People and companies don't like to be under pressure or challenged with persons from inside... It means nobody feels confortable to see an employee they count for looking for new outside opportunties. But it seems to me normal to stay tuned to the market! You can't blame the employee to be challenged and to exist as a "mightbe" new opportunity for other companies. Does those companies have a bad feeling over an employee who denied an offer? I don't think so... If the employee is honest with them... He tells his real motivation, situation. In this case it is a fair game! And if he wants to be hired, he gave certainly signs enough in its current position to warn his management, management which has to react. If it doesn't its certainly a sign strong enough to motivate the employee to see outside. It certainly means that his current situation might become harder...