How to Negotiate Benefits at Work

Photo: Christina Jones Photography

We all know that job hunting can feel like a full-time job. So when you finally get that offer letter? You start celebrating.

But as exciting and enticing as it can be to just sign on the dotted line and go buy yourself something nice, this is actually exactly the moment you need to take a step back. Before you reply to that offer letter, you have to make sure it’s the job you really want. And to do that, you need to take a hard look at the fine print.

Considering a company's offer is like dating—it’s all too easy to focus on whether they like you and want you while losing sight of whether you like them and want them, and just as importantly, whether this could be a partnership that's reflective of your goals and philosophies. That's where communication (in the form of negotiation) is fundamental.

When you open an offer letter, the salary jumps off the page, but what about the benefits? The thing many of us don’t realize is that a company’s standard benefits package is usually negotiable. Perks play a surprisingly powerful role in how you'll feel about the job—in the end, they can make a seemingly average salary offer quite tantalizing.

It’s crucial to take the time to understand the scope of benefits and then to tackle negotiating them wisely and strategically. Here are some tips to help you better negotiate benefits to your advantage.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask

Here’s a simple tenet but one you should never forget: It never hurts to ask. When you’ve received an offer, you have the upper hand. While you may not get the requests you make, this is the one time that your prospective employer is ripe for negotiating. Plus, you may find that while there’s no leeway for negotiating a higher salary, benefits adjustments are easier to accommodate.

Think Outside the Box

Benefits are more than just health insurance and 401K plans. These days, they include perks like extra vacation days and the opportunity to work remotely. Now’s the time to get creative.

When I negotiated my benefits package, I landed a complimentary gym membership and a cell phone. Apparently, I was the first employee prospect to negotiate a free gym membership, but because wellness is important to me, I thought it was a reasonable benefit to request. Interestingly, within a year, my company started offering complimentary gym memberships to all employees. A little part of me hopes I paved the way for others.

“Benefits are more than just health insurance and 401K plans. These days, they include perks like extra vacation days and the opportunity to work remotely. Now’s the time to get creative.”

Also, look closely at your paid time off. Whether it’s vacation, personal, or sick time, you might be in for a surprise if the offer includes fewer days than what you’d expect. Make sure to ask for more if you know that downtime is essential to your mental and professional well-being. No one likes taking a vacation day to cover strep throat.

Make It Titillating With a Better Title

If you really want the job but there's a salary cap, how about asking for a better title? It may be a perk you can’t really quantify, but it can help you in many ways. Having a more marketable and impressive title means you’ll have something to lean on when the time comes to ask for a promotion or when you’re moving onto your next company.

Seek Out Learning Opportunities

Asking about educational opportunities not only makes you look intellectually aware and motivated to your future employer, but it also opens the door for potential opportunities for personal career growth, like conferences, seminars, certifications, and even degree programs that you may not otherwise have access to. If there's a specific conference you want to attend the first year you start, call it out specifically as a negotiation tactic. You'll be surprised at how much asking for professional development will garner you respect and also incredible career and travel opportunities—an education on both fronts.

Get It in Writing

When all is said and done, make sure to take the time to read and understand the offer and agreed-upon negotiations. To that end, save all communications, including emails. This will avoid any after-the-fact misunderstandings and ensure that you're able to enjoy the benefits you worked so hard to negotiate.

By putting aside fears of rejection, negotiating benefits can be an enlightening and fruitful process. Armed with these tactics, you should be able to negotiate the kind of job package that you feel comfortable knowing that you sought out the kind of benefits that will serve you and your future. 

An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa. 

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This story was originally published on April 29, 2019, and has since been updated.

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When You Should (or Shouldn't) Work for Free

Working for free. Whew. These are fighting words for some. The concept of being asked to do work for nada (or on spec) has been lampooned in videos, illustrations, and even a dedicated Twitter account. But it’s one of life’s most nebulous gray areas: There’s no clear-cut correct answer to the “should you work for free?” question (sorryyy). Instead, the right-for-you answer is constantly shifting, dependent on your current needs, goals, and availability. What’s right for you might not be right for someone else, and what’s right for you now might not be right for you in five years.

With that in mind, there are some instances in which doing gratis work can actually be just the kick in the pants your burgeoning career or business needs. Below we dig into six situations where it might make sense, and share a look at how some top entrepreneurs feel about taking on a no-pay gig.

Your work will be exposed to a large audience.

You’re just getting started. Your work is rad (RAD), and you knowww the world will love it. (They will!) But you’re a little stuck when it comes to getting the word out, creating in vain—and in a vacuum. One solution: Offering up some freebies to a legit company that can help boost you over the hurdle by letting you tap into their audience. In these situations, though, know that the promise of “exposure” is not enough. Get down and dirty with the details. Ask for attendee numbers for events, probe publications for their readership numbers. Will companies link back to your site? How and where—exactly—will this happen? Will they promote you, along with your work, on their social channels? On related marketing materials? Big companies should have budgets, but sometimes the only way to get that toe in the door (and land a gig that might otherwise go to a more established colleague), is by offering to do it for free. But if a company isn’t forthcoming about their audience or how they’ll promote you, they can take a hike.

