Salary Offer Too Low? Negotiate With These 6 Employee Benefits

Jobstreet content team – updated on 08 April, 2022

It's safe to say that most, if not all professionals, aspire for a high-paying job. It provides them high remuneration for their efforts, plus, it's a recognition of their ascent up the career ladder.

In 2020, one in four Singaporeans lost their jobs, while others had their salaries temporarily frozen or reduced, and others' bonuses were suspended or cut. To negotiate for a higher salary was largely out of the question. As economies gradually recover from the impact of the pandemic, one can consider themself lucky if they are offered a good salary package.

While the wages of degree holders were hit, those in the lower-wage range were particularly affected. In response, the Singapore Government accepted all 18 recommendations of the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers, which established guidelines to uplift wages.

You may receive a generous salary offer, but it's crucial to examine if it comes at the cost of employee benefits, which will be valuable for you in the longer term. Employee benefits help cover fitness and medical-related expenses and provide you flexibility and learning opportunities to grow in your career.

Should a salary offer not meet your expectations, it may be prudent to consider the current job market climate and not decline hastily. Use the chance to counter and maximise the offer by ensuring you get the following employee benefits – as compensation for the low salary.

Related article: Career Planning: Is a Job Offer With a Huge Pay Cut Ever Worth Taking?

1. Comprehensive health insurance

Under Singapore's Employment Act, employers do not have to provide health insurance benefits for workers who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents. The reason? The country's low-cost health insurance, Medishield, already protects them. It covers large hospital bills and specific expensive outpatient treatments. However, they are entitled to basic medical benefits such as paid outpatient sick leaves and other medical fees.

Additional company health insurance is advantageous as it covers recurring expenses such as annual physical examinations, dental care, GP visits, and other treatments and hospitalisation charges. Providing more comprehensive health insurance is really up to the employer, though. Many large companies in Singapore offer private medical insurance benefits for their employees. However, it's not a common practice among smaller companies.

On the other hand, Singapore law requires foreigners holding an Employment Pass (EP), Work Permit, or S pass to have medical insurance. Discuss it with your employer and have it included in your employment contract, as it's their responsibility to look after your welfare and provide medical treatment, if necessary.

2. Flexible working hours and work-from-home options

Companies have been making the shift amid the pandemic by putting work-from-home (WFH) arrangements in place for their employees. As part of Singapore's "new normal," businesses are mandated to follow the current guidelines of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on the safe management measures for the workplace. The framework allows for WFH setups for employees who can do so. Others, however, must be fully vaccinated or regularly present a negative Pre-Event Test (PET) or Antigen Rapid Test (ART) result.

If it's applicable for the job you're applying for, you can bargain for a flexible work arrangement (FWA), as it uplifts their role as employers espousing work-life balance for their workers. There are different kinds of FWAs, from compressed work schedules, creative scheduling, your choice of days off, shift swapping, staggered time, to time bank, for others. Find the setup which works for you the best. Note that by having this arrangement, though, your employer will be exempted from Singapore's Employment Act requirements for overtime, rest day, and public holiday pay.

3. Health and fitness plan

More and more companies are realising the value of incorporating wellbeing activities and programmes as part of their employees' benefits. Two out of every local employer consider it their top strategic benefit objective. The pandemic has spurred a growing awareness and concern over workers' burnout, stress, and other mental health issues.

Having this in mind, you should be able to convince your employer how it's ultimately beneficial for them as well to have employees who are not just physically fit, but mentally healthy as well. Encourage them to offer gym subscriptions, fitness classes, and the like so that their workers stay active and their company gets cost savings from medical expenses.

4. More annual leaves

According to the Employment Act, Singapore citizens or permanent residents can avail themselves of annual leaves if they've worked for their employer for at least three months. The number of leave days ranges from seven to 14 days a year, depending on the length of service with the same company. Other annual leaves apply in special situations, such as unconsumed leaves, when you get married, or when you need to grieve the loss of a loved one.

Since you're being given a lower salary, it shouldn't sound like an unreasonable request if you ask for more paid vacation leaves. Your employer should consider it as a thoughtful gesture, in exchange for you rendering work at a fraction of your expected wage.

5. Paid maternity and paternity leaves

Working moms are entitled to either 12 or 16 weeks of government-paid maternity leave. For the 16-week benefit, the child must be a Singapore citizen and must be born after January 1, 2017, while the mother must be legally married to the father and has worked for her current employer or has been self-employed for at least three continuous months before giving birth. If only one, two, or three of these conditions are met, the mother is entitled to only 12 weeks' worth of maternity leave.

Fathers, meanwhile, including those who are self-employed, are entitled to two-week government-paid paternity leave. The same requirements apply to be eligible for the said paternity leave. As a show of support for the important role fathers play in their child's first few weeks of life, several businesses in Singapore, starting in 2022, have opted to extend and cover these fathers' salaries for another two weeks.

6. Professional Development

Last and not least, urge your employer to support any learning, training, or certification opportunities that will in due course add value not just to your professional development, but to the company as well. The more skilled their workforce is, the better they will be able to perform their roles and make improvements in the workplace.

There you have it! While this list is not in any way exhaustive, it shows some of the most important employee benefits that you can negotiate for if you're ever offered a salary lower than what you're expecting. By satisfying these benefits, your employer will not only help support you in achieving work-life balance but profit in the future from their investment in you as a professional.

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