Obviously, one of the primary benefits of employment is the pay. Ideally, this will cover your living expenses and leave a little extra. There are other benefits everyone should look for in a career: health insurance, retirement account management, and vacation, to name a few. But what other, more unique benefit options should you look for, or, potentially negotiate for?
Health-based Insurance
Health insurance is almost a universal benefit provided to full-time employees. Even many part-time employees receive some form of health insurance. However, what other health related insurance options are there for you to consider? Beyond straight health insurance, dental, eye, and family coverage are items to look into. Likewise, taking a step past the physical health side might be a good idea, so consider looking into mental healthcare coverage. Beyond health insurance, life and dismemberment insurance might be a good idea to help cover the costs to a family post-accident.
Quality of Life Benefits
Perhaps your employers is focused on their employees’ work/life balance. If so, ask about some simple quality of life benefit options. These might include reimbursements for gym memberships or equipment, a stipend for at-home or in-office technology or supplies. One of the biggest quality of life benefit considerations today is remote or flexible work capabilities. Consider asking about these types of benefits the next time you run into someone from human resources or in your next interview.
Education-related Benefits
There are three main types of education-related benefits employers might offer. These include student loan repayment assistance, where the employer takes on all or a portion of your loans. Perhaps the most common is the tuition reimbursement/paid training that many employees are willing to offer. This might look like earning a certificate, taking a single course, or attending a conference. If your employer offers this benefit, you might be reimbursed or paid outright to participate in these events. Finally, another education-related benefit is the college grants or scholarships. These are almost always used in relation to your dependents: children going into or currently attending college. But, again, if the student in your life is paying for college, it might be worthwhile to assist them with an employer-sponsored scholarship.
There are countless benefits employers offer their employees to retain talent and attract new workers. Whether you have been at the company 20 years or this is your first day, ask about ways you can make your life easier or more fulfilling. There is a reason these benefits exist: for you to use them!
