first time ever providing a counteroffer for a new job. I was already 99% sure that they wouldn't be able to meet me even in the middle, so I thought I'd provide a thoughtful, dignified response.
Their response:
“Thank you so much for your feedback on the offer and the transparency of your decision-making. Unfortunately, we cannot meet your expectations. I truly appreciate the amount of time and thought you put into our process and this email. You have given us a lot to think about. I am sure you will be an incredible asset to the organization you find yourself at.”
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COUNTER-OFFER EMAIL
So, in the spirit of transparency, I wanted to provide you with my thoughts, concerns, and expectations so that you know where my head is at.
Base Salary + Bonus
- 80k would be an immediate pay cut for me.
- Bonus pay is not guaranteed and therefore is not an incentivizing framework for a salesperson.
- In order to move forward with accepting this offer, I would need to:
- Receive 100k base with quarterly commission checks paid out of up to 20k for the fiscal year, based on specific performance metrics (instead of ” at the discretion of [redacted] management”). Given that I’d be “starting from scratch” (and given my level of expertise and alignment with this role) 100k base is my baseline expectation for the scope of work here.
Hybrid Role + Flexible Work Schedule/Time Off
- No part of this contract speaks to this being a hybrid position.
- Currently, I have full autonomy over my workday and don't need to seek approval for my time off; I merely communicate my time off to my managers and colleagues on a shared company calendar and they trust me to get my work done regardless of how much time I take off/when I take it off.
- The possibility that I may be working on a company holiday to support sales/ops (even with the option to seek an alternative holiday date) is something that I’m not interested in subscribing to.
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In order to move forward with accepting this offer, I would need to:
- Ensure that any car-related travel for [redacted] work would be only for site visits and company retreats (and not to do office work at a central office). I would like this role to be 95% remote with travel only for those specific instances.
- Receive a fuel stipend in order for this to be equitable
- Take time off on all named company holidays
Company Culture / DEI Lens
- I am concerned about the organization being at the early stages of its DEI journey.
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I would like to avoid being in a position where I feel like I’m educating my colleagues about DEI and Anti-Racism, especially as one of the only women of color on staff; this is a situation that many people of color fall into (“cultural housekeeping”) and there is no real compensation for this emotional labor (however, I believe that the 100k base counter-offer would be taking this into consideration).
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In order to move forward with accepting this offer, I would need to:
- Ensure that there are clear DEI initiatives that the organization is making a priority (and allocating financial resources to) that presume everyone’s investment (from CEO to junior-level staff). I would feel more comfortable coming into an environment that is new to thinking about the intersection of DEI + Education if this were the case.
Annual Raise / COLA Policy
- A 0-3% yearly raise/COLA expectation does not line up with inflation; with inflation being where it is today, I would essentially be taking a pay cut YTY with this policy. The idea that 0 is an option is also concerning to me, to be frank.
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In my current role, I receive quarterly inflation stipends so that my COLA raise + inflation stipend raise match up with current inflation rates.
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In order to move forward with accepting this offer, I would need to:
- Be guaranteed a yearly COLA for my salary that matches inflation rates (either through quarterly inflation stipends as I named above, or by providing that match at the end of the fiscal year)
401K Eligibility
- Having to wait a year to be eligible for your 401k plan does not set me up for financial success.
- In my current role, I was eligible for the company’s simple IRA 30 days after my employment.
- In order to move forward with accepting this offer, I would need to:
- Receive access to the 401k plan at the earliest open enrollment period after my start date.
Medical, Dental, Vision
- Ambiguity around medical options is also concerning; I’d like to know who you partner with for health care and have a more detailed idea of what the options are.
- I would also like specific details about dependent eligibility for your healthcare options.
- In order to move forward with accepting this offer, I would need to:
- Receive more specific information about my medical, dental, and vision options (to ensure that this move would not put me in a position where I would incur higher healthcare costs compared to what I pay now with my company plan).
Promotion Pathways & Growth Opportunity
- There is a level of ambiguity around a clear growth path for this position that disconcerts me
- Since I’d be managing work for grant-funded clients, it’s unclear to me what growth would look like for me (financially and work-wise) if I were to stay at [redacted] long-term as my next career move.
- In order to move forward with accepting this offer, I would need to:
- Ensure that you have outlined a clear promotion pathway that centers my professional development and financial growth within the company.
I know this is a lot to process, so thank you for taking the time to digest it further! I'm eager to know what you think. Changing positions in this season of life for me is a pivotal decision career-wise, and so I want to be transparent about what my bottom lines are. I understand if this is more than you can offer and, if it is, I'd be happy to refer you to some of my ex-colleagues who I think could also be a good fit for this role and who may be more amenable to these contractual conditions for employment!