How to Deal with the Dreaded Counteroffer

Candidate Tug-of-War

Previously on The Water Cooler, we explored ways to ensure that you come out on the winning end when making an offer to a candidate. But what happens when your top candidate receives a counteroffer from his or her current employer?


Counteroffers should be expected for exceptional candidates; as the market for top talent continues to tighten, companies are more willing to provide more incentives in order to retain their star employees.


The best defense against a counteroffer, though, is a solid offense. Today we take a look at the ways you can mitigate the risk of a candidate’s counteroffer acceptance. We’ll highlight a few signs that candidates aren’t in the process for the right reasons, provide tips to help them give notice and much more to allow you to put up the best offense possible and lessen the likelihood of an accepted counteroffer. 


The Interview Stage: Be the company they can’t “break up” with.

Building a strong relationship between the candidate and your company is the first place to start if you want to avoid a counteroffer down the road.


Candidates sometimes accept counteroffers because it’s more difficult to “break up” with their current employer than say yes to a new one. By cultivating a relationship between candidates and your organization early, you begin to sway the relationship meter so that accepting a counteroffer means they will have to “break up” with you, too.

Candidate Counteroffer Executive Recruiting

The interview process is a critical time to truly get to know why your opportunity is the right one for your candidate. Structure interview questions to gain a better understanding of what a candidate’s current organization is not able to offer (outside of more compensation). Is your candidate looking for a management opportunity? Is the current organization a far commute? Does your company offer a stronger culture fit?


Asking these and other questions can help you determine what your candidate is interested in. If you know what candidates are looking for, you know the reasons why your opportunity is the right one for them and can reinforce these during the offer stage.


For candidates who need to give a long notice period to current employers, make sure you continue to cultivate the relationship prior to their official start date. Encourage their new team to take them out to lunch, and invite new hires to social activities at the office so they can become ingrained in your company culture early on.


The Offer Stage: Walk them through the process of giving notice.

When extending an offer to your candidate, always make it personal; rather than focusing on compensation, remind candidates about everything that your organization is able to provide that their current employer can’t.


Timing also plays a big role in whether your candidate will accept a counteroffer. Deliver your offer on Friday and set a deadline to accept. Eliminating business days between when you give your offer and when you reconnect with your candidate hinders the current employer’s ability to give a counteroffer. Ultimately, you want to make sure you have the last word, not the current employer, so schedule a time to follow-up with your candidate on Monday and cut down on the risk that you won’t hear back.


Many candidates are not experienced at giving notice, so you should also help them visualize the process by actually walking them through it. Ask what they think will happen when they give notice and if they expect to receive a counteroffer.


Surveys have shown that as many as 90% of professionals who accept a counteroffer end up leaving their employer within 18 months, so candidates may need to ask some hard questions about their current situation. Why is a current employer offering a raise or promotion now? Is the candidate only valuable when he wants to leave the organization for another opportunity?


Working with a search firm like 180one can be key at this stage, as a recruiting firm should be equipped to help candidates evaluate counteroffers and guide them through the tough questions that need to be answered before accepting.


Your candidate accepted a counteroffer. Now what?

Despite your best efforts, your candidate may unfortunately decide to accept a counteroffer. In that case, find out more about the decision to accept. Did the current employer offer more money? Did the counteroffer come with a senior title?

Make sure to be consultative, not defensive; you may ultimately lose the battle, but there is still a chance that you can change the candidate’s mind.
 
Extending offers on Fridays also helps maintain momentum in the process, as you can keep other candidates in your pipeline warm and potentially move onto your next top candidate if you need to.


While you can never eliminate the probability that a candidate receives or even accepts a counteroffer, you can mitigate the risk by having a great offense.
The interview process is an opportunity to build a relationship with candidates and ensure them that a move is the right next step in their career. In the end, keep a positive attitude. The stats show that candidates will likely leave their employers shortly after accepting a counteroffer anyway. Treat your top candidates well regardless of whether they accepted your offer; you could still come out on the winning end and hire them once they do decide to leave.


Want more insight? Check out our General Education section of The Water Cooler and explore topics ranging from candidate relocation to diversity & inclusion in the workplace and more.

