Add a little extra to your next employment package with bonus benefits
Have you ever received a job offer for a job you really liked the look of, but knew, deep down, that the salary wasn’t going to cut it?
If that’s the case, instead of giving up, consider whether there’s something else that could make the offer more attractive. While many for-purpose organisations can’t match the annual salary of bigger organisations, they can offer some extra benefits which create the right overall package.
The key is negotiating your perks in a way that makes sense for you and for your potential employer.
What sort of things can be additional perks?
There are lots of ways of adding benefits to your overall job package. Some are obvious, like working from home options, while others are a bit more creative. Here are some of the things you might consider.
Flexible working, which can include:
Flexible start/finish times
Nine-day fortnights or four-day weeks
Working from home either full-time or in a hybrid arrangement
Asynchronous work - looking at output and delivery rather than simply time logged and allowing employees to work whenever it suits them as long as they can meet deadlines/outputs
Extra leave which can include:
A day off on the person’s birthday (or the closest weekday when it’s a weekend)
Additional annual leave
Sabbaticals for long-term staff members
Shut down periods or paid leave at times like between Christmas and New Year
Extended parental leave
Time off that can be used for volunteering
37.5 hour week vs 40 hour week (it seems small, but that extra 30 mins a day might make life a whole lot easier!)
Health and well-being benefits which can include:
Mental health days (duvet days)
Professional development or personal learning opportunities
Contributions towards healthcare, such as eye exams or glasses
Wellbeing packages (gym memberships, health insurance, therapists and more)
Other perks which can include:
Company cars either for work use only or for all use
In-office facilities such as a great coffee machine or free fruit
Discount on products or services either from the employing organisation or from other companies
3 steps to negotiating additional benefits
Before we get into how to negotiate your extra benefits, it’s always worth trying to negotiate salary first - after all, a higher salary is the thing that gives you the most flexibility and benefit. If there’s no movement on pay, then consider your secondary benefits.
#1 Get set on the best benefits. Before you start negotiating, think about which benefits would be most helpful to you and weigh them according to your preferences. That way, you know what you want to ask for before you go in.
#2 Know your value. The second thing you should do before starting negotiations is to know your own value. It’s important that you can clearly articulate to the organisation what you will bring and the value you will add - why you are worth the extra attention. For example, if you are asking for flexible hours or hybrid working, be prepared to show how you will achieve the required output in the reduced time or when you are working from home. You might also want to do some research on the market rate for this role. The salary guide on careers.govt.nz gives you a good range for different types of jobs, or you could use a website like Payscale for a more in-depth report.
#3 Be willing to compromise. When we chatted with recruitment experts Kirsty and Nikki from McLaren Associates about the power of perks, both they and Do Good Jobs founder Julia emphasised the importance of looking for a win-win situation. You want to get the benefits you are aiming for, but you also want to ensure your potential employer is comfortable. That way, there is no resentment from either side down the line. You may need to be creative to create a situation that works for you and your potential employer.
Of course, not all negotiations go the way you hope, so you should also have a Plan B and decide in advance what you will do if the employer can’t meet your requests. At that point, you will need to decide whether you are still happy to go ahead or want to walk away.
We hope you’ve been inspired to think outside the box when it comes to your next job negotiation. If you are looking for a new role, don’t forget to check out our jobs page, where we have plenty of do good jobs waiting for the right candidate. And some of them come with excellent perks!
