How to Negotiate Benefits With an Employer

Negotiating a benefits package with an employer could lead to you receiving four weeks' paid vacation, instead of three. Or you might be given the freedom to work from home, or work flexible hours. Although benefits can be discussed at any time, negotiating when you're about to accept a job is ideal. Successful negotiating may also be possible when you're being recruited by another firm, and your employer wants you to stay. Or you may elect to negotiate benefits in a year, when raises are not available from your firm because of the economy.

Instructions

• 1

  Conduct research. Network with contacts in your industry to learn how flexible other companies are when asked to negotiate benefits. For example, you may discover that it's common for similar companies to agree to more than the standard vacation time when recruiting a new employee. Or you may learn that high performers in key positions are often able to negotiate telecommuting privileges after they've been with a firm for more than a year.

• 2

  Ask questions about the company's benefits program if you're a prospective new employee. Direct specific questions to the hiring manager. Compare the benefits to your current package, as you make a list of negotiating points. Contact the benefits department or human resources, including online contact, if you're already an employee. Get the latest information on company benefits.

• 3

  Make a list of negotiating points that are most important to you. As a new employee, focus on key areas such as hiring bonuses and vacation time. Also consider relocation costs, including temporary housing in a hotel or apartment, if you expect to be separated from your family for an extended period. As a current employee, you could focus on performance bonuses, if your company grants them, along with life management issues such as flex time, vacations and telecommuting opportunities.

• 4

  Prioritize your negotiating points in order of importance to you. Determine the one or two negotiating points you'd really like to win.

• 5

  Discuss your negotiating points with the hiring manager before you're hired, if you're a potential new employee, or during your annual review, if you're a current employee. Or discuss them when you're being recruited by another firm, and you're seriously considering taking the position. Be sure to build a case supporting your requests. As a new employee, you may suggest that you'd like more vacation time because the salary offer is lower than you expected. Or as a current employee, you may point out that other employees with similar experience and performance reviews have been allowed to work from home, and that you'd like the same benefit.

• 6

  Get a commitment on the new benefits in writing, if you're a new employee. Current employees should receive formal commitments on some points, such as extra vacation time being officially confirmed by human resources. An offer from your boss to work from home on occasion may not require such formality.