Counteroffer Information - News from the World of Executive Search

Reprint from The Wharton School
of The University of Pennsylvania Executive Bulletin for MBA Alumni
July 1988

News from the World of Executive Search…On Counteroffers

Boyden International surveyed 450 executives who were sought for new jobs over 3 years and found 30 who received counteroffers from their employers after resigning. Of those, 27 decided to stay; but within 18 months, 25 of the 27 left or were pushed out and the remaining 2 are looking now. While they may appear complimentary, "counteroffers made in response to a resignation are, at best, a stalling tactic by the employer to plan for the longer term, "says George Malone, a Boyden Senior Vice President. He believes the executive's loyalty is in question because of the initial bid to quit.