You’ll gain an awesome example for your resume or portfolio.

Sometimes one.single.resume.line of you doing amaze work for a credible company can catapult you into the realm of paying jobs for life. The same goes for visual examples of beautiful work, whether you’re a graphic designer, photographer, stylist, or brand consultant. We know an incredible interior designer who decorated a pal’s pad for free (labor, of course, not materials), had it photographed by a profesh, and plastered it all over her site and social-media accounts. Then paying gigs for design work and requests for interviews by shelter magazines started rolling in. Nail one job down, lean on it hard when talking with future clients or companies, and see where it gets you (and, ahem, they don’t need to know you did it for free).

You'll score new, IRL experience.

This is especially important when it comes to career pivots. You’re languishing in middle management at an accounting firm, holding tight to the same cupcake-baking dream you’ve had since you were knee high. But you have no idea how a successful baked-goods biz is run! You know that bakery around the corner? Consider offering to help out for free and you’ll pick up priceless on-the-job experience. Not saying this will be easy. It might mean crazy-early mornings. Scaling back to part-time at your paying job. Your hubs having to pick up major slack with the kiddos for months. But it’s doable. We actually know an inspiring lady who leveraged an unpaid apprenticeship at a hot-town San Francisco restaurant into a paying job there and then bagged a cookbook deal.

The networking is unbeatable.

Sometimes passion projects with little-to-no budgets are attached to influential folks with big names and tons of connections. Getting swept up into their network—being on calls and trading emails with people of note, organizing events with a A-list guest lists or speakers—can land you job after job after paying job down the line. Tons of career breaks have been launched by a friendly “remember me? loved working with you” email after you’ve done solid work and built rapport with a killer new network of people-who-can-hire-you.

Transitioning to a for-pay job is highly likely.

Back in our day, we trudged eight miles barefoot through the snow to intern for free. Welllll, not really, but we logged many an hour at unpaid internships, and several of us flipped them into paying jobs at the company we’d been interning for and at other great companies within the same industry. So, it’s possible, as long as the terms are clearly defined and you let it be known from the get-go that paid work is your ultimate goal. And no, you don’t have to be a 19-year-old college student to make this happen. Imagine striking a deal with a museum or library that you’ll take on grant-writing for free until you’ve secured the grants covering a potential salary for yourself and then some. An airtight contract is key here, but you’ve essentially created a job for yourself out of thin air.

You’ll be doing some good in the world!

Charity or volunteer work! This should really be numero uno on our list! As they say, this one is about giving rather than gaining. It could be anything from acting as treasurer for a nonprofit in need to accompanying your little one to the animal shelter to read to dogs every weekend. The point is that the more you give, the better you’ll feel—recent studies have shown that the secret to happiness is helping others. Just be clear upfront about the amount of time you’re willing to dedicate so that it doesn’t creep into something unmanageable that breeds resentment.

This article first appeared on Alice’s Table, a new woman-founded company that throws flower-arranging workshops and teaches women how to host classes themselves so they can launch a creative career or side gig that’s fun, flexible, and rewarding.

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The Future Is Freaking Us Out: New Study Shows Robots Are About to Do This

So it turns out Jamaraqui was right. The future is made of virtual insanity. 

Because last week Gallup released a poll that sent us straight into the void. Literally. Of the study's three major findings, there is one that has us wondering the if, why, and most importantly the when of it all. 

We break down our top two concerns below. 

1. WE DON’T WANT TO FREAK YOU OUT BUT AI IS A REAL THREAT TO REAL JOBS 

According to Gallup's analysis, millennials are the generation most vulnerable to the threat of AI and automation. Don't want to be replaced by a robot? We feel that. (and robots never will, cough, cough. NEVER!) 

Here's the deal. Millennials are much more tech savvy than older generations, but they also lack fewer managerial skills. In the past, this has been a plus ++++ on a resume. Millennials have helped move companies forward, adopt new operating systems, and move everything online, but younger workers' positions are more likely to be automated, and AI technologies now exist to do just that. AI can't manage a team, but it can input data and find flaws in operating systems and do it a whole lot faster and likely cheaper than human labor. Plus AI doesn't need health benefits. This is one of those shitty facets of capitalism. If it's likely to save a company money, it's likely to happen. According to the poll, nearly four in 10 millennials (37%) are at high risk of having their job replaced by automation, compared with 32% of those in the two older generations.

