New job offer - am I missing anything to push for?

[johnfm]

Offered a new role. It is quite a decent change for me - but I need to relocate 200 miles south.

Salary is fine - so not intending to ask for more cash. But want to ask for

There is a bonus (but hasn't paid out for a while (it is in oil & gas, so not a great time for bonuses).

I'm thinking:

relocation (up to £8k no tax/no reporting limit)

35 days holiday (they offer standard 25, a bit of international travel involved, so may I will get some in lieu anyway).

car allowance

some flexi working (i.e. 4 days in office 1 from home) so I can spend a bit more time at home until whole family moves down if it turns out well.

Anything else?

[GT03ROB]

It will very much depend on the size of the company.

Most of any size will have very strict policies on most of the things you mention which will preclude them being negotiable. Salary always is though.

[Collectingbrass]

1. Pension

2. You don't say how long the probationary period is but I would push for paid temp accommodation until you've completed it, on top of relocation

3. Pension

4. Travel policy / budget / limits - is it Easyjet & Travelodge? Do you have any say?

5. Pension

6. I think you will be lucky to get 35 days leave without a salary sacrifice and may do better with 9 day fortnights (5 & 4). I'd look at whether there is additional leave after a period of service

7. Pension

8. Arrival time while commuting and travelling - are you in transit on your time or theirs, esp if going to the Middle East

9. Pension

10. Extended notice period, especially if O & G and you are relocating

11. Pension

[johnfm]

Collectingbrass said:

1. Pension

2. You don't say how long the probationary period is but I would push for paid temp accommodation until you've completed it, on top of relocation

3. Pension

4. Travel policy / budget / limits - is it Easyjet & Travelodge? Do you have any say?

5. Pension

6. I think you will be lucky to get 35 days leave without a salary sacrifice and may do better with 9 day fortnights (5 & 4). I'd look at whether there is additional leave after a period of service

7. Pension

8. Arrival time while commuting and travelling - are you in transit on your time or theirs, esp if going to the Middle East

9. Pension

10. Extended notice period, especially if O & G and you are relocating

11. Pension

Pension is 10% (them) 6% (me).

Good point re 35 days - 30 is enough anyway - but will ask re: 5 and 4.

All other points - good stuff. Cheers

[Collectingbrass]

One other thing to clarify is whether the leave allowance includes UK bank holidays or if they are on top, especially if the main company is US based. Also while I'm back on, what about healthcare, including family?

[johnfm]

Collectingbrass said:

One other thing to clarify is whether the leave allowance includes UK bank holidays or if they are on top, especially if the main company is US based. Also while I'm back on, what about healthcare, including family?

Norwegian.

Healthcare is included (plus various bits of insurance etc).

I expect they will push back on 99% of it - but you don't get if you don't ask.

[GT03ROB]

Generally "out of policies" that are recurring (e.g.: extra leave every year) are nigh on impossible to secure in larger companies so look for things that are one offs or are unofficial benefits. As an example I worked for a company, we had a mutual falling out & i kind of left for 6 weeks. As part of the negotiation to come back I requested a couple of things that I knew they could provide without upsetting the whole HR applecart. Firstly I asked for a 4 weeks vacation to be credited to me as a one off in addition to my normal accrual. They agreed. Secondly the company were in London where parking was at a premium, but the offices had limited spaces which was allocated outside of any policy, I asked for a space. They agreed. It saved me a lot.

[edc]

Depending on the context 200 miles south is a long way. Do think about the salary in the context of cost of living and housing.

[Ahbefive]

edc said:

Depending on the context 200 miles south is a long way. Do think about the salary in the context of cost of living and housing.

Yep. From where to where OP?

[GT03ROB]

swerni said:

If your overseas a lot, what's the travel policy on flights?

This is something I always push hard on

I see this one a lot on threads like this, but is company travel policy really a negotiable item at interview? Surely you get the company policy?

I know if somebody tried to negotiate this at interview with me, the answer would be:

"this is corporate travel policy, it can be modified by client or project requirements, take it or leave it. There are no gurantees how you will be travelling."

[johnfm]

Cheers all.

All good points. As mentioned, very little negotiable on a 'policy level' - but I am in a team of 2, and been told the boss is very flexible on some of the things I have asked about.

Relocation is the only outstanding point of discussion now - moving from the north to the south - so the substantial pay increase will be negated by living cost. But it is a very interesting role, with a very flat management structure (global team of 12 people in a $1b/year t/o company) where I am only 1 step removed from the global top job.

Anyway - thanks for the advice. It was really useful.

