A Malaysian worker’s decision to stay with his company after receiving a counteroffer has sparked discussion online, especially after things took an unexpected turn just six months later.
According to a story shared on Threads, the worker, identified only as “Farid”, had been earning RM3,400 after working at the same company for five years.
He eventually received an offer from another company paying RM5,000 a month.
Boss convinced him to stay
Two weeks before Farid was set to resign, his boss reportedly called him into the office and asked him not to leave.
The boss allegedly told him that the company valued him and offered to increase his salary from RM3,400 to RM3,900, along with the promise of a promotion the following year.
Farid ultimately decided to stay and rejected the RM5,000 offer, believing that his employer had finally recognised his value.
However, six months later, Farid was reportedly let go during a company restructuring exercise.
The Threads user used the story to warn employees about accepting counteroffers purely because their employers suddenly promise better pay or career opportunities after receiving a resignation letter.
He argued that asking for a raise may not always give an employee enough bargaining power, but having another job offer and being prepared to leave often does.
Netizens say employees should think twice about counteroffers
The post quickly gained attention, with several Malaysians sharing their own experiences with resignations and counteroffers.
One commenter said employees should remember that companies are ultimately businesses and advised workers to focus on doing their jobs, earning their salaries and spending time with their families rather than becoming too emotionally attached to their workplace.
Another person shared that they had resigned three times throughout their career. While they accepted a counteroffer once, they later decided against doing so when resigning again.
Others questioned why employers sometimes only offer significant salary increases after an employee decides to leave.
“Why is it only when someone wants to resign that the boss increases their salary?” one commenter asked.
Another advised workers to base career decisions on salary, benefits and promises that are clearly stated in writing instead of verbal assurances.
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