bridge now, except my net worth is higher than it would have been.

 

[LoneAspen]

Happened to me a couple of times in my younger years. I always viewed it as the ultimate insult. Offering me more money because I am quitting only means that you've been taking advantage of me the whole time I worked there and were underpaying me.

YMMV.

That's my take on counteroffers, too.

I made myself a promise early in my career, and I've never broken it...as an employee I will never accept a counteroffer, and as a manager I would never extend one. I don't believe a counteroffer fixes the reason a person is looking.

People might say they're looking for more money, but I think in most cases it's because they weren't recognized, nor rewarded, in a timely fashion. A counteroffer doesn't change that. If you have to threaten to walk out the door to get more money, a counteroffer doesn't fix that kind of corporate culture and treatment.

So, I would never accept a counter when changing jobs.

As far as retiring for good, it would take what I call "crazy-stupid" money to get me to stay, meaning the company would have to be crazy and stupid to offer it, and I'd be crazy and stupid for turning it down. For example, I make in the low six figures. For me to even consider staying after I've decided to retire, they'd have to offer me about a million dollars (after taxes, also) just to stay on another six months. And no, I'm not joking. Which makes such a scenario impossible, because I'm not that valuable to the company.

Another poster commended about the "bare cube" and I fully agree with that, also. It's always been very easy for me to pack up and leave an office because I never decorate my cube with personal belongings. No pictures, no toys, no books, nothing. I've always been able to turn in my laptop and badge and walk out, and I like it that way.

I also plan on only giving two weeks. I'm just a peon, and my leaving with only two weeks notice would in no way impact the company. And if I'm retiring (as is my hope after this job) I don't care about future referrals anyway. While I won't burn bridges, I don't particularly care about pissing anybody off, either.

I've not made any friends at the place I'm at (don't want any, to be honest - I prefer to make friends with people outside my work environment) and never expect to work with, or deal with, these people ever again once I walk out the door. Once I quit and walk out, I'm done, and will never look back.

 

[Theduckguru]

I deal in more shades of gray than that, unfortunately. I have had enough of a day job and am ready to move on with life. However, I may need to generate some income in the next 5 years (far less than I earn now and could do it any number of ways) and I do believe in the mission of the organization, more fool me. So I am ready to just walk out the door and not look back, but I also would be amenable to helping out in what Ibelieve to be importanta work if I can do so on my terms.

How would you feel if they don't ask you to stay? I can't comment on your situation, but employees are considered replaceable these days. You wouldn't be the first retiree to find their organization didn't consider the employee nearly as importantant as the employee thought.

 

[brewer12345]

How would you feel if they don't ask you to stay? I can't comment on your situation, but employees are considered replaceable these days. You wouldn't be the first retiree to find their organization didn't consider the employee nearly as importantant as the employee thought.

A counter would be a complication I do not need, so a simple goodbye would be fine.

 

[Live And Learn]

Oddly I made my own counteroffer. I had decided to retire and then chickened out. My boss had occassionally jokingly asked me "not to leave him" a couple fo times over the weeks prior.

When the stress of retiring (imagine that !) got to me and I knew I didn't want to go I called him and said "I'm going to make your dreams come true - if I can telecommute then I can probably hang on another two years". We both got what we wanted (at the time).

 

[rescueme]

A counter would be a complication I do not need, so a simple goodbye would be fine.

Then why the question, at all?

You don't need "our" (e.g. this forum) input to just say goodbye.

I agree with LoneAspen - "...(snip)...as a manager I would never extend one. I don't believe a counteroffer fixes the reason a person is looking."

In (many) years past, in a role of a manger, I felt that a person gave their notice because they felt that a change was warranted and the current situation did not fit their needs.

My simple answer? Good luck to you, and your future endevors. If you feel you must leave, so be it.

We (being the organization) will continue on...

IMHO, you are having second thoughts, at a late stage in the game. That's not a problem. Maybe you should think of why you are making this decision.

I know that you have "jumped" to a new job last year. I don't know your previous employment history.

However (regardless of today's action to seek out a new position, over the long term employment of the past), I question why you are leaving.

Because your current employeer wants you to travel? Heck (hel*) that happened to my previous employer - bought out two times by two different EuroCorps over a decade. That's not what I signed up for .

Even though I was based in the US, I spent a week (incuding both weekends before/after in travel) to meet with my manager/teams in another country.

I often arose at 3am to attend 8am (Eurotime) meetings (videoconfernece) to discuss projects, during my weeks back in the US.