[mr_spock]

See if you can make your pension contributions by salary sacrifice and have them give you some or all of the employers' NI savings they make. Check if there's any life and critical illness insurance cover. I've had that in most jobs above a certain level.

[SystemParanoia]

Full Flexi-time and the ability to work from home at all times.

Commuting is for suckers!

[johnfm]

mr_spock said:

See if you can make your pension contributions by salary sacrifice and have them give you some or all of the employers' NI savings they make. Check if there's any life and critical illness insurance cover. I've had that in most jobs above a certain level.

Yep - it is salary sacrifice. 6% me. 10% them.

They've agreed to put me up in their serviced apartments for first 3 months - so reasonably happy.

[xjay1337]

johnfm said:

But it is a very interesting role, with a very flat management structure (global team of 12 people in a $1b/year t/o company) where I am only 1 step removed from the global top job.

One step away from powerfully built director!

All the best, but as mentioned I think the biggest shocker will be relocation costs. It's literally 2 or 3 times as expensive down south.
Compare say Newbury to Nottingham....

[johnfm]

xjay1337 said:

johnfm said:

But it is a very interesting role, with a very flat management structure (global team of 12 people in a $1b/year t/o company) where I am only 1 step removed from the global top job.

One step away from powerfully built director!

All the best, but as mentioned I think the biggest shocker will be relocation costs. It's literally 2 or 3 times as expensive down south.
Compare say Newbury to Nottingham....

Agree - but expense is almost solely housing costs (i.e. things like groceries, eating out, gyms/tennis/golf clubs) are pretty similar.

The housing is the big shock I need to get used to.

[edc]

johnfm said:

xjay1337 said:

johnfm said:

But it is a very interesting role, with a very flat management structure (global team of 12 people in a $1b/year t/o company) where I am only 1 step removed from the global top job.

One step away from powerfully built director!

All the best, but as mentioned I think the biggest shocker will be relocation costs. It's literally 2 or 3 times as expensive down south.
Compare say Newbury to Nottingham....

Agree - but expense is almost solely housing costs (i.e. things like groceries, eating out, gyms/tennis/golf clubs) are pretty similar.

The housing is the big shock I need to get used to.

Don't want to state the obvious but gym memberships and eating out cost a lot more in the City in London where I work compared to where I live in Hampshire. Housing cost in London is also a lot more so whilst you may be able to afford to live on the door step to work elsewhere it's very common to commute and my train fare equates to circa £5k a year. Add in £8+/day parking at the station too.

[xjay1337]

johnfm said:

Agree - but expense is almost solely housing costs (i.e. things like groceries, eating out, gyms/tennis/golf clubs) are pretty similar.

The housing is the big shock I need to get used to.

I found even eating out generally slightly cheaper up north. At indy restaurants anyway - And a lot of department stores, B&M etc are far more common up north.

We shop at Aldi which helps keep our food bills down

[johnfm]

edc said:

johnfm said:

xjay1337 said:

johnfm said:

But it is a very interesting role, with a very flat management structure (global team of 12 people in a $1b/year t/o company) where I am only 1 step removed from the global top job.

One step away from powerfully built director!

All the best, but as mentioned I think the biggest shocker will be relocation costs. It's literally 2 or 3 times as expensive down south.
Compare say Newbury to Nottingham....

Agree - but expense is almost solely housing costs (i.e. things like groceries, eating out, gyms/tennis/golf clubs) are pretty similar.

The housing is the big shock I need to get used to.

Don't want to state the obvious but gym memberships and eating out cost a lot more in the City in London where I work compared to where I live in Hampshire. Housing cost in London is also a lot more so whilst you may be able to afford to live on the door step to work elsewhere it's very common to commute and my train fare equates to circa £5k a year. Add in £8+/day parking at the station too.

I'm not in the City - as you note, these things would obviously be more expensive there. An initial check of local tennis and golf club membership fees around Woking suggest they cost about the same as up here.

[Shnozz]

johnfm said:

I'm not in the City - as you note, these things would obviously be more expensive there. An initial check of local tennis and golf club membership fees around Woking suggest they cost about the same as up here.

You would be right.

I moved the other way from Hampshire to Leeds. Yes, I am central so there aren't the Sam Smiths £2.50 a pint pubs, but I honestly notice no cost of living difference whatsoever. Even property is comparable price wise unless you want to live in a st tip.

Yes, Hampshire is not Surrey but there is still an inverted snobbery suggesting cost of living is so much different between North and South; its not. But then neither are salaries between the respective places.