Even though we provide staffing for companies, a salary or hourly wage has to be determined by you- the employer. Sometimes, depending on the type of staffing we’re providing, negotiating will come into the mix. Well, if you’ve never had the “joy” of negotiating money with an employee, here are a few tips;
1. Throw out your numbers first. Yes, numbers! You have to be clear what your range is. So, you might say to an employee that you’re willing to negotiate a raise between 10 and 20 percent based on performance and attendance. This way you state upfront what your max is. This eliminates the employee from embarrassing him or herself with some outrageous number.
2. Discuss bonus perks. Extra PTO time, longer lunches, four day versus five day work weeks can all be used to negotiate an employee’s raise or job offer. You don’t always have to use money.
3. Know your market. Do your research before any negotiating meeting. Know not only how much your company is willing to pay, but what your competition pays.
Don’t always bank on hiring the employee you’re in negotiations with. I witnessed a six month intern work in the marketing department of a well-known spa. The spa director really liked her attitude and the fact that she had a degree in marketing. Sure, her only experience was with the spa, but the marketing director saw this as an opportunity to mold the intern.
The intern, when asked if she was willing to take a full-time position with the company, demanded a salary of 45k to start and she wasn’t going to be working weekend after her internship. The spa director, floored with a budget of 33k and needing a Saturday person for onsite issues, offer an entry-level marketing clerk the same position. The entry-level clerk, who was making $24k per year and already working Saturdays, was more than happy to accept a raise to $31,500 per year. So, it pays to throw out your numbers first and your expectations. What you think may be a great candidate can actually point you in the direction of a diamond in the rough.
Britanie Olvera, CEO of Building Team Solutions