I’m prejudiced for sure. I’m an external recruiter and I don’t like (ok, I hate) counteroffers.

A recent survey of the members of our affiliate network indicates counteroffers are more prevalent perhaps than they have ever been. But does it work beyond the short term?

Employers win in the short term either because they have thrown money at a departing employee or made promises that will be difficult to keep. If the promised changes weren’t difficult they would have made them already, right?

The employer secures an interim employee without knowing it, especially if more money was their answer. The employee earns a higher salary and keeps looking as they now have a higher base to negotiate from.

The same circumstances that created the desire to move on will likely resurface in the future, perhaps at an even less opportune time. Maybe what was a great fit before just isn’t a great fit anymore!

Maybe it’s time to try something different. Organizations that want to retain employees start by following a disciplined approach to hiring the right ones. If you really want to focus on retention check out this book by Richard P. Finnegan: The Stay Interview: A Manager’s Guide to Keeping the Best and Brightest