Quality of life can be negotiable

You are negotiating a contract with a new employer or your salary is up for review, always an anxiety-inducing time.

But remuneration experts say money is not the only thing that is negotiable. While salary ranges are often fixed by a company's finance department, retention is becoming an increasing concern.

Executives can negotiate non-cash perks ranging from equity in the business to professional or gym memberships, opportunities to attend seminars and conferences, extra holidays, home office equipment, luggage for travel or officefurniture.

"The financial component is the principal factor that most individuals focus on," says Rosemary Foxcroft, managing director of career management consultancy DBM Australia.

"While the dollars may not be up for negotiation, many other areas usually are, areas which can directly affect the quality of life in a job.

"It is now a proven fact that quality of life issues can directly affect an individual's performance."

But non-monetary recompense has to have some relevance to your work, says Graeme Duhs, managing director of Auckland career consultants Right D&A.

"Corporates are going to have some limits."

In his experience, after salary, people tend to negotiate on car parking, computing equipment such as laptops, and overseas trips.