"Men reported requesting stock options almost three times more than women, and people ages 50 and older were more likely to request stock options than those in their 20s," the Paychex survey found.

Among other demographic differences: Women were more likely than men to request flexible work hours and parental leave. Employees in their 20s were more likely to request tuition or student loan reimbursement from their employers. Older employees were the most likely to request disability insurance. If an employer decides to negotiate benefits, the first step is choosing which benefits programs can be included in the negotiations. Employers must "be clear about what benefits they are legally able to negotiate," said Kristen Fowler, practice lead with Clarke Caniff Strategy Search in Troy, Mich. "Be upfront with employees and job candidates on what benefits the organization offers and if they can be changed," she said. It is important to consider the value an employee or job candidate brings to the organization compared to the risks, costs and potential complexity of offering something different. "Normally, we will not consider changing our standard offerings unless it is a particular higher-level management position or perhaps an ideal candidate for a role we have been unable to fill," said Jilian Dimitt, SHRM-SCP, human resources director for Optima Office in San Diego.