5 Perks to Negotiate When a Raise Isn't an Option

Let's face it, you may be the best employee in the world and deserve the biggest pay increase possible, but sometimes for company, political (like so and so isn't advancing so no one else is), and a whole host of other non-performance-related reasons, your boss may not be able to give you a raise. Assuming you decide you want to stay at your company and not jump ship to someone who will pay you what you're worth, you can ask for perks over a pay raise. To this end, US News lists five perks to negotiate when a raise isn't an option as follows:

1. Working from home some days.
2. Classes or training.
3. Attendance at conferences.
4. More vacation days.
5. A higher-ranked title.

I like all of these (especially #1 and #4). To them I would add:

• Flexible work schedule. For instance, you may want to come in at 6 am and leave at 3 pm. Or perhaps you'd be willing to work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days.


• Perks that others have but you don't have access to. Some I've seen in my career: employer-paid life insurance, club memberships, stock options, stock bonuses, company paid car, and employment contract (guaranteeing you X months of pay if they fire you).


• Better office. I was never one to want a huge office, but I've had ones as big as my living room (including its own conference area). Then again, I've had a cubical office too (in a company where the CEO had a cube as well.) But if you're the sort who likes this, why not ask for it?


• Travel perks. If you travel a lot, you know what a difference flight upgrades, membership in an airport club, upgraded cars, and better choice of hotels can make. In one company and "upgraded" travel perk was that you were able to get a hotel room by yourself. Ugh, I hated rooming with people from work.


• Plum assignments. Perhaps there's a project you really want to be involved in. Maybe in lieu of a raise you can get put on that task!

I'm sure many of you reading this have some ideas of what else could be requested (perhaps you've even gotten these perks yourselves). If so, please share your thoughts with the rest of us.

Comments

[William @ Drop Dead Money]

This is an excellent post! It highlights the fact that there ALWAYS room for reward in any organization.

A few additions:

Membership in industry trade groups

Reimbursement of a few extra restaurant meals

Your own subscription to trade magazines/papers

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I personally would like #4 best but if you already aren't using your vacation days every year asking for more is worthless. My other suggestion would be to ask for tuition assistance if you want to go get a degree or advanced degree.

[Matt]

I would be happy getting back what we lost before 2008 in perks.

They cut these out totally and we do not see them comming back anytime soon.

[Nick]

I agree, but wouldn't "poo poo" #5. It might not help you at this gig but could help you in the marketplace if you move.

[Old Limey]

Obviously things have changed for the worse since I worked in the aerospace industry from 1960 - 1992.
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Flexible hours were available to all salaried workers.

The company paid the total cost of obtaining an advanced degree part time as long as you made up the time.

An extra week of vacation was obtained every 5 years up to a maximum of 5 weeks/year.

There were many in-house training programs that you could sign up for and take on company time.

There was a non-contributary pension plan in addition to a 401K plan with a company match.

Health benefits were non-contributary and continued on after 30 years of service.

[MC]

Are you kidding? HR and admin has everything "locked down" these days where I work--no more "privately awarded" or "discretionary" perks, every reward has to be justified elaborately, pegged to a peer group etc etc.

They're afraid of being sued for discrimination and/or mismanagement of funds. The only thing that would fly is if every single person in a particular job category got the same new perk--and that's not going to happen because its too costly.

[Ornella @ Moneylicious]

And if that doesn't work, you may have to consider other options. Negotiation is great, but wouldn't it be interesting if there was a post about what to do when your employer will not budge. Should the employee look for another job? Or are there other alternatives.

[MB]

This will work well in theory or in some B-school classrooms.

In my experience #5 is the most realistic and has the biggest long term impact.

I know one of my colleagues didn't get a raise but stayed put, offered to help her boss into some tough projects, handled lot of managerial responsibilities (even typing reports!).

Result :

She got promoted a year later and it automatically bumped her salary even higher than what it would have been with that raise

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I could see where these tips would work in a private industry. However, often you are given the perk, but then you can't use it such as more vacation time, but they dump so much work on you because others are getting laid off that you can't take advantage of it. I used to work at a university, and every perk was across the board for everyone.

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I think flexible work hours would be a great benefit to be given if a raise was out of the question. Being able to work from home some days, or working longer hours for Fridays off is an awesome benefit that would allow you to work just as hard, but possible make your life a little easier and better.