Signing Bonus Instead of Salary

They have told you the base pay is fixed by internal banding, but a signing bonus is a different pot. This scripts the request: acknowledge the salary constraint without cornering them, frame the bonus around what you are forfeiting by leaving, and give them an easy yes. For new joiners who got a flat no on salary and want to recover ground.

The company I'm joining has told me the salary for {JOB_TITLE} is fixed at {OFFERED_SALARY} due to internal banding. I believe they have flexibility on a signing bonus even if base pay is locked. I'm leaving a role where I'll forfeit {AMOUNT_BEING_LEFT_BEHIND}.

Generate a script for requesting a signing bonus that:
1. Acknowledges the salary constraint without backing them into a corner
2. Frames the signing bonus as bridging a specific, concrete gap rather than wanting more money
3. Names a figure ({SIGNING_BONUS_ASK}) and provides brief justification
4. Includes a graceful fallback if they offer a smaller amount