Did I screw up my home life? Yes Did it screw up my sleeping? Yes. Was it preferable (in pay/benefits - that allowed me to retire earlier than planned)? Absolutely!

Sometimes sacrifice is required, and our current situation may not be perfect. However, to meet a goal, sometimes you just have to tough it out to meet your end goal.

Are you tough enough

Sorry to sound negative, but I've been there.

FWIW...

 

[MRG]

Yep no one is irreplaceable. One of my biggest opportunities came when a brilliant senior guy was transferred to a different area. Sure I didn't know what he did, but I learned. My manager rewarded me very well.
MRG

 

[brewer12345]

Then why the question, at all?

You don't need "our" (e.g. this forum) input to just say goodbye.

I agree with LoneAspen - "...(snip)...as a manager I would never extend one. I don't believe a counteroffer fixes the reason a person is looking."

In (many) years past, in a role of a manger, I felt that a person gave their notice because they felt that a change was warranted and the current situation did not fit their needs.

My simple answer? Good luck to you, and your future endevors. If you feel you must leave, so be it.

We (being the organization) will continue on...

You are right, of course. A day outside in the sunshine (and bracing temps) chasing tree rats helped me get some equilibrium. Sitting in a cube with nothing to do but stew does not help me think clearly.

 

[Options]

That would have been totally unfair to my employer. IIRC your field is highly specialized, so 2 weeks seems awfully short...but you know your situation better than anyone else. Hope it works out to the satisfaction of you and your employer.

I couldn't disagree more. I w*rk in human resources and I've seen literally endless cases where the employer was unfair to the employee, regardless of the field. Employers plan "reductions in force" (i.e., firing you) months in advance with meticulous detail, and no matter what you're told, they do not care about you. If push came to shove, you would be out the door with no recourse.

I strongly recommend giving no more than two weeks, as I've seen cases where an individual gave more than that time and were treated unfairly. Midpack, you yourself stated in an earlier post on this thread that after your employer realized they couldn't convince you to stay, you were on the receiving end of "polite bitterness" as you were on your way out the door. Why would anyone who is about to FIRE put up with that?

Employees today must realize that the pact between capital and labor is long broken, that employment is nothing more than a business transaction, and that your loyalty is first and foremost to yourself. I wouldn't worry about what's "unfair" to your employer, as I can assure you your employer is quite capable of looking out for itself.

 

[MRG]

I couldn't disagree more. I w*rk in human resources and I've seen literally endless cases where the employer was unfair to the employee, regardless of the field. Employers plan "reductions in force" (i.e., firing you) months in advance with meticulous detail, and no matter what you're told, they do not care about you. If push came to shove, you would be out the door with no recourse.

I strongly recommend giving no more than two weeks, as I've seen cases where an individual gave more than that time and were treated unfairly. Midpack, you yourself stated in an earlier post on this thread that after your employer realized they couldn't convince you to stay, you were on the receiving end of "polite bitterness" as you were on your way out the door. Why would anyone who is about to FIRE put up with that?

Employees today must realize that the pact between capital and labor is long broken, that employment is nothing more than a business transaction, and that your loyalty is first and foremost to yourself. I wouldn't worry about what's "unfair" to your employer, as I can assure you your employer is quite capable of looking out for itself.

Agree 100%, a sweet wonderful 72 year old gave 6 months notice to be effective 1/15/13. In December she was told her last day would be the end of December 2012. They didn't give her a reason. Had she been employed 1 day in 2013, she would have received another 5% of her salary in her retirement account, for her 2012 contributions to Megacorp.

You have to look out for yourself, screwing over a 72 year old worker, should be criminal. But they knew she was too timid to make an issue.

MRG

 

[Lsbcal]

As I read this thread I reflect on how hard it is to leave and not be associated with any institution for comfort and money.

It took a long time and a good stock market to help me feel in control after the institutional cord was cut ... forever!

I could go on philosophizing ...

 

[growing_older]

Agree 100%, a sweet wonderful 72 year old gave 6 months notice to be effective 1/15/13. In December she was told her last day would be the end of December 2012. They didn't give her a reason. Had she been employed 1 day in 2013, she would have received another 5% of her salary in her retirement account, for her 2012 contributions to Megacorp.

Another confirmation to NEVER give notice before some big bonus or vesting date. Corporations are capable of taking direct action to withhold rewards that might have been earned but for the letter of the law, and often do so. We just had a woman quit and give notice that would have carried her over the date the company distributes an annual bonus. She naively assumed she would get or could negotiate a pro-rated bonus for working 11 1/2 months of the year. Despite her excellent work this year and previously for several years, her allocation in the bonus pool was reduced to zero.