Negotiating a Job Offer When Pay Is Unnegotiable

In the world of offer negotiations, there’s a glaring disparity between what employers are willing to give and what candidates ask for. According to research from CareerBuilder, 73% of employers said they were open to negotiating salary, but less than half of workers reported countering their job offer at all.

Employers expect you to negotiate, so you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable coming back with a counteroffer. One survey found that 85% of Americans who countered their initial offer received at least some of what they requested.

But let’s say you already asked for a higher salary, and your employer made it clear that the pay is non-negotiable, what should you do now?”

Remember, you can still negotiate for a better benefits package, which could not only save you money, it could also lead to a more fulfilling and enjoyable work life.

Benefits vs. Pay — What’s More Valuable

According to a 2022 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, benefits for civilian employees account for an average of 31% of employer costs. This means your benefits package takes up nearly a third of what it costs to hire you, and there are a lot of potential savings and valuable perks hidden within your benefits package.

The question is — what’s most valuable to you?

To help get you started answering that question, here’s a list of things you can counter with plus tips on how to begin your negotiation.

What You Can Ask for Instead…

PTO — If it’s more PTO you want, one of the first things you need to discuss with your employer is how your company divides their paid leave. Are they offering you a combined amount of PTO that includes all vacation days, sick days, and holidays? Or are those kept separate?

On average, full-time workers in the US receive the following:

• 11 paid vacation days
• 8 paid sick days
• 7.6 paid holidays

This comes to a combined amount of about 26-27 paid days off. If your employer is offering you less than this, you should absolutely be asking for more. If they are lowballing you in any of the individual categories listed above, you should decide what PTO you’re going to need more of and ask for a higher amount of those days specifically.

For instance, if you’re a parent, your likelihood of coming down with a cold is 28% higher than people without kids, so in that case, you might want to ask for a few extra sick days.

Flexible Work Options — Is your commute too far? Are you dreading the amount of time you’ll spend in traffic or the money you’ll spend on gas? Maybe you just find that working remotely allows you to have a better work-life balance.

Whatever your reasons, flexible work schedules are becoming increasingly more popular, and working remotely at least part-time can be a real game changer. Some experts estimate that working from home can save employees anywhere from $600 to $6,000 annually.

Health + Wellness Benefits — It’s no secret that healthcare costs are increasing, so this is part of your benefits package that could really make a difference for you economically.

Perhaps your employer isn’t willing to pay more of your premiums, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help you get access to important health and wellness treatments. Try asking them to pay for certain mental health resources that may not be covered by insurance. Alternatively, maybe request that they reimburse you for wellness treatments, gym memberships, etc.

If your mental health is something you consider top of your list, you might also want to negotiate for different workspace accommodations. Research shows that those who work in an office without windows are less happy, less healthy, and more stressed than those who have access to regular natural light.

Tips on How to Start Your Negotiation

As you start putting together your counter-offer and getting ready to negotiate, here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Know the Market — Hopefully the information we provided in this article gives you a jump start on your research, but before negotiating, make sure you know what other people in similar positions are being offered.
2. Defend your Requests — Have concrete examples of why you think you deserve these offerings, and how receiving them will help you be a better employee in the long run.
3. No Ultimatums — Make your requests using strong language and compelling arguments, but do not suggest that it’s your way or the highway. Employers rarely respond well to that sort of thing.