Negotiating benefits/perks with HR after interview and offer

CBear1993

Hi all, I have a job offer at the moment.

I am happy with the salary. It is the perks and benefits I am wondering what is best to try squeeze in or I should be asking for.

I work in construction, so construction is fairly crap for benefits when compared with other sectors. This time though I am considering moving away from the contractor side to consultancy. They would be the biggest in Dublin of consultancies or top 2/3.. I am HOPING the hours stated (8-5/9-6) will be all that is required, usually unlikely in construction.

I’m also self employed in my current role(contracted in so it’s great for tax, will be hard to go back to PAYE , didn’t even think it was worth mentioning to them as they’re a company with offices around the world, probably 500+ staff.

Anyway - I asked the benefits today of the HR manager.

- 21 days leave, no mention of in lieu/buying holidays. I’d imagine if you need additional you’ll have to request as unpaid.

-Pension contributions, If you pay 4%, they pay 5%... and so on
-10% contribution towards laya or vhi (I am in late 20s so touch wood not a dealbreaker)
- No mention of travel expenses. Although I will be working remotely until Xmas at least and then only a 20-25 min drive away each way. I will pass through tolls on M50. And on days I have to go to head office in city which could be a lot for the first while, then 1-2 a week, I’ll be using luas/bus/train. Should I be asking for tolls / mileage?

[\B] Nothing else really, no EAP (nice to have for you or family members).
Will get a laptop and phone . Although I don’t want the phone as I’ll just use my current number, I hate the second phone craic with work .

In my current job I’ve been using a standing desk for the last year and it’s been life changing, I have one at home also.. But I don’t want to come across as an absolute c#nt asking for something like that in office, which will prob make me stand out like a sore thumb, couldn’t see them doing it, even though they’d Be relatively low cost to a firm the size of them. Was thinking if I don’t ask I won’t get, and now is the time to...

My notice period is 4 weeks which brings me up to end of august / start September commencing with them. However my partner and I have a holiday booked for 10 days already on September 10th which will eat into my holiday allowance right away . Is this worth mentioning at all or do I just have to take that, no chance of them waiving it or if I defer starting to after 20th sept could this put employment in jeopardy? [\B]

Tzardine

Thats a lot of individual things to ask for - you may be viewed as high maintenance before you are even in the door.

I would pick one, at most two things, and go from there, but dont expect much movement. Its a employers market at the moment - they may just find someone else.

CBear1993

Tzardine wrote: »

Thats a lot of individual things to ask for - you may be viewed as high maintenance before you are even in the door.

I would pick one, at most two things, and go from there, but dont expect much movement. Its a employers market at the moment - they may just find someone else.

No that’s the benefits they’re offering!

My two questions were at the bottom.

I was happy with the salary they offered so never said anything about it at all.

In terms of travel expenses, I don't know about construction but in any line of business I've been in, travel expenses are only for out-of-course travel, such as travelling for conferences or to meet clients at their sites. I'd be very surprised if they'd be paying travel expenses for you to go into the city to head office.

CBear1993

true-or-false wrote: »

In terms of travel expenses, I don't know about construction but in any line of business I've been in, travel expenses are only for out-of-course travel, such as travelling for conferences or to meet clients at their sites. I'd be very surprised if they'd be paying travel expenses for you to go into the city to head office.

Yeah that’s fair.

Just to be clear im not asking for any of the above, I’m just asking people’s thoughts on it.

limericklad87

Travel expenses for commuting.... unlikely

The desk..... I would wait until you are in there a while and then suggest it as a continuous improvement/ innovation idea

The holiday..... I would let them know Asap that you are unavailable in the first few weeks before they schedule any induction, mentoring etc

Wanderer19

I'd mention the desk, stating the benefits, but as more of a curiosity than a request.
Most companies allow pre-booked holidays, if they know about them, but you may have to take them at your own expense.
Congratulations on the new job

Augme

Mention the holidays and ask if you can delay the official start date. Most places will be happy to oblige once they are given enough notice. Don't mention the desk now, there is no need.

CBear1993

CBear1993 wrote: »

..... unlikely in construction.

I’m also self employed in my current role(contracted in so it’s great for tax, will be hard to go back to PAYE .......]

What are the tax advantages if you aren't inventing expenses?

CBear1993

Augeo wrote: »

What are the tax advantages if you aren't inventing expenses?

Sorry? I just mean you get more on your bottom line weekly than you would PAYE, didn’t phrase that right

CBear1993

Wanderer19 wrote: »

I'd mention the desk, stating the benefits, but as more of a curiosity than a request.
Most companies allow pre-booked holidays, if they know about them, but you may have to take them at your own expense.
Congratulations on the new job

Yeah I’d like to but as I said above I don’t want to come across weird or bring up any flags, would rather get in and make a good impression without any attention drawn.

