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Original poster

Job offer from a US based company

37 replies

WhatdidIdoyesterday · 16/08/2023 07:19

I've been offered a new role at a US led company which is expanding internationally and setting up a new team in the UK. It offers growth opportunities and interesting work. But its the same salary I'm on already and with fewer overall benefits. I haven't got a good feel.for the culture and expectations and the interview process has been really quick, rushed almost, so I am not sure how hard to negotiate on the package available. My current role has a car allownce, pension top up, private health cover, life assurance, travel insurance and dental insurance. The offer letter doesn't say anything other than the basic salary and a 3% employer pension which is the statutory minimum.

Would it be considered rude to go back to them and ask them to match my other benefits? I assumed a US company would offer everyone healthcare due to the US system but if its not in the offer letter presumably I can't rely on that. What is the cultural norm when negotiating with a US based HR team?

OP posts:
yoshiblue · 16/08/2023 07:22

Personally, there is no way I'd move to work for a US company without a good increase in salary and matched benefits. The work pace is a lot tougher (have worked directly with a US team), don't underestimate the expectations to work late every day so calls can match both time zones. I was working up to 7pm UK time and it didn't work well with my young family's needs.

YallaYallaaa · 16/08/2023 07:23

Don’t assume healthcare (or anything else).

It’s difficult to negotiate benefits as they’re usually standard across a company. But they can be really valuable (yours sound it), so if you take this offer you need to think of it as a big pay cut.

I’d go back to them, thank them for their offer, but say that because you want to improve on your current position / you’re worth it because of your experience you’re looking for £X.

Luckydog7 · 16/08/2023 07:23

Surely it depends on the reason you are moving jobs?

If you aren't desperate to move then yes absolutely ask them to match benefits or increase salary to compensate. If you are in a secure job now I would be tempted to ask new job for an even better package or significant salary raise so you are progressing in your career not just moving sideways.

FloofCloud · 16/08/2023 07:37

3% pension 😵😵 fucking hell that's IT!? Noooo that's a downwards move if it's the same salary.
I'm assuming you're remaining in the UK as they're moving into the UK too?!

OrchidsBloomimg · 16/08/2023 07:41

Absolutely go back
Not only for yourself but if you're responsible for setting up a new team you need to set base level expectations for recruitment or you're going to struggle.

And yes to evening working/calls, don't underestimate everyone else working on a different time zone (and West coast versus East coast will make a difference here)

ArcticBells · 16/08/2023 07:43

I work for a US company and it's cut throat under a blanket of "we're one big happy family " to the outside world

Original poster
WhatdidIdoyesterday · 16/08/2023 08:00

This is my fear @ArcticBells that its dog eat dog and they are rushing me into the process. I only have 3 days to decide whether to accept the offer, and I started interviewing just over a week ago.

My job at the moment is mid-senior management for a big company but its a UK led business and the pace is far slower, its also a more mature business whereas this is a newer start-up/scale-up so higher risk overall.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatdidIdoyesterday · 16/08/2023 08:01

I'm not desperate to move but also I am looking for a change and things are moving very slowly with other openings I'm applying for.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 16/08/2023 08:02

Surely when you include the crap benefits (which doesn't surprise me either as a US company or a start up - my DH works for one and they don't go beyond the bare minimum), it's a pay cut in really terms? No way would I move for a worse work/life balance for less money!

ArcticBells · 16/08/2023 08:04

If you are not desperate to move, I'd wait for the right job. I don't want to in any way influence your decision but you wouldn't be posting on here if you were comfortable with the job offer.

Vermin · 16/08/2023 08:05

And presumably less holiday? That’s a massive pay cut if none of the benefits are available. So you go back and explain what your current package includes as ask which elements they offer. You then negotiate salary to compensate for the loss of benefits (and pension is a massive one). You can turn down job offers you know?
bear in mind that an employer is never going to be as nice to you again as they are when they’re trying to hire you.

Vermin · 16/08/2023 08:07

I see now that it’s a start up - a start up with a shitty package is not worth moving for. Start ups pay risk money and give equity because of the risk they’ll go pop. What stage are they at and how secure is funding? when is the next round?

VeeandBee · 16/08/2023 08:10

If you are not desperate to move, I'd wait for the right job. I don't want to in any way influence your decision but you wouldn't be posting on here if you were comfortable with the job offer.

This^
You obviously have doubts OP and if you don't need out of your current job in a hurry I'd wait for something more suitable to come along.
This sounds like a pay cut in real terms for potentially working more hours. Not many people would want that!

BeeBelle16 · 16/08/2023 08:11

If you have 3 days to decide contact HR today and ask for
More money
Confirmation of annual leave
Higher pension contribution
Private medical and death in service included

If they can't offer this tell them they will struggle to find a senior/ mid senior candidate without these and wish them luck

If they do agree it then still...PPs here have put me off working for a USA company!!

