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Monster member guarddog_11 posts: I have never negotiated salary and compensation through human resources before, so I don’t know what to expect. It seems like HR will make an offer, and I can either accept, decline or ask if the offer is negotiable. I’m negotiating a low six-figure job, which makes it even stranger that I’m doing this through HR.
That being said, I do not need healthcare, because my wife has excellent health coverage through the federal government. Can I make a counteroffer, asking for a higher salary in lieu of health insurance?
Should I ask if the offer is negotiable first, then negotiate salary and then throw in that I don’t need healthcare and ask for even more?
The Negotiation Expert responds: If you receive an offer that you’d otherwise be happy to accept, accept it. Never try to negotiate more just for the sake of negotiating. However, if you honestly think the offer is low, start by politely asking if the offer is negotiable and see what they say. If it’s not and you still want or need the job, take it.
If the offer is negotiable, however, counter with a reasonable salary range, but don’t base your negotiations on the fact that you don’t need health insurance. Declining company health insurance is not a valid way to get a higher salary -- it just doesn’t work that way. Companies sign up for group plans based on spreading the risk over an entire class of people to get lower rates, so adding or subtracting one more person doesn’t amount to a lot of money spent or saved by the employer. So, even if the company would up your salary by the insurance savings, it wouldn’t amount to much.
Furthermore, there’s never a guarantee that a spouse will continue to have health coverage, so declining coverage might be a bad move. Double coverage is simply a double safeguard.
