Negotiating with employers

YadaSmada

I was in a similar situation just over a year ago. I had been with my employer for about 6 months when my previous company approached me offering my old job back but in a new location (I originally left due to threat of redundancy due to site relocation).

I enjoyed my previous job and I negotiated a 6k pay rise, a 2k signing on bonus and I was ready to leave, I told my currently employer that I was sad to be leaving as I enjoyed my new job but I couldn't turn down such an offer. They offered to meet roughly in the middle and offered a 3k pay rise, I accepted and stayed as I enjoyed the job and more imortantly the people I work with. Over a year later and I am still with the same company and enjoy my job more than ever, so counter offers do sometimes work.

I should note however the role I carry out is quite specialised and the industry stuggles to retain young people, so that likely went in my favour.

Stylehutz

I disagree with most of the Posts on here. It gives employers a kick up the backside. If the Company offers more money for the same role then they should match it too. If not Go to other employer. You will probably be more valued there.

matttye

I recently accepted a counter-offer from my current employer when I was offered another job.

I didn't ask for a counter-offer, I just told him I'd been offered another job and asked if I could meet him for a discussion. The payrise was nice but wasn't of primary importance to me.

I've worked for my employer for 9 years and started at the bottom. I originally had an administrative-only role but I now have skills and qualifications which enable me to get out of the office. Our previous head of department sadly passed away and our current head of department took over. The new head was not letting me go out very often and I heard from colleagues that he was constantly complaining that I'd gone out when I was not in the office. He would also tell me I couldn't go out if anyone else was available.

In other words I was being treated as the spare.

Made it clear to the head of the firm that I wasn't happy with this and wanted the opportunity to use my skills more often considering I had worked hard to achieve the qualification.

I should say that I had previously discussed these issues with my head of department and also my employer, so in the end I felt pushed into taking drastic action. The job I was offered involved no administrative work at all...

The problem has pretty much resolved now. I don't regret anything.

Energize

BorisThomson wrote: »

If you want a pay rise, you need to present a business case as to why you are worth it.

What you're suggesting sounds like a poor attempt at blackmail!

Blackmail?

We have a free market where people can ask for whatever compensation they want and work for whomever they want, it may be an unwarranted demand but it's far removed from blackmail!

trailingspouse

In my experience, it's always the other way round.

On a couple of occasions, my OH has been on the point of leaving a job and the employer has made it worth his while to stay. But he's VERY good at what he does...

glentoran99

Ozzuk wrote: »

It does happen, although it sets a dangerous precedent. It also could limit any future opportunities, perhaps even payrises (if you are moved to top of band for instance). So I'd think carefully.

Also, if the reason you are moving is purely financial, a few more things to consider...money is a poor motivator long term; you'll lose any protection with new company for first two years; loss of pension/any other benefits; no guarantee you'll even like working with the new business.

All that needs to be factored in before accepting another job.

If the exercise is really about getting more money from your current employer then as Boris says, the right way is to produce a business case, look at external roles for benchmarking etc...

that's strange logic, Careful about being moved to top of band now because you wont be able to be moved their later??

74jax

I felt I deserved more money and put my case forward and was knocked back. I was hurt, but still loved the company so applied for a promotion in another office which I got.


I then was offered to match the new job's money if I stayed, but I replied saying thanks (didn't want to burn bridges) but that I had asked a month earlier and it was no, and that I had accepted another job so would still be leaving.


I think what I am trying to say is ask for the more money (with back up reasons why) and if you get it great, if not look elsewhere, but why would you want to stay somewhere that didn't value you until it was too late?

Malthusian

glentoran99 wrote: »

that's strange logic, Careful about being moved to top of band now because you wont be able to be moved their later??

The new company might be offering you a job in a higher band though, so potential for future payrises. Whereas if you stay in the old one, you probably won't get promoted into a higher band (or you wouldn't have been looking for a new job in the first place) and will be stuck.

I'm only guessing that's how it works, as I'm lucky enough to work in a small company and we don't have this pseudo-military band stuff.