<p>Yes, this sounds like a college thread but it’s a job thread. Without divulging too many details, deciding between two jobs. The jobs are for all intensive purposes, the same job, different companies. Gave notice at current job 2 months ago, Company A, to move to Company B after they called and proposed the job. Company B would require a relocation (paid) after our kids graduate from high school, driving back and forth to work until then (4 hours) working there 3-4 days/home 3-4 days, some flexibility on which days. Plan was to start next week. Today Company A (current job) made an offer to stay. The offer is double (net after all monetary compensation) what Company A offered-benefits are about the same at both companies-same % match for 401K, insurance, etc.</p>
<p>Company A, owner is nice enough but moody and turnover is higher then it should be as a result. Owner would like to move into a semi-retired status-not sure when though and that will help with the atmosphere in the office. This could be next month or 10 years??</p>
<p>Company B, awesome company, very employee focused, lots of perks, we know a good portion of the management/sales staff as we have worked with them in the past and they are good friends. Calling them to let them know of the development, we will see if they counter.</p>
<p>Job security–somewhat of a concern with Company A but would insist on a good severance clause to counteract that. Company B has plans for more upward mobility. Company B is bigger and has one more level of executive staff than Company A. Net result of the positions would be the same responsibility level (#2 at A and Company B would be one of 5 top executives).</p>
<p>So, if you had these two offers, which would you take?? Maybe someone’s thought process will bring up something we haven’t thought about that might help us make the decision. Time is of the essence since we have to let A know, soon, tomorrow or Wednesday. Thanks.</p>
<p>You can’t chase money your whole life. You gave your word to Company B. They believed in you, they hired you, you accepted, they are expecting you. So what if Company A dangles the carrot in your face? What if you say yes to Company A and then tell Company B no, only to have Company A fire you for not being loyal in the first place? What if Company B refuses to be blackmailed into giving more money, tells you to go fly a kite and then Company A fires you anyway or tells you after much consideration, they changed their mind? Now you are swimming a river with no paddle. I think playing companies off each other is a dangerous business. By doing so, you show both companies that you are only loyal to the dollar. Not a great place to start at either place. Even if Company B counters with more money, you have damaged the relationship. They trusted you to join them on the offer they presented. The offer you accepted. You have shown them you are willing to sell them out over money.</p>
<p>I have a tough time with a company like A which does not see you as worthy of that offer until you have committed elsewhere. The way you write also makes it sound like you are more excited about company B than company A, the older we get, the more important atmosphere can be.</p>
<p>I’d go with quality over quantity. Being happy in your job is worth a lot. Company A sounds stressful and not a good work environment. Unless the $$ are necessary (which doesn’t seem to be case) then there’s a lot of value in being happier in your job (think mental and physical health) </p>
<p>Sounds like Company B is the way to go. You don’t like boss at Co.A, He may or may nor be retiring soon. You had already made up your mind to leave. On the other hand, everything at Company B sounds all positive except for the commuting. What about the town/city where Company B is located? Is it somewhere you and your wife/family would be happy to call home?</p>
<p>I should add, Company A offer would only be accepted if they agree to a generous severance package. The offer came about as interviewing for the replacement turned up no viable candidates at the salary offered and the owner FINALLY having a light-bulb moment that the position was underpaid to start.</p>
<p>Patsmom–really?? Now I feel stupid :D. I have never heard it said that way…</p>
<p>I realize money isn’t everything but we are talking a significant increase, well into the 6 figure increase over current pay–NET.</p>
<p>I am really at a 50/50 don’t know what to do. The pro and con list is exactly the same length. I get what Collegeshopping is saying about loyalty and yes, we did say yes to Company B, but they also came in under what we originally talked about for salary/bonus with the carrot of the future promotion–which is not in writing so not a done deal either. The stress at Company B would be there but it would be different stress, longer hours, more travel, etc., If the net pay difference was a lot smaller, we would move to Company B–but the increase from Company A is more than the entire offer from Company B…</p>
<p>Packmom–that is one of the negatives about B but also a positive–we love where we live now, really were fine staying here forever. New town is ok too. It’s different then where we live now, but still nice. I was ok moving there because we know people and we found a few neighborhoods we really like but the thought of getting our current house ready to sell, taking a loss on our current house and even stupid stuff like what to do with our dog when the house is being shown was not appealing at all. In the new town we would probably build a new house, getting it set up for retirement years, etc. so that was a big plus. Here we would either have to add on to our house eventually or move/build somewhere down the road.</p>
<p>We were not in the market for a new job at all until Company B came to us.</p>
