Smart Lemming Diary: An Offer Declined, We Counter
August 17, 2005
Ever have an uneasy feeling as if things won’t go the way you want them to? That was the feeling I was having over the weekend and this morning. Jonathan finally contacted Tom during lunch to inform us that for family reasons, he couldn’t accept the offer. Jonathan wasn’t willing to move away from his family at this time. Tom tried to get at the real reason for declining the job, such as: (1) The salary base isn’t high enough, (2) present company countered with a better offer, etc. None of these reasons seemed to be the case for the decline.
It was too Good to be True?
Right after the call, Tom came into my office, telling me about Jonathan. After the details, he finally says, “I knew this was too good to be true, to get three former coworkers who have worked together, in my product space, and get up and running ASAP. At least we’ll most likely get Jamie.” I had to sit and think for a minute, and then finally I said to him, “I thought his family would be a key driver to keeping him in his hometown.”
“Is there anything we can do to counter, like working remotely for a time?” Tom asks. “We could. I know Jonathan’s worried about money for the move. He’s young and wouldn’t have much of a savings to pull off a big transition like this.” I said. “Working remotely would get him to reconsider. We could have him work one day a week here. I used to drive and stay over one night a week at headquarters, when Jonathan and I worked together.” “Okay, call him and see what he says.” Tom was cut off, as my cell phone rang; it was Jonathan.
Call with Jonathan
“I’m so sorry!” as Jonathan went on to tell me why he couldn’t take the job. I was calm, because I knew his pain points. I knew how to alleviate them. I listened and then paused, finally saying, “Well, don’t feel bad yet, we have a possible solution for you to consider. How about working remotely? We’d try to retain most of the compensation package, but the cost of living may have to be adjusted down until you moved here.” I said, hoping to hear any sound effects that would tell me I was on the right track. “What! Wow! I can’t believe you’d do that. I’m so glad you understand why I can’t move right away, but I don’t want to miss this career opportunity. I keep trying to see where I’d be in 12 months, if I took the job since Tom sells the company.” He says with animation. “Well, I do know that Tom’s not ready to retire. He wants to take his employees with him to his new venture, if he sells his company. This is what he said to Jamie too. Believe me, his employees will follow him.”
Developing the New Offer with HR Consultant
Thank goodness for the HR consultant. We met with Tom to discuss options and he was able to convince Tom of the following:
- Salary: Lower salary base, but adjust up when he moves to our city
- Hiring Bonus: prorated, if he leaves within a year
- Relocation: An amount for his move
- Performance review: 6 months to 5% increase in salary base
- Start Date: September 12, 2005
- Workplace: 2 days in our city (Tuesday & Wednesday or Wednesday & Thursday)
- Travel: $0.38 per mile on round trip (the federal rate)
- Hotel: We reimburse for 1 year
- Phone and DSL: Reimburse 100%
- Title: Same, Marketing Manager
The only action item remaining was for me to call Jonathan, so I could schedule time with Jonathan to meet with the HR consultant to discuss the new compensation package. We scheduled a time for 6:00pm.
Practice Saying “Yes”
Our HR guy is “Mr. Friendly,” he disarms you through humor, making you feel wanted and appreciated. I had given Jonathan a heads up that the salary base may have to be adjusted, since there wasn’t a cost of living issue anymore, but that we’d try to make the package attractive. Fortunately, Jonathan understood, it didn’t seem to be a huge issue. The HR consultant buttered up Jonathan, getting him comfortable, and then started down the list of changes from the new offer from the first offer.
The HR consultant tells Jonathan with enthusiasm, “Now, before think ‘oh, the salary is lower,’ I want you to know that we’re going to give you a hiring bonus of that would bring you up to X compensation, but then when you move, you get the salary increase right away. We’ll also pay for your driving expenses and hotel, so you can be here two days week.” He added. “Really, you’ll pay for those two things. Wow.” I could feel things change back to what I wanted. I knew it was only a matter of time. “Practice saying ‘Yes’ Jonathan” the HR consultant says at least three times during the call. Jonathan say with enthusiasm, “Well, you have a tentative ‘Yes’.”
Got him! Barring volcanoes or any other acts of nature, I don’t foresee Jonathan declining this offer. The action items are for our Controller, who sends out the offer letters, to email an updated offer to Jonathan tomorrow. Jonathan has until Friday late afternoon to call me to accept or decline.
The Smart Lemming Diary is a series that chronicles a journey of laid-off worker, who becomes a Vice President of Sales Operations & Marketing for a small entrepreneurial healthcare technology company.