So what’s a living, breathing, human worker to do? For one, stop job hopping so often and make sure you are continually growing your skill set and value to the company. AI can't oversee a team, but you're never going to lead one if you keep doing this-- 

2. & WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? MILLENNIALS ARE JUMPING COMPANY SHIP FASTER THAN EVER 

Millennials now represent the largest generation in the U.S. workforce -- and many don't stay with their company for the long term. Why this presents a problem/a major disruption for the modern workplace is multi-fold. Though millennials report having Gallup finds that only 29% of millennials are engaged at work. Gallup estimates that millennial turnover due to lack of engagement costs the U.S. economy $30.5 billion each year.

Employers need to focus on getting them to STAY with the company. Many millennials are job-hoppers, but this doesn't need to be accepted as the new normal. You want you employees to feel valued, especially as AI threatens to take over work. Gallup reports that 21% of millennials changed jobs within the past year, and six out of 10 millennials are open to different job opportunities right now. Make your employees feel both valued and engaged and they are less likely to jump ship. 

If there are jobs within your company that are likely to be replaced with AI, get prepared as a leader of what that means for your company and your employees. Leaders should be asking the same question employees are: what will this workplace look like in the future?

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7 Ways to Deal with Demanding Higher Ups

Image credit: Almost Makes Perfect

When it comes to childhood memories, we reminisce fondly on endless summer days, Saturday morning cartoons and a general lack of responsibility. But recollecting other memories, like an acne-ridden face, chunky braces and the bully who tipped over your books in the hallway, feels far less warm and fuzzy.

Although your complexion has since cleared and teeth have straightened, sadly, bullies are just as prevalent today as adults as they were 15 years ago. Just trade the cafeteria for the water cooler and hand-written notes for passive-aggressive emails, and not much has changed.

According to research from the Workplace Bullying Institute, nearly 27 percent of Americans have experienced or are currently experiencing some kind of bullying in the workplace. While there are varying levels of severity depending on the aggressor and his or her actions, when that bully is your boss, the stakes – and your emotional response – are heightened.

Maybe your direct supervisor has inundated you with difficult work out-of-the-blue, and has no concern that you’re leaving the office once the lights turn out. Or maybe, you’re miffed from being continually passed over for new, challenging work and promotions.

Regardless of the wrongdoing, there’s one thing for certain: you absolutely, positively must do something about it.

That doesn’t necessarily mean stomping into your supervisor’s office this second and offering her a piece of your mind. But it doesn’t mean slumping in your desk and simmering, either. You’ll need to approach your higher-up with a calm, collected demeanor and tactical game plan if you want to ensure a harmonious work environment and, most importantly, the growth of your career. Here are the seven most important steps to take before approaching a bully boss.

1. Are you in danger?

While bullying (in any shape or form) is unacceptable, if you feel as though you are in danger or becoming hurt, tell a trusted friend, family member of confidante and leave the situation now.

2. Decide early on what you want to accomplish.

Not all resolutions end in fireworks. If you feel as though nothing good will come of approaching your boss, it’s 100% okay to consider leaving your position. Workplaces are oftentimes riddled with difficult politics and hierarchies, which can make a bullying predicament difficult to overcome. While you search for a new job, try to remove yourself the situation as best as you can and lean on other coworkers/confidantes for support.

"Not all resolutions end in fireworks."

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Of course, if you believe that directly confronting your boss will bear the best results, there’s actually evidence to support your action. According to research from EHS Today, individuals who approached a hostile boss reported higher levels of personal satisfaction at work, removed from feeling like a ‘victim.’ Regardless of your method for coping, ensure you know exactly what you want before diving in headfirst.

3. Start writing everything – meaning everything – down.

In the event you decide to approach your bullying boss, take precaution and start writing every interaction or instance of bullying down. And we mean everything.

Whether it was a demeaning, condescending email or eighth consecutive night you left office after nine o’clock (while he left at five), make sure to log every action, no matter how seemingly insignificant. No matter if it’s used to draft your speech once you approach your boss or to show your boss’s boss, build your case as meticulously as possible.

4. Before outlining your next move, take a moment to step into her shoes.

Whether it was Miranda Presley in The Devil Wears Prada or Dolly Parton’s superior in 9 to 5, totalitarian, ruthless bosses are a popular narrative in our culture. And while your gripes with your boss are certainly warranted, there might be an entirely different story you’re not aware of.

Is your boss shoving piles of work on your desk because she is swimming in work as well, or is he still reeling from his divorce? You’ll still need to express your feelings to your supervisor, but try to remember, he or she is a person too. Refrain from pointing fingers until you know all the facts.

5. Arrange a meeting (but prepare a game plan in advance).

Once you’ve assembled your ammo (AKA factual evidence) and mustered up your courage, you’ll need to finally do the dreaded deed: schedule a time with your boss to talk.