<p>What a great position to be in! I think you both need to think about what your life goal is for the next 5-10 years and which job helps you get there with the least amount of stress and best quality of job. You probably already have a good idea about which one it is. I’m all for honesty and integrity above reproach, but I wouldn’t worry about the loyalty level as much as college shopping does. IMHO, at your level there is a level of expectation of negotiation. It sounds like you are thinking retirement in a few years, sorry if I got the wrong impression, and when you get to that stage you have to position yourself in the best possible scenario to reach your goals and I think that is more important than loyalty at this stage of the game.</p>
<p>I’ve been working for over 40 years and have seen several situations of what you describe. When the employee decides to stay at Company A, things usually start to go into the toilet very quickly. Here’s why:</p>
<p>Company A is up the creek without a paddle if you leave. They are offering you a bribe to stay. However, they know you’re not satisfied and you’re not “loyal.” (I put that in quotes because no one is loyal these days. Ya’ gotta look out for Number 1.) Their intention – and they may not even be conscious of it – is to keep you for the short-term so they can find someone else to take over what you do. This situation has made them realize how vulnerable they are, and they will now take steps to remedy that. As soon as they’ve taken care of the emergency, which is to keep you there for a while, they will be annoyed with you, 'cause you’re not “loyal.”</p>
<p>Also, if you stay, you will begin to resent why you worked there for so long at the lower salary. You’ll wonder why, if you’re now worth so much more to them, you were paid so much less for so long. </p>
<p>In addition, you have mentally left Company A already. You’ve imagined your last few days and weeks. You’ve imagined yourself in Company B and imagined how you would perform your duties there. It’s very difficult to roll that back.</p>
<p>I completely understand that the long commute and relocation are a very big deal. I think it demonstrates how much Company B values you. The fact that Company A is willing to increase your pay significantly only when you announce you’re leaving shows how much they value you.</p>
<p>Finally, your boss at Company A might retire soon – or he might not. I’ve seen situations where people hung on and on and on because they were the anointed one to replace the boss – only the boss couldn’t let go. You can’t factor the boss’s departure into this equation. It’s just another unknown.</p>
<p>What’s the rest of the family situation? We have couples where one works at a startup and the other at a stable company so they get the good benefits and stability of one with the potential of a jackpot at the other and can then absorb a potential bust.</p>
<p>Do you need to spend a lot of time on family matters or does your family situation allow you to work a lot?</p>
<p>VeryHappy–current job has only been there for about 1 1/2 years. Before that, unemployment for a little over a year due to company downsizing so we accepted the salary with the possibility of getting more down the road. The situation is very much as you described, company realizes how much better things are now. The net in the bank for the company past year has gone up over 50% and they know that. The owner is an entrepreneur, not so much a “businessman”. He did a good job getting the company up and running and profitable and now is past his skill set for maintaining and growing at the right pace. He is building in some long term retention benefits, just don’t have those on paper yet as he needs to figure out a plan. That will be a factor in the ultimate decision. Again too, we were not looking to change jobs until Company B called out of the blue.</p>
<p>Spouse’s job, not an issue, works from home, can work anywhere. Both companies are very stable and neither are big enough to have a fitness center :D. We have equipment at home though.</p>
<p>I suspect he will promise you the moon, orally, but not be able to put these things in writing. You need to let him down easy. He means well, and you are the future of his company. But, when opportunity knocks, ya’ gotta answer the door!</p>
<p>familyof3boys-class of 2013 so a year from now plus summer and then the plan was to move after we get them off to college in the fall so Sept 2013 or so. Yes, 4 hours each way. We would have an apartment in the new city for the time spent there and then home the other days. Most likely it would be leave here Sunday evening, work Mon-Wed there, come home Wed night, work from home Thur/Fri at Company B.</p>
<p>Is that right? If it were a matter of better atmosphere with lousy money, it would be a different story. But better atmosphere with decent money sounds like a win/win to me</p>
<p>Market value of the job is somewhat hard to compare between the towns because they are totally different markets, different states even, but A is probably slightly overpaying, but not much, considering years of experience and location. Company B is probably under paying but some but cost of living is less there so the other salary/bonus is “in range” for the job there. It was less than what we were expecting to see from them though. Hours here would stay at 40/week, hours there would probably be 50-60 and more travel.</p>
<p>I don’t think trust here will be an issue at all. I think the counter was really a realization that he was underpaying and is “sorry”. Comments made suggest he is not upset about us leaving as much as he was sorry to lose us. I think the long term bonus package will be favorable. Company B will be disappointed but are professional enough to realize the opportunity OR they will want him enough to match the counter.</p>
<p>The college costs are a huge factor in the decision. We are still expecting good merit aid for the kids based on their current choices but the extra funds certainly will make the budget a lot less tight for those years that is for sure. It would probably allow us to retire a good 10 years earlier than planned too so that is another consideration.</p>