Beyond Pay: 32 Benefits to Negotiate for as an Employee

Your salary is only one piece of your total compensation package that’s offered to you. A total compensation package consists of the base salary and benefits. We forget that we can negotiate for better benefits!

While employers may not have flexibility when it comes to retirement and healthcare plans, they may have flexibility with other benefits. The most important question to answer is – what benefits are most important to you? Don’t ask for something that doesn’t have value to you.

I’ve outlined 32 employee benefits (alphabetized) to consider when making your counter offer in your next negotiation.

1. Accidental death insurance.

This is especially important for dangerous jobs.

2. A bonus.

You can request this as a sign-on bonus or if you’re an existing employee, negotiate it a performance bonus as a reward for strong performance. This helps when the budget doesn’t necessarily allow for an overall increase and when there are multiple people to “sell” this request to.

3. Business travel insurance.

If you travel a lot for the job, it’s wise to have this extra coverage.

4. Dental insurance.

Dental insurance is not included in most medical plans. However, it is often costs less if you enroll through your employer.

5. Dependent care.

Some employers offer a plan for employees to deduct pre-tax income for care of dependents. Others subsidize childcare (or even offer it on-site).

6. Disability insurance.

There are actually two kinds of disability insurance: short term (up to six months) and long term (beyond six months). You should really take advantage of this insurance. Sometimes, short-term disability insurance is how employers offer paid parental leave.

7. Employee-assistance programs.

Some employers offer free or low-cost counseling for employees dealing with situations such as substance abuse or family problems.

8. Flexibility in hours and in-office time.

Many organizations are open to employees setting their own schedules and having flexibility in on-site time in the office. This is usually highly dependent on the type of work and office culture. (See Remote Work below).

9. Health and wellness benefits.

Some organizations get a group discount to health clubs and country clubs for their employees.

You may also request access to better health insurance coverage if the one they are offering doesn’t fit your needs.

10. Home office equipment.

If you arrange to work at home for part of your position, you can negotiate for the company to purchase certain equipment or pay for a specific service.

11. Life insurance.

Life insurance is something we don’t like to think about, but many organizations provide basic term coverage, which you can supplement to provide more protection for your family.

12. Network/Clients.

Getting introduced to a higher-profile network and clients (especially if you’re in sales) can be really helpful. You can inquire about ways in which you can be introduced or exposed to these people.

13. Overtime, travel premiums, and comp time.

Many organizations offer some compensation for employees who work past normal hours—whether at the office or while traveling on business.

14. Paid holidays.

Most organizations are closed for business on certain holidays and pay their employees for the day off (such as Thanksgiving, New Year’s, or Labor Day).

15. Parking and commuting reimbursement.

Not many companies offer these perks, but some companies do provide benefits related to commuting.

16. Pension plans.

Employers contribute to plans that accumulate over time but may also require you to be employed for several years to be fully vested.

17. Professional development.

To improve in your field, you may want to attend specific conferences, trainings, continuing education courses, or even coaching services.

Here’s a script to ask your manager to use your professional development funds for coaching.

18. Profit sharing.

If you are working for a growing organization, profit-sharing programs can offer you great year-end bonuses based on the success of the organization or your division.

19. Promotion/visibility opportunities.

Some organizations have internal and external newsletters, Slack, Facebook pages, podcasts, etc. This could be a way to get the word out about your work and position yourself as an expert in your field.

20. Retirement plans.

Employers sometimes offer a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement account for full-time employees. Often, the employer will match part of your contribution. You can negotiate a higher employer match for your retirement savings plans.

If you work part-time and they don’t offer participation in the retirement plan, ask to see what’s possible.

21. Remote/hybrid work.

If you value being (or staying) virtual, request to work virtually or hybridly. Be sure to include specifics – how often, what your core hours will be, when you’ll be available “in office,” etc. in your request.

22. Sabbatical.

An extended vacation – a time to recharge your batteries. Some organizations already offer this as a benefit once you’ve stayed for a certain period of time.

23. Salary progression.

What kind of increases can be expected in the first three to five years? What is the average range of raises? Are there performance-based raises and bonuses?

24. Severance pay and outplacement services.

This is something you can negotiate when you join a company or when you negotiate for increases. This is an especially important benefit if you are working somewhere that is risky, like a start-up.

25. Sick or personal days.

Most organizations give employees a certain number of paid sick or personal days per year. Sometimes they’re lumped in with vacation time as “paid time off.”

26. Stock options or employee stock-ownership plans.

These plans allow employees to purchase company stock options at below-market prices. This is a way for a company to increase your pay without having to increase payroll expenses.

27. Stretch assignments / Career Advancement.

If you want to take your role to the next level (or you’re bored at work), you can ask for assignments that will help you grow, learn something new, give you access to higher-profile teams and resources.

Make sure these assignments really give you what you’re looking for, because you could end up doing more work for no benefit and feeling resentful.

28. Job Title.

Suggest a change to align your job title with your current responsibilities and your long-term career goals.

29. Travel assignments.

If jet-setting appeals to you, you can negotiate to have a specific number of travel opportunities to fulfill your work duties.

30. Tuition reimbursement.

Organizations that want to encourage their employees to gain further education and training offer partial or complete tuition reimbursement.

31. Vacation days / Paid Time Off / Parental Leave

Most organizations have a system based on level in the organization and tenure. Entry-level workers often start with a week or two of paid vacation. Negotiate for additional vacation days, extended sick leave, and/or parental leave.

With additional leave, if getting paid for this leave is not possible and you still need the time off, negotiate for unpaid leave.

32. Vision insurance.

Eye exams, glasses or contact lenses, and other eye-related issues are not covered by most medical plans, so some employers offer a separate plan.