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Page 4 Tuesday, October 18, 2011 Red Bluff Daily News Perks go beyond dollars and cents Salary might garner all the glory, but many times addi- tional benefits are just as significant when one is deciding to accept or decline a job offer. The offer with the highest salary isn't necessarily the ultimate deal for everyone. Instead, it's best to consider additional benefits before making such an important decision. * Retirement: Pensions are largely a thing of the past, but companies that do provide pension plans should merit heavy consideration. But even if most applicants are unlikely to find a company with a pension plan, there is the issue of a 401(k) and whether a company will match an employee's contributions. Companies will typi- cally only match up to a certain percentage, but a compa- ny that does match employee contributions should be very appealing. * Vacation: Vacation time and how employees earn it is relatively standard, but some companies do offer better packages than others. In general, employees who have been with the company 1 to 3 years get two weeks of vacation time, while those who have been with a compa- ny for 4 to 10 years typically receive three weeks vaca- tion time. However, not all companies adhere to this stan- dard, and some might require employees to work as many as six years before earning a third week of vaca- tion. Applicants must decide if salary or additional vaca- tion time is a higher priority. * Medical insurance: Medical insurance varies greatly depending on the company. Larger companies might offer more affordable medical insurance, giving them a distinct advantage over smaller companies when appli- cants have a spouse and children to consider. * Holidays: Holidays are typically a minor consideration, but some applicants might prefer a job that guarantees they get all of the major holidays off, even if it means tak- ing less in salary. Applicants who typically travel signifi- cant distances during the holidays might want a job that gives them an extra day, such as the day after Thanksgiving, rather than one that requires they use a vacation or personal day to travel during the holidays. * Tuition assistance: Some companies provide tuition assistance to employees who want to continue their edu- cation. Such assistance can be worth thousands of dol- lars, mitigating any concerns about lower salary offers. * Stock options: Stock options below market value might make a job more appealing even if the initial salary offer doesn't compare to other offers. * Child care: The cost of child care is substantial, and men and women with children to consider might prefer a job that assists with, or completely covers, those costs more than a job that simply offers the best salary. * Gym membership: Gym memberships have also got- ten more expensive, and some companies have deals with local gyms that make their employees eligible for dis- counted rates. Some companies also have gyms on cam- pus that are free as well as convenient. When accepting or declining a job offer, men and women must consider everything included in that offer and not just salary. Pictured left to right in the back row: Korinna Alloway, Carrie Clark, Kathy Garcia, Connie Ocampo, Michelle Clement, Amanda Wigno Front row: Lisa Jones, Mavis Williams, Janet Blackketter, Kathy Schmitz (seated), Linda Buckingham (Not shown: Ariana Serrano) The Job Training Center is the Tehama County's workforce development resource; the place to go for job seekers exploring career choices, training and new opportunities and for businesses seeking assistance with hiring, human resources and training. The Center is open Monday – Friday, from 9am to 5pm and provides access to the Internet for job search, computer classes, resume assistance and review, regional job postings, regular workshops and more. The Job Training Center employs seventeen full time employees, including twelve amazing women in business. The Job Training Center has been operating in Tehama County for twenty-two years. Visit and learn more at www.jobtrainingcenter.org.