I didn’t think it was a big deal considering it’s a health benefit and a way of the future.

As someone else pointed out may be better to just wait til I’m in. They are amazing though and I believe every company should have one, unless there are physical reasons someone can’t stand or alternate between the two

ronivek

I would mention the pre-booked holidays as early as you can; and no harm suggesting that your start date be after the holidays as it gives you a better chance to ‘hit the ground running’ so to speak. I wouldn’t make a big deal of it though; and I would also mention being happy to start earlier if that suited the company better. There’s no harm in asking but I think it’s important to appear flexible too.

In my experience the only real negotiable aspect will be your direct salary; generally the other benefits either exist for all employees or for none and you’ll get them automatically if they’re available. I would leave any discussions about working environment until you’re settled in and can make a more informed request; but I do agree with you that standing desks (and good chairs) should be a requirement in offices.

Congrats on the offer!

CBear1993

ronivek wrote: »

I would mention the pre-booked holidays as early as you can; and no harm suggesting that your start date be after the holidays as it gives you a better chance to ‘hit the ground running’ so to speak. I wouldn’t make a big deal of it though; and I would also mention being happy to start earlier if that suited the company better. There’s no harm in asking but I think it’s important to appear flexible too.

In my experience the only real negotiable aspect will be your direct salary; generally the other benefits either exist for all employees or for none and you’ll get them automatically if they’re available. I would leave any discussions about working environment until you’re settled in and can make a more informed request; but I do agree with you that standing desks (and good chairs) should be a requirement in offices.

Congrats on the offer!

Thanks, yep i will get onto HR today to mention that before they issue out the contract. I tried to fit it in at the end of the 2nd interview as they were basically offering the job within the video call, but didn't have time. Letting HR know would be suffice? Or should I email the 2 managers who interviewed me.

Yeah I'm happy with everything to be honest, was just mentioning the other things above to get others' thoughts.

The standing desk is more of an ideal world scenario, knew it was a longshot. Unsure of whether to mention it to HR manager on the phone today, as I don't want to come across as a pernickety/fussy #####

CBear1993

Augme wrote: »

Mention the holidays and ask if you can delay the official start date. Most places will be happy to oblige once they are given enough notice. Don't mention the desk now, there is no need.

Thanks, doing that now, agreed about the desk. Good to get some perspective on it.

Augeo

Augeo wrote: »

What are the tax advantages if you aren't inventing expenses?

There are plenty of things that can be put against tax for self employed that can't for PAYE. Anything car related to begin with, capital allowances, servicing, tax, insurance etc all can go against tax.

Alora Scruffy Gazebo

Alora Scruffy Gazebo wrote: »

There are plenty of things that can be put against tax for self employed that can't for PAYE. Anything car related to begin with, capital allowances, servicing, tax, insurance etc all can go against tax.

Very much depends.
If you've a limited company a car attracts BIK & only business miles reduce the BIK liability.

So anything car related can't be put against tax for lots of self employed folk

Sole traders & farmers are a different kettle of fish but most folk earning a decent wedge aren't sole traders in the self employed world.

Any self employmentloy folk who claim mileage then cannot do any of the other things you mention regarding ......capital allowances, servicing, tax, insurance etc all can go against tax.

What is the ball-park salary you got ? Significant raise to your current salary?

Just asking if Covid made any impact

myNewName

Where are you going on holidays to? Will you have to quarantine when you get back?

CBear1993

myNewName wrote: »

Where are you going on holidays to? Will you have to quarantine when you get back?

:rolleyes: zZZZzzzZZZ there’s other threads for that . Take it elsewhere with your new profile

myNewName

CBear1993 wrote: »

:rolleyes: zZZZzzzZZZ there’s other threads for that . Take it elsewhere with your new profile

I wasn’t trolling it was a genuine question relevant to your start date and query about the job you’ve decided to ask strangers on the internet their opinion on.

CBear1993

What are the chances of a firm taking you on self employed vs PAYE? Very slim I’d imagine? If they employ about 500 people, majority of whom would be PAYE, but do have a minority who hand in their weekly time sheets.

CBear1993

So they are issuing the contract by end of the week.

I had mentioned only about the holiday abroad from 10th-20th September. HR manager rang me up and said that’s fine, but it will have to be unpaid leave as you are only entitled to pro rata about 4/5 days til the end of the year. Plus you are made take 4/5 for Xmas shutdown.

They were playing with the idea of starting me after the holiday but decided best to get in the door for a few weeks first.

Worst case scenario I’ll have to work from home after it self isolating if the country is not on the green list at that stage, which they are fine with WFH.