Everything is negotiable. Other installments of the
Salary.com negotiation clinic have dealt with base salary,
bonuses, stock options, and other benefits. You can also
negotiate what happens in the transition from one job to
another. You can even negotiate when you're going to
negotiate.
COBRA payments
At some companies, medical insurance benefits don't kick
in on your first day of work. You might have to wait 30 or
even 60 days before your new medical insurance coverage
begins. Although that waiting period is fixed, you can try to
get your new employer to pay your COBRA insurance from your
previous job. Under COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985), your employer must offer to
continue your medical insurance when you leave your job, at a
higher premium, for a defined period of time (at least 18
months). If there is a waiting period before your new medical
insurance coverage begins, you may be able to get your new
employer to pay your COBRA premium for that amount of time.
Relocation benefits
Relocation doesn't necessarily mean moving from San Diego
to Dubuque. Even if you stay within the same state but add
another 35 or 40 miles to your commute, some companies will
offer an additional incentive for commuting time or perhaps
even relocation assistance.
Then again, you may just have to move to get that dream job.
What's negotiable in a relocation package? If you're at a
certain level, basically all the expenses incurred in the
sale and purchase of a new house might be negotiable:
broker's fee; legal fees; new driver's license; phone,
electric, and cable hookups; cleaning of the new residence; a
service to help your spouse find a job; car allowances; and
so on. Be sure you consider differences in cost of living and
that your negotiated package takes that into account.
Accelerated performance review
If you can't get the salary you want up front, but the
job is still attractive, you might be able to negotiate an
accelerated performance review. Try asking for a review for
salary in three months (as opposed to the standard six months
to a year) to get more money faster.
- Linda Jenkins, Salary.com contributor
