Never seek or accept a counteroffer at work. The result could be ugly.

Tue, 08/20/2024 - 07:08

A hand holding money forming a diagonal line across a red circle — Chris Williams, a former Microsoft VP of HR, said your company might feel like they've been held hostage if forced to make a counteroffer to keep you.
iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

Using a competing job offer to negotiate a raise can damage trust with your employer.
Employers may feel betrayed and view you as a flight risk, limiting future opportunities.
Negotiating salary at the job offer stage rather than seeking counteroffers later is better.

If you're at the point where you're haggling over price, your relationship with your employer could be all but over. Waving a competing offer at your boss might not end well.