Try to pick a time when he or she will be the least overwhelmed, like in the morning earlier in the week. By Thursday or Friday, your boss might be less inclined to listen to your feelings, especially when they are seemingly negative. Before you enter the room, know exactly what you will say – and what you want to come out of it. Do you want a promotion or a decreased workload? Ensure there’s an end goal, and your boss is made aware of it early on.

6. Think positive.

Although tempting to blurt out to your bully, statements like “I feel like you’re continually turning me down for raises” will get you nowhere. Instead, try to take the emotion out of your complaint and spin it in a positive light.

For example, try: “I’ve noticed that you have turned me down for three consecutive raises. Can you please explain to me why, and what aspects of my performance I can improve for the review period?”

7. Continue to work hard, but know when enough is enough.

Once you’ve left the confrontation with your bully boss, things will undoubtedly be awkward for a bit. And of course, there will be a significant chance he or she will ignore your feelings and continue their bullying behavior.

If this is the case, know when enough is enough. Consider approaching your boss’s supervisor or HR. If that’s out of the question, there’s no shame in finding a new role – with a boss who will appreciate your talents and invest in your success.

This was originally published on Shine, a daily messaging experience to help you live your best life.

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Help! The 80-Hour Work Week Is the New Norm

It’s 10PM on a Monday and I’m still working. As painful as it is to say this-- it’s pretty normal. I expect it is the same for many of you reading this.

Work has taken over our world in this never-ending cycle of touch base, make moves, move the needle, squeak the wheel, hustle, bustle, go get ‘em, I can’t turn my phone off on the weekend, because nobody else does-- BUT HOLD UP! Hooooold up, slow that gravy work train down. What are we doing to ourselves?

We’re guilty of doling out advice about how to work smarter on a Sunday. In recent years there has been a steady rise of U.S. employees not only working after hours but also during lunch breaks and over the weekends. And while the U.S. does advocate for work-life balance, we are a country of "overloaded" workers.

We’ve talk a bit in the past about France, their commitment to the 35-hour work week, and their ban on emails past 6pm. There are other female-led companies that have taken similar steps to alter the course. Shani Godwin, CEO of Communiqué USA, a leading marketing strategy and creative content company serving small businesses and Fortune 500 brands has implemented this approach. Shani has a number of work-life balance policies, including no emailing after work hours, as a way to ensure her employees have time to manage their personal lives and spend time with their children and families.

The problem is that Godwin is part of the minority of companies that enforce such policies.

We’ve all bought into the myth of the hustle, in part because the fear of failing or “getting in trouble” as an adult is very real. What if my boss needs me at 2pm on a Saturday? What if there is a last minute crisis? If everyone else is doing it, and I’m not, will I be seen as a less valuable employee? Will I be replaced?

"The reality is we have to keep up with the Work Jones'. Even if that means responding to weekend emails."

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The answer is likely yes. The reality is we have to keep up with the Work Jones'. Even if that means responding to weekend emails. 

***

Do you remember as a kid first learning about peer pressure? When your mom or dad would ask, “If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you?”

“NO!” You’d yell indignantly, at that point secure in your sense of self and autonomy. Well, we’re a little less indignant these days and a lot less free-- at least from our phones, and we’ve jumped. But since we've all jumped it's up to us to figure out how to make it work, and understand the breaking point of our own burnout. 

Most of us agree (even our bosses) that we have to give ourselves permission to take a break. Some creatives set ground rules about emailing, and will put up an away message telling emailers that they will be available from 8am-8pm, and that all weekend emails will be returned on Monday AM. Try it out. It might work for you. It might only add to the anxiety you feel about not responding immediately. 

Carly Kuhn, an LA-based illustrator (@thecartorialist) who has worked with brands like Absolut, and just took over Coachella’s Snapchat this past weekend, says “You have to take advantage of situations, and hustle, especially when it’s your own thing, but that makes it so hard to turn off.”

But she sees a positive. “Our world is more collaborative than it's ever been, and work and life are similar. But for me, that makes those special gem moments when you meet someone new, and you realize we don’t have to talk about work, this is not about work, all the more special.”

Rachel Mae Furman, leisure expert (yes, that is one of her real titles, bless) of Smoke & Honey says, “The problem with the current work culture is that it doesn’t leave any time for leisure, and leisure is vital to working better. To be on top of your career game, you need to be on top of your leisure game.”

“To be on top of your career game, you need to be on top of your leisure game.”

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So how do we put an end to the imbalance?

You have to make a choice-- and it's a personal one. What are you willing to commit to your job? What are you willing to give up? Do you even see working toward a goal as giving something up? Are you OK with having after-work drinks be "work?" 

In part, it depends on what industry you want to work in. If you work at a startup, you know you're going to be clocking insane hours. If you want a job that clocks out at 6pm, you can find one.

But very successful people work this hard. All the time. Don't shoot the messenger. 

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial director. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her on this site she never updates www.ariannawrotethis.com