Statistics
I read some statistics about counter offers some time ago. They were pretty telling. I don't remember the exact numbers but it was a high percentage, something like 75% or more, of people that accept counter offers are no longer employed by that company within 1 year. It didn't dig any deeper than that, so the reasons are undoubtedly varied. It would be interesting to see the split between company and employee initiated terminations.
My own personal experience in this area tends to agree with the article and the statistics. I interviewed and selected a guy for one of my top positions. He accepted my offer, but then a couple of days before he was supposed to start he contacted HR and told them he had accepted a counter offer. It really ticked me off. Caused me to have to do the whole process all over again from square 1. I lost weeks of revenue. I kept his resume in a special file to make sure I would remember him. Lo and behold guess whose resume appeared on my desk after a job fair a few months later? Yep, and he was unemployed. Laid off. During his interview he told me how valuable he was and how his skills were unique in his current job. Guess he wasn't as valuable or unique as he thought. His resume went in the trash. I will not waste my time on him again, ever.