Roselilly36 · 16/08/2023 08:11

Assuming you have been in your current role a few years, I would stay in the role until I found a suitable post with better terms, this seems like a step back tbh. And yes, factor in the time zone differences, for attending meetings etc. this is very important. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Window82 · 16/08/2023 08:13

Not worth it. Americans have notoriously bad benefits and working hours!

BUT if you want to go back to them before you do:

work out the value of your current job as follows:
Salary
Bonus
Pension (your company contribution to your pension % work it out as a £)
holidays so are 25 + banks hols?
Your private healthcare (and if it includes family)
any other benefits

add on 10% and go back for a minimum increase in that amount. You may have to adjust the basic salary even higher to account for loss in Pension contribution etc

StillWantingADog · 16/08/2023 08:20

my dh works for an American company (IT) and I do headhunting on behalf of American (pharma) companies

American companies pay a LOT of emphasis on bonuses and equity, far more than in the UK generally. If there’s no bonus mentioned at least , that sounds very unusual.

DH works very hard for his company and the smaller details of the benefits (eg healthcare which was British people is quire limited) are a bit crappy but he has a good salary and excellent bonus and equity which makes up for it.

what you are talking about doesn’t sound promising at all

Azaeleasinbloom · 16/08/2023 08:21

Negotiate hard OP, especially as this is not a job you need to take. I have worked for several US companies as that’s the nature of my industry, but they have always been better payers, and have matched benefits to the market; they do however expect a high degree of flexibility and do not expect clock watching.
That said, at a management level, if I wanted / needed to go to for example , school sports day, I did, without having to take holidays, but they always got their pound of flesh.

Tell them what your expectations are, and roll the car allowance into base salary - that way they have to pay benefits based on the whole amount; tell them your pension contribution expectations, and insist they match the industry standard for holidays, sick pay etc.
But don’t waste your or their time if you don’t really want it.

rookiemere · 16/08/2023 08:23

I worked for a US company in UK for a number of years. Very long hours culture, did develop me a lot but didn't translate into substantial pay rises and pension as it turns out, was rubbish.

I would be very wary of this offer.

kitchenhelprequired · 16/08/2023 08:31

If you aren't desperate to move you can go for broke in what you ask for. If they say yes then great and if not then fine - it's also not like the process have wasted loads of your time if it's been that fast. Salaries are much higher in the US so a US company setting up in the UK should be used to paying more. Ask for matched benefits plus a significant raise on current salary and if they say no walk away.

RantyAnty · 16/08/2023 08:31

Hard to say if you don't mention your current salary or a hint.

Labraradabrador · 16/08/2023 08:55

Agree you should negotiate hard - it is the norm in the US, and whoever is managing recruitment probably has limited understanding of how UK packages are structured. Salaries are generally much higher in the US than UK, so would expect they are already paying more for a similar role in the US.

as a general rule I would aim for a 20% uplift on current package - had that advice from a recruiter once, and has always been achievable with negotiation for me any my dh. I would go back and say ‘this is my total package including salary, pension, car allowance, bonus, etc. I am excited about the role, but need x in total to make the move worthwhile for me and my family.’ I would ask for 25-30% more than current package with expectation of getting to 20%.

if it is a start#up they will try to low ball you and promise long term incentive instead - equity, etc.- but don’t fall into that trap, especially in the current economic environment. Hold firm, and if they really want you they will figure it out. If they can’t, then it isn’t worth changing jobs. You have the upper hand in that you have a stable, well paying job that you don’t need to leave. I would also slow down the process and ask for more discussion with your future team if you aren’t sure about culture/ fit.

MadeForThis · 16/08/2023 09:02

You are in a strong position to negotiate as you don't need to take the job. You need a substantial uplift in salary to make the move.

I would also be worried about working hours and a culture of little holidays. How will the US office react when you are on holiday and they are working as they only get 2 weeks per year?

rookiemere · 16/08/2023 09:13

Oh and to go back to your original question, absolutely not rude to negotiate a starting package and indeed they would probably be surprised if you didn't.
I'd actually say it's pretty rude of them to offer you the same salary that you're on for a new role.

Labraradabrador · 16/08/2023 09:19

@MadeForThis most Americans in professional roles get substantially more than 2 weeks, and most Americans wouldn’t consider national holidays as part of their holiday entitlement, so in reality it probably isn’t that much different unless you have a massive holiday allowance in your current role. It is also an accepted norm that workers follow the norms in their countries of employment, nobody is going to get grumpy about taking holiday allowance as long as you follow company rules for booking it in.

i would be potentially concerned about working day expectations - I would assume you probably will end up working a bit later to facilitate meeting availability, but then would also assume a slightly later start to my day. I had the reverse when working for EU and Australian companies - just part of being removed from the majority of the business. But I would not worry about taking holidays.