Whether you’re an active or a passive candidate, being offered a new job can be exciting.
Given the difficulties the hospitality industry is facing with vacancies and the reluctance many hospitality employees have to change jobs, there is also an element of uncertainty.
With this in mind, it’s unsurprising why so many hospitality employees will accept a counter offer on the basis that the role is familiar, and they can stick with what they know whilst getting a better salary.
However, research shows that 80% of employees who accept a counter offer still leave within six months.
Here’s why you should reconsider accepting a counter offer in hospitality.
It’s not beneficial in the long term
A counter offer to stay in your current role might seem more comfortable and beneficial due to the incentives offered, yet you have to consider – what were your reasons for considering another job role in the first place?
Though a higher salary or other incentives might initially seem to address some of the issues you have in your current role, salary is rarely the sole factor in the level of satisfaction you have in your job.
Burnout is a common factor in low job satisfaction, and the factors relating to your experience of burnout are unlikely to be resolved by a salary increase.
The burnout rate for those working in the hospitality industry was found to be among the highest of all industries in a 2015 study, estimating that every 1 in 7 hotel and restaurant workers experience employee burnout – it can be assumed that the pandemic has likely worsened burnout rates in the hospitality industry.
If you’re looking to progress in your career with a high level of job satisfaction for the future, you’re not likely to find it in a counter offer.
It doesn’t address what motivates you
We’ve worked with our fair share of candidates at Talent Hive who have received counter offers, and one thing that remains true is that a counter offer rarely addresses the elements of a job that truly motivate you.
Many candidates have approached us looking for new opportunities as a result of being unhappy and unfulfilled in their current role, only to receive a counter offer from their employer shortly after.
Now, we’d like to stress that we don’t have a sense of ‘I told you so’ when this occurs – we know better than anyone the emotional attachment that people have to their job, employer, colleagues, and workplace.
However, we also know that the main reason counter offers rarely work out is because they don’t address a candidate’s true motivations for a role.
Many candidates want a job role that they can progress continually in or a role in which they can consistently upskill and meet new people or experience new places.
Additionally, poor experiences in past job roles may have candidates putting greater value in areas of their working life such as mental health and wellbeing support, flexible working opportunities, diversity and inclusion efforts, and a more positive company culture.
Whilst initial counter offers might seem attractive, there is also a high likelihood of some of the benefits never coming to fruition, as we’ve seen with past candidates.
It can change the dynamic between you and your employer
This isn’t always the case; however, it is worth considering how handing in your resignation and then accepting a counter offer might impact your relationship with your employer and other colleagues.
Even if you make every effort to indicate in a respectful manner your reasoning for leaving, if you accept a counter offer, your employer will most likely have this at the forefront of their mind moving forwards.
This is no guarantee that an employer will hold this against you, but it can change the dynamic in the workplace in multiple ways, particularly in the long term.
When opportunities arise for promotions or career progression, the last thing you’ll want to be left wondering is if you’ve been overlooked due to briefly wanting to leave.
It can make you hesitant to take risks
Taking a new job can seem like a huge risk.
You’ll be in a different environment with different people and new ways of working, which can be extremely intimidating, especially if you’ve been in your current role for a while.
If you’re open to change, you’ll be able to run with new opportunities and potentially negotiate a higher salary, all whilst being able to choose a role in which your needs and goals are met.
If you’re resistant or fearful of change, you could find yourself feeling as though your career is stagnating at a later date because your work has become monotonous or you’re feeling burnt out.
There’s no denying that a new job opportunity can be nerve-wracking… but if you know deep down that it’s the better option for your growth and goals, then it’s worth the risk, too.
You might let your dream job pass you by
We’ve worked with candidates who have accepted a counter offer only to come back a few months later.
For some, the original job became available again – not every candidate will be so lucky.
The issues that you might be facing in your current job role could be resolved with a new job role, on top of the extra potential benefits – better salary, work-life balance, and progression opportunities – and it might be hard to find this opportunity again.
It’s a case of weighing up what you want from a job (and whether the new role fulfils this) and which areas of your current job don’t align with where you want to be.
For most hospitality candidates, the new job role will win out because of the potential it holds in comparison to their current role.
The bottom line
Counter offers can be tempting.
However, it’s worth remembering that you had reasons for considering another job role, and these reasons usually can’t be ignored on the basis of a higher salary alone.
A counter offer will rarely fix the issues you’re facing in your current hospitality role and you don’t want to find yourself in the same position of looking for another role shortly after.
Instead, you should review the benefits of taking on a new role and see whether it aligns with your goals and needs and prioritise this instead.
Get in touch
If you’re looking for an expert hospitality recruitment partner, Talent Hive can help.
Our team has in-depth knowledge of the ins and outs of hospitality, and we’re extremely passionate about helping hospitality businesses secure the best talent.
Get in touch today to find out more.