How much do you factor in "benefits" when being offered employment?

[Nutdotnet]

I was just given my "Letter of Hire" for full-time employment by the company I'm currently interning for. I'm excited that I'll get great benefits (Health Insurance is free, and it's only a $250 deductible, 6 weeks paid annual leave a year, etc). BUT, the wage they offered was conseriderably less then I had hoped for (a .45 cent raise over my internship wage). I'm thinkin of trying to negotiate SOMETHING...but since I work for a non-profit if we don't have funds it means I ain't gettin anymore. But like I said, the benefits are pretty killer.

 

[imported_Hi]

a lot

 

[BCYL]

Not much consideration

 

[gigapet]

i'd shop around.

.45 cents more than an intern seems terrible to me.

 

[Queasy]

Six weeks paid annual leave? You must be working in Canada or Europe somewhere.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Benefits are usually a much better deal than having to pay for those things yourself. As part of the package, the company might require random drug tests, insist on hiring non-smokers, or stuff like that... but if you don't do those things, shouldn't be an issue.

Edit: If you can get a much higher wage elsewhere and offset the increased cost of needing your own health insurance, it might not be worth your while though. Do the math on it and see what you find.

 

[Ramma2]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Six weeks paid annual leave? You must be working in Canada or Europe somewhere.

Nah, here we get 29 days at start

34 days at 3 years

39 days at 5 years.

Nice!

 

[Queasy]

Do you get any kind of 401(k)? If so, what's the matching?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Ramma2

Originally posted by: Queasy
Six weeks paid annual leave? You must be working in Canada or Europe somewhere.

Nah, here we get 29 days at start

34 days at 3 years

39 days at 5 years.

Nice!

Geez. I haven't been at 4 weeks since my first job (American office of a European company). Two jobs since then have been two weeks plus two floating holidays.

 

[Need4Speed]

thats the only reason im here dammit! 22% of my pre-tax salary goes into profit sharing...no contributions required by me..

 

[StageLeft]

Somewhat, but ultimately salary and the job itself. Of course benefits can affect perceived salary: I pay $55/month now for health care, vs. $300/month for my old employer, because the new one pays damn near everythign, plus offers better dental and vision insurance. 401k matching is a concern as well, plus lots of vacation is always good. Pre-child two weeks was more than I needed and now two weeks is crap--it's good I have four now

 

[Nutdotnet]

Haha...I guess I could have spelled BENEFITS right.

Like I said, I work for a non-profit...so there is no profit-sharing, stock-options, etc.

Best benefits are:
1.) Great medical (free for employee-only, $250 annual MAX deductible)
2.) 6 weeks annual leave
3.) 12 paid holidays
4.) 403b...we're trying to change it to a 401k. Currently employees are not allowed to match.

 

[PingSpike]

Considering the cost of healthcare, its actually a fairly noteworthy consideration.

 

[StageLeft]

2.) 6 weeks annual leave
3.) 12 paid holidays

That is excellent.

 

[Gibson486]

what was yoru internship wage? if you are being paid $21/hour....then i would keep it. That's 40K a year.

 

[Kanalua]

Benefits made the difference for me. Place I'm working at pays your insurance premiums (USPS contractor), double over-time for holidays, paid vacations, etc...

Pay wasn't as good as other places I was hired, but some didn't offer any benefits or not as good ones...

 

[AMDZen]

So this is in the US? What company? I have never seen 6 weeks and 12 days, so basically 8 weeks and a couple days off. That is just insanely good.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Haha...I guess I could have spelled BENEFITS right.

Like I said, I work for a non-profit...so there is no profit-sharing, stock-options, etc.

Best benefits are:
1.) Great medical (free for employee-only, $250 annual MAX deductible)
2.) 6 weeks annual leave
3.) 12 paid holidays
4.) 403b...we're trying to change it to a 401k. Currently employees are not allowed to match.

Those are really excellent benefits for an American company (though I might skip the 403b and invest in a Roth IRA until a 401k is implemented. Salary sounds like it is a sticking point for you but the benefits shouldn't be.

 

[dsfunk]

benefits have a financial value

figure it out

 

[Kev]

6 weeks?!?!

 

[Kev]

Originally posted by: Ramma2

Originally posted by: Queasy
Six weeks paid annual leave? You must be working in Canada or Europe somewhere.

Nah, here we get 29 days at start

34 days at 3 years

39 days at 5 years.

Nice!

omfg. where do you work?????

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Six weeks paid annual leave? You must be working in Canada or Europe somewhere.

Wow. Sounds like it.

 

[spaceman]

benefits are everything.imo.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Haha...I guess I could have spelled BENEFITS right.

Like I said, I work for a non-profit...so there is no profit-sharing, stock-options, etc.

Best benefits are:
1.) Great medical (free for employee-only, $250 annual MAX deductible)
2.) 6 weeks annual leave
3.) 12 paid holidays
4.) 403b...we're trying to change it to a 401k. Currently employees are not allowed to match.

Those are really excellent benefits for an American company (though I might skip the 403b and invest in a Roth IRA until a 401k is implemented. Salary sounds like it is a sticking point for you but the benefits shouldn't be.

Well Salary is a major sticking point for me since It'd be nice to NOT live paycheck to paycheck once I graduate (one of the reasons I went to college in the first place).

For what I do...I thought I would be worth more than $34-35k a year starting out...heck, I have a year's experience in the field already.