Job seekers have options when deciding where to work. And while salary is still a key factor, flexible and remote scheduling options now play an outsized role in influencing that decision. That doesn’t mean workers have to choose one over the other. In an effort to fill open roles, many job seekers are finding they can get many of the flexible options they want along with the salary they desire.
What Matters
Between February 23, 2022, and March 7, 2022, FlexJobs surveyed 1,248 currently employed people. We asked which compensation and benefits are most important to them. While salary was the number one response (83%), remote work was close behind at 77%. The other compensation and benefits that matter most to employees are:
- Flexible scheduling (63%)
- Health insurance (63%)
- Vacation time (62%)
- Retirement plans (50%)
- Training and education (44%)
- Special company perks (35%)
- Bonuses (34%)
- Equity (21%)
- Paid parental leave (18%)
Once considered an extremely fringe benefit, nearly 29% of respondents ranked four-day workweeks as the most important.
Some Disconnect
Though workers have made it clear that they want remote work options, with 57% stating they will leave their job if they don’t get them, some companies aren’t listening. Over one-third (36%) of respondents stated that they will have to be in the office full-time post-pandemic. Another 28% expect their employer will offer hybrid schedules, while 23% anticipate they can remain fully remote. However, the remaining 11% don’t know what their company’s plans are!
Money Matters
Over 38 million people quit their jobs in 2021, with many saying that low pay was the main reason. When we asked participants about their 2021 salary and bonuses, 50% said their salary increase and bonus were the same as the previous year. Twenty-three percent said they received more, while 27% stated they received less.
Given the state of the job market, we wondered if companies were taking action to retain staff. Nearly three quarters (71%) said their company had not done anything special to retain workers. However, 14% said their company had offered unique perks to staff, including:
- Stock options
- Equity
- Extra paid time off
- Gift cards
- Cash, signing, or retention bonus
In addition to the rise of remote work, another fundamental change in the labor market is pay transparency. Nearly 42% of respondents said they’d discussed salary with a colleague, though 58% have not.
Companies are also being more transparent about pay but lag behind staff. Thirty-five percent of workers say their company is not transparent about pay while 32% say their company is a little transparent and 33% say it’s very transparent.
Asking for More
No matter what kind of raise, bonus, or other perks workers received last year, the Great Resignation has helped many feel more confident about negotiating a higher salary or asking for a raise.
Our survey found that nearly half (47%) are feeling more empowered and successfully negotiated their salary. However, just as many people reported feeling empowered (52%) but did not have successful salary negotiations.
And not everyone felt confident enough to ask for a salary increase. Nearly one-third (32%) said they felt less empowered in the last year, and 34% felt about the same.
How to Negotiate Your Salary
Whether it’s a new job or your current role, how you position your request will impact your success. In addition to explaining why you’re worth more and using data to back your assertions up, use powerful phrases that strengthen your position.
Don’t lead with “soft” words or phrases:
- I’m sorry
- I need
- The problem is
- I hate to ask
- I want
These weaken your request by framing it as apologetic or arrogant. Instead, use powerful phrases that demonstrate you understand your worth, but you’re open and flexible to compromise:
- I could consider
- Based on my research
- I would be more comfortable with
- Can you tell me about
These words are strong but don’t come across as stubborn. They are less apologetic than the above phrases too, signaling that you’re willing to talk.
Here’s how this might look in action:
Can you tell me about the other benefits your company offers?
I’ve researched the market rate for this industry. Given the combination of my qualifications and experience, I would be most comfortable accepting a salary of…
After hearing about the role, it seems like there’s more to it than what’s in the job description. Can you tell me how you came to your figure?
You Can Alway Ask
In many ways, there’s never been a better time to be a job seeker. And even if you’re not, now may be the perfect time to ask your boss for a raise. You won’t know unless you try, and in this hot market, you’ve got options!
