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UK Recruitment Glossary

Counter-Offer

Alex By Alex · 12-year UK recruiter · Updated April 2026

In recruiter context

I've seen hundreds of these. The data is consistent: roughly 70-80% of people who accept a counter-offer leave within a year anyway, often pushed out. The reason you wanted to leave usually wasn't pay alone, and a salary patch doesn't fix it. Counter-offers also damage trust quietly — your employer now knows you were one foot out the door.

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