You’ve been waiting for that raise you’ve been working days and nights for. And when the day finally does come in, your salary hasn’t even moved an inch (just like your weight).
You know there is no way you’re getting a hike in your pay now. But you deserve more than you’ve been getting, and you know that. And you’d definitely like to have a word with that boss of yours in the next review meeting.
But hold on, think over what else can you ask for, apart from the cash. Turns out, there’s lots more:
Don’t overlook commute perks
According to a 2015 research by global workplace provider Regus, an average Indian spends around five to six per cent of their net take-home income on their annual commute. But chances are your prospective employer may be willing to help alleviate some of that outlay.
- If you drive to work, consider asking for mileage, tolls, gas, or parking reimbursement.
- If you travel by public transport, ask if they provide bus or local train passes.
- If your role requires a lot of travel, you can also inquire about a company car.
- In case they do not provide the above, check if they reimburse your expenses.
Calculate the amount of money you’re spending going back and forth from work. Is it quite big a chunk monthly? Then do something about it. A lot of prospective employees don’t take up on new jobs if they’re not being offered commute perks.
Why travel so much for a job that isn’t even paying you for that bit of your time, right? Or, negotiate for a work-at-home situation, that way you save money and time as well.
Use these apps to track your money
The ability to work remotely
Working remotely a few days a week—or even just one—can do wonders for your work-life balance: You don’t have to commute; you can wear whatever you want (unless you’ve got video conferences scheduled with clients or something like that); you’ve got a little more freedom with how you spend your breaks; and on, and on.
If you think your manager won’t be convinced, we’ve got two words: more productivity. That’s actually one of the proven benefits for employers who offer remote work benefits:
According to one landmark study from researchers out of Stanford University, employees working remotely displayed a boost in productivity so high they basically got another full day’s work done in the same amount of time as their in-office counterparts.
A flexible schedule
Having a flexible schedule can mean a lot of things, particularly for exempt employees:
- It could mean that you work, say, 7 AM to 4 PM instead of 8 AM to 5 PM.
- You could also work for some core hours — from 10 AM to 4 PM when you are constantly available and working on team projects — with the rest of your hours moving around depending on other needs or requirements (you can schedule your personal during this time).
- You could also work a compressed week. Think four days of 10 hours each instead of five days of eight hours each; or it could mean that you can come and go as you please, as long as your work gets done, gets done well, and gets done on time.
What each case has in common, though, is that it allows the employee a bit more control over their work schedules than employees traditionally have had — which can make running your work life and personal life in tandem a lot easier.
If the employer you’re negotiating with has set office hours or requires coverage at specific times, or if your industry, in general, isn’t known for its adaptability, flexible scheduling may not be on the table for you; you’ll have to know both the employer’s norms and your industry norms in order to negotiate for it.
But if the job is such that flexibility can be arranged, it’s worth bringing up.
Health and wellness benefits
If the gym isn’t your jam, then this option might be less attractive to you — but if working up a sweat helps you blow off steam, then you might want to see if wellness-based benefits might be on the table.
Gym memberships and reimbursements for classes like yoga and taekwondo are among the thing that can be negotiated for in a job offer. And besides, who wouldn’t mind an all-paid-for gym membership or those expensive pilates classes you’ve been thinking of!
The work-life balance perks here are related to the effects physical activity has on our wellbeing: Studies have shown that there’s a correlation between being physically activity and having lesser risk of developing depression or anxiety.
What’s more, you can reap these benefits with just 20 minutes of exercise a day. A work perk that literally makes you happier and healthier? Heck yes.
Professional development courses
This perk benefits you and the company for both the short and long term. Plus, this request signals to a hiring manager that you’re conscientious about doing well and growing professionally.
Don’t make this request by proffering your conference itinerary with your résumé – instead, ask a polite question about opportunities the company provides for advancement, obtaining certifications and additional development training.
Remember that the occasional class fee is different from tuition reimbursement; the latter you probably can’t negotiate.
Many employers provide tuition reimbursement now, and those that do are receiving a tax credit for doing so. But you won’t be able to get a company to reimburse you for education that isn’t related to your career, and you won’t be able to convince a company that doesn’t provide tuition reimbursement to offer it to you.
Take a look at your past jobs and see what you liked and didn’t like and use that as a starting point for deciding what you want in your future job.
