New hires willing to push for higher salary, better benefits
Talking about compensation with a potential employer can be a nerve-racking experience, especially in a tight job market. But most of today's professionals aren't shy about asking companies to show them the money, according to a new survey by Robert Half International.
More than six-in-10 (61 per cent) of the 1,024 Canadian survey respondents said they're comfortable negotiating a higher salary or better benefits.
Workers were asked, "How comfortable would you be negotiating for a higher salary or better benefits with an employer who has offered you a job?" Twenty-six per cent said they were very comfortable, 35 per cent said they were moderately comfortable, while 10 per cent said they were very uncomfortable and 20 per cent said they were moderately uncomfortable.
"As the job market improves, professionals have more negotiating power," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "Salary is just one part of the overall compensation package.”
If employers cannot offer the desired base pay, they should consider offering extra benefits or perks, such as additional vacation time, a sign-on bonus or flexible scheduling, said Messmer.
