Aneurin Bevan, 1953
hat do you think, Mom, the gold or silver earrings?"
"Honey, they both look good."
"I think I like the silver. But then again, maybe the gold.
The tear-drop dangles? Mom, help me."
"Debbie, go to work!"
That was Debbie, a personnel administrator by vocation and habitual vacillator by inclination.
One day at the office, while she was talking to an outside recruiter, he asked if she'd be interested in another job - ten percent more money, right in town, a good company. "That sounds good, Jim," she said. "Yeah, I mean, I guess I should at least talk to them, right?" And they set a date. When she took the day off and interviewed at the new company, Jim was right - nice offices, the people were friendly and they seemed to like her. But on the other hand, it was a lateral move, new procedures to learn and, well, she just wasn't sure.
A week later Jim called with a firm offer, including the ten percent raise. "Congratulations," he said, "it's a great job for you. When can you start?"
"Gee, Jim, I don't know," Debbie waffled, "really, I don't know what to say."
"Whataya mean you don't know?" he almost shouted. "Debbie, it pays $250 a month more and they loved you. It's a perfect fit. What more's to know? Debbie, don't blow it."
"Yeah, I know, but...well, Jim, I like this job too, the work and the people here. Let me think about it, okay? I'll call you in the morning." About an hour later, Jim called back. "Debbie! I spoke to them again and they'll go 12 percent. They love ya, babe, but they have to know now, today."
"Jim, I'm just not sure. It's such a big decision."
"Look, Debbie. It'll take two years to get 12 percent where you are now. I guarantee, if you turn this down you'll kick yourself next week." Debbie hesitated a long moment, hemmed and hawed, back and forth, and finally said, "Well, okay, Jim, I guess I'd better take it. You're sure it's right? Okay, tell 'em then, but I have to give two weeks' notice."
That afternoon she typed up her resignation and handed it to her boss. He was completely surprised. He thought she was happy in her job. "It's really a bad time, too, Debbie. I have to get those new organization charts out, you know that. I was counting on you."
"Yeah, I know," she murmured, feeling guilty.
Debbie worked extra hours the next two weeks, trying to finish up, but there was no way to complete it all. And on the day before she was to leave, her boss offered her a 15 percent raise if she'd reconsider and stay.
Wow, super! Even more money. The same job, all my friends, nothing new to learn. But...I already told them, they're counting on me. But still... Finally, she accepted the boss's offer.
"Are you out of your mind?" Jim did shout this time. "You can't do that. You accepted. They turned down two other people, sent out a memo on your appointment. You can't do it, Debbie. How would you feel if they changed their minds after you'd already quit?"
"I'm sorry, Jim," she said, "I really am, but it's better this way. I think this is what I really want now," and hung up.
She worked hard and got the new organization charts and the department budget completed in the next two months. That was when the boss told her she was laid off, part of an ongoing restructuring, he said. But Debbie knew the boss didn't trust her anymore. He used her to get through the crunch, and when it was over, he could take his time looking for a replacement. And Jim, the recruiter, wouldn't even take her calls.
"More than 80% of those accepting counteroffers leave or are terminated within 6 to 12 months."
Baty, R. Gaines, "Beware of Counteroffers," National Business Employment Weekly April 24-30, 1994.