By Effie Zimmerman February 23, 2026
Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer ABOUT THE COMPANY With roots dating back to 1938, The Papé Group is the West’s leading supplier of capital equipment solutions. Today, Papé operates across nine states with over 4,000 team members, proudly representing premier brands including John Deere, Kenworth, Hyster, Ditch Witch, and more. What sets Papé apart is its commitment to long-term relationships, both with customers and employees. As a fourth-generation, family-led business, Papé believes in the value of a handshake, the importance of service, and the impact of leadership that stays close to the work. ABOUT THE POSITION Reporting to the CEO of the Papé Group and residing in Eugene, Oregon, the VP & Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) serves as the organization’s senior leader responsible for developing and executing a people strategy that supports business performance, operational excellence, and a strong employee experience across a geographically dispersed, multi-site workforce. This leader will bring exceptional integrity, discretion, loyalty, and sound judgment, while building trust and credibility at every level of the organization—from frontline employees to executive leadership. The VP & CHRO will balance the operational needs of the business with employee engagement and workforce stability, ensuring the organization remains compliant, competitive, and well-positioned for growth. This role leads all HR functions, including labor relations, safety, recruiting, benefits, payroll, HRIS, onboarding, training, and performance management, while also serving as a key strategic partner in mergers and acquisitions and regular interactions with the company’s board. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Culture Lead the development and execution of the company’s enterprise-wide HR strategy in alignment with business objectives, operational needs, and long-term growth plans. Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and employee relations. Champion a culture of integrity, accountability, respect, and performance while ensuring employees feel heard, supported, and engaged. Establish and maintain consistent HR practices across multiple locations and states while allowing for local operational needs. Compliance, Risk Management & Employment Law Ensure legal compliance across all employment-related areas, including wage and hour laws, payroll practices, employee classification, leaves of absence, and workplace policies. Partner with legal counsel and internal stakeholders to mitigate risk and ensure consistent application of employment law across 17 states. Oversee safety program alignment and compliance, ensuring workplace safety expectations are embedded into operational leadership and accountability. Lead investigations and resolution of complex employee relations matters with professionalism, confidentiality, and fairness. Total Rewards, Benefits & Retirement Plans Oversee benefits strategy and administration, including medical, dental, vision, disability, leave programs, and wellness offerings. Lead negotiation and management of benefits contracts and vendor relationships to ensure competitive offerings and cost effectiveness. Provide executive oversight for the company’s 401(k) plan, including vendor relationships, fiduciary compliance, plan governance, and employee communication. Partner with finance and executive leadership to manage labor and benefit costs while supporting retention and workforce stability. HRIS & HR Operations Own HR technology strategy and HRIS vendor relationship, including selection, contract negotiation, implementation, optimization, and performance management. Ensure HR processes are efficient, scalable, compliant, and aligned across recruiting, onboarding, payroll, performance management, and reporting. Use metrics and workforce analytics to guide decision-making and improve outcomes. Talent Acquisition, Onboarding & Workforce Planning Oversee recruiting strategy and execution for hourly, salaried, leadership, and specialized roles across a multi-state footprint. Ensure onboarding processes are consistent, high-quality, and designed to improve early retention and productivity. Build workforce planning processes that support operational demands, business growth, and succession planning. Training, Leadership Development & Performance Management Recommend, select, and implement training programs for supervisors and managers, including: compliance training (harassment prevention, wage/hour, safety, union-related training) leadership and soft skills training (communication, coaching, accountability, conflict resolution) Establish leadership development practices that strengthen frontline leadership capability and reinforce company standards. Ensure performance management processes are practical, consistently applied, and drive accountability and employee development. Serves as a key advisor in helping guide and develop members of the emerging fifth generation, supporting thoughtful career pathing, leadership development, and integration into the business in alignment with company values and performance expectations. Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Lead HR due diligence and integration planning for mergers, acquisitions, and organizational growth initiatives. Evaluate workforce risks, compensation and benefits alignment, union implications, compliance exposure, and retention strategies. Drive integration of HR policies, culture, systems, and talent while maintaining business continuity and employee trust. Labor Relations & Union Negotiations Lead union strategy, labor relations, and negotiations, including preparation, bargaining, grievance management, and contract administration for approximately 100 employees. Maintain productive relationships with union representatives while protecting business continuity and operational flexibility. Provide guidance and coaching to leaders on union-related issues, discipline, and compliance with collective bargaining agreements. Team Leadership & Department Management Lead and develop a high-performing HR organization with functional responsibility for: Safety Recruiting Payroll Benefits HRIS Onboarding Performance Management Employee Relations Establish clear expectations, accountability, and development pathways for HR team members. Manage departmental budget, vendor performance, and service-level expectations. CANDIDATE PROFILE The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of executive leadership, strategic decision-making, and operational excellence within complex, growth-oriented organizations. Key qualifications include: Executive-level HR leadership experience in a multi-location, multi-state organization. Demonstrated success in building credibility with frontline employees and leaders at all levels. Strong working knowledge of employment law, wage