Prospective employees increasingly expect employers to provide benefits like health insurance, PTO, and retirement packages. That increase in expectations doesn’t mean that every job will offer these types of benefits though. If your job doesn’t offer benefits, what are some things you can do?

Lobby for Them

Your company may not see a need to provide benefits for its employees. If that’s the case, lobby for them. You’ll probably need to find a way to show the company that they benefit from offering employees benefits as well. Ideally, you would put the benefits to the company in terms of dollars saved or earned, but that isn’t always easy. Sometimes benefits are more intangible. Still, it’s important to show the company how they benefit. Otherwise, they may see offering benefits as little more than an unnecessary expense that eats into their profits.

Look for Your Own

Lobbying may not be effective, or you may not have the time to put towards lobbying for benefits. Either way, it may be necessary to look for a way to access benefits like health insurance, dental insurance, and retirement plans on your own. You can always look to the health insurance marketplace to find a health insurance plan that fits you. If your job doesn’t offer dental insurance, a dental discount plan can help you pay for treatments. Find a reputable retirement advisor who can help you come up with a plan for building up your retirement fund. It takes more work to organize all this yourself, but it’s better than not having any of it at all.

Budget for Benefits

Of course, if your best option is to pursue benefits on your own, you’ll have to pay for them out of your paycheck. Admittedly, that’s usually how it works when benefits are provided through your employer too. The difference is that the money for employer-provided benefits is taken out of your paycheck before you see any money yourself. Thoughtfully design a budget that allots money for the benefits you need most and commit to it.

Some jobs only provide benefits required by law like workers’ compensation insurance and unemployment insurance. If your job is like that, it may be necessary to take things into your own hands. Consider what your needs are and the best ways to ensure they are met. If all else fails, take some time to look for a new job that offers the benefits you need.

Check out these health insurance hacks everyone should know!