[anamax]

> Why can't rank-and-file employees negotiate some type of agreement where they get paid to stay?

It's called salary and other compensation.

> It doesn't make any sense that companies put a "value" on retention, but don't put a $$$ value on it.

You're missing the point. Once someone has accepted an offer from somewhere else, they're very likely to leave soon even if they accept a counter-offer. As a result, money spent on them is wasted.

Effective retention spending happens before people decide to leave.

[wisty]

I don't think that's they point they are missing. They know that an employees who shops is "damaged goods", but they don't know why employers don't give pre-emptive raises to everyone, and avoid the confrontations altogether.

The point they are missing is, that companies know they can skimp on 'retention bonuses', because only a few employees will shop for a better offer.

Would you rather hire a hard-working, but downtrodden slave; or a hired gun who's only staying because you are paying them what you are worth? Exactly.

The only solution is for enough employees to churn their way to decent positions, so companies are forced to assume that an underplayed employee will quit.