and hour compliance, payroll practices, and workplace safety standards. Proven experience negotiating and managing vendor contracts, including HRIS, benefits providers, and retirement plan partners. Strong leadership training and development experience for supervisors and managers (compliance and soft skills). Robust M&A experience, including HR due diligence, integration, and organizational change management. High degree of integrity, discretion, loyalty, and sound judgment. Excellent communication, relationship-building, and conflict resolution skills. Preferred SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or similar credentials. Labor relations experience, including union contract negotiation and administration. Experience in distributed operations such as manufacturing, construction, industrial services, transportation, equipment, logistics, or other field-based environments. Demonstrated success scaling HR operations in a high-growth or acquisition-driven environment. Interested in Learning More? 180one is an executive search firm and is assisting Papé Group in this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley / 503-334-1350 /  tom@180one.com  .
By Effie Zimmerman February 17, 2026
Sales Leader ABOUT THE COMPANY Organically Grown Company (“OGC” or the “Company”) is a leading organic produce distributor in the Pacific Northwest, committed to connecting growers, retailers, and consumers through a transparent, sustainable supply chain. As a mission-driven organization, OGC has built its reputation on deep grower partnerships, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to organic integrity. The Sales Leader will play a critical role in driving revenue growth, strengthening customer relationships, and leading a high-performing sales organization aligned with OGC’s values, strategic priorities, and long-term vision. ABOUT THE POSITION Reporting to the VP of Sales & Sourcing, this Sales Leader is responsible for and focused on ensuring the highest service levels for our customers. They are focused on leadership of the sales team, ensuring development, performance, morale, and retention. They provide primary leadership over product, pricing, actionable analytics, and promotions as main strategies to manage inventory and drive sales and profit. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Leading & Supervisory: Promote the development of flexible, adaptive, and innovative processes for use in new business growth by supporting and enabling an effective and efficient team approach. Provide leadership of the day-to-day operations of the sales department, while maintaining focus on the Company’s strategic goals. Promote safety, development, training, and evaluation of all sales team members. Collaborate organization-wide to support or lead projects and initiatives, facilitate process change, manage organizational change, and ensure success. Ensure proactive and effective collaboration and communication with all other departments for greater efficiency in support of service goals. Ensure proper levels of people growth and succession planning are in place and actively updated and refreshed. Foster a culture of belonging where people feel engaged and inspired. Support OGC sustainability goals and actively work to reduce environmental impact. Nurture, support, and promote the Company Mission, Values & Vision, and Brand. Exemplify OGC values: Cultivate Connection, Win on Service, Build Trust, and Move with Intention. Sales & Service: Develop and implement sales strategies, using analytics to set sales targets and provide guidance on associated sales actions, and forecast sales volume for both existing and new products. Develop and maintain a historical perspective on the marketplace to analyze and predict future trends and needs. Maintain familiarity with competitors’ products and services. Recommend changes in products, services, and sales policies by evaluating results and competitive developments. Stay current with new products and services offered by competitors, and with other trends in the organic produce industry. Develop and implement account management objectives, including key service metrics. Manage the negotiation of products with customers based on margin goals, which may include providing volume discounts or other agreements. Partner with the business development team to create onboarding plans for new business/new partnerships and grow existing accounts. Develop and sustain a sales culture of service & customer value creation. Develop and coordinate programs and processes for industry-leading customer service and sales to increase customer satisfaction, as measured with a trade survey annually. Work closely with Sourcing leadership to align demand planning and inventory strategies with sales growth. Responsible for developing and maintaining customer, grower, and vendor relationships. Travel as needed to meet with customers, attend and host at industry events, and nurture relationships. Analyze lead quality and sales trends to continually refine outreach strategies. Planning and Budgeting: Own budgeting, forecasting, and sales planning for the team. Manage the operational budget through a collaborative approach. Measure sales activities by developing key sales metrics, and ensure that these metrics are analyzed, reported on a regular basis, and adjusted accordingly to achieve OGC sales goals and objectives. Set departmental objectives and goals to align with OGC’s strategic plan, annual goals, and company initiatives. Provide strategic leadership for the future direction of the OGC Sales team in support of the OGC strategic plan and growth initiatives. QUALIFICATIONS 10+ years of progressive & successful sales experience, with at least 5+ years managing and coaching sales teams to meet and exceed sales goals. Preference for a deep understanding of the produce industry, including supply chain logistics, product characteristics, and quality control. Strategic planning and pricing experience. Strong knowledge of the channels of distribution of perishable products or related industries. Exceptional presentation, written and oral communication skills. Experience in fiscal management, including P&L’s, budgets, projections, cost control skills, and a proven track record of revenue generation and strong customer relationships. Excellent management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects concurrently. Interested in Learning More? 180one has been retained by OGC to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Lisa Heffernan / 971.256.3076/ lisa@180one.com .
By Effie Zimmerman February 11, 2026
Each year, 180one presents our Year in Review, sharing our insights into the overall executive talent market and recapping the work we performed on behalf of our clients throughout the year. To explore what we saw in years’ past, check out the Year in Review section of The Water Cooler.
More Posts