Handling resistance at a much higher salary increase to account for loss benefits and work/life balance

Question

So I broke down how much I'm making per hour, including the benefits and work life balance, and then built it back up with the new (lesser) benefits, with 20% increase in time worked and with the increased hours (plus accounting for higher tax brackets). This would be the 'break even per hour' point. Even without factoring in a raise, the new rate is extremely higher (about double). How do I sale this as the break even point when negotiating? Do I draft up a page showing my calculations? I think that for most people, going through the calculations would be off putting. I would like to maintain the advantage negotiating I have from being in a field which is in high demand and where I had no need for a new job (and thus can walk away).

(To make it more difficult, where I currently work at publishes all employee salaries but does not count in the benefits nor work/life balance, as otherwise I could just count this as my total compensation and present it as how much I make.)

Edit:

What I'm trying to handle is the following:

Them: "So how much are you looking for."

Me: "$XX."

Them: "That is twice what you currently make."

Do I:

A: "That's what I'm asking for." Even if this is within what they are willing to pay, will they be less likely to agree because I'm asking for so much more?

B: "That previous salary was compensated with generous benefits and work life balance." This seems way too blunt and could be easily taken as insulting the benefits they offer.

C: "Comparing benefits and time worked, it comes down to me making the same per hour. I really couldn't accept a position where I would be making less per hour." This seems the best of the three, but is this still breaking it down too much?

D: Something I haven't even thought of.

Answer 1

I'm not 100% sure what you hope to accomplish with a spreadsheet.

At the end of the day, they have a job and you want a job. The only question is whether the job and salary requirements line up. Cost of living, "work/life balance", tax rates etc don't really matter. In other words, all the computations you want to put in front of them ultimately don't matter and, to be perfectly honest, won't even be read.

If you want, or require, a higher salary than what they've presented then all you have to do is ask for it. If they don't give that then you need to decide if performing the work for the pay offered is worth it. If not, just let them know and move on.

Attempting to provide "evidence" why an offered salary is unacceptable doesn't work.

So, just tell them the number you require and wait for their response.

I know exactly what I'd do if someone came into my office with a spreadsheet showing all sorts of calculations on why they must be paid X. I'd glance at it once to be polite and set it aside. Why? Because no matter what that paper says I know exactly what I'm willing to pay for a position and/or a particular person in that position and the candidate/employees financial situation is really not my concern.

If we can't come to an agreement, then I'll find someone else. If I can't find someone I like for the price I'm willing to pay, then I'll rethink my position and continue looking.

Answer 2

When negotiating anything I personally know my break even point and don't ever go below that.

You don't need a spreadsheet or anything like that, if your rate is acceptable with your current times and pay then simply state to whoever you are negotiating with that you have a bottom line which needs to be met in the event that you have to spend a extra 20% of time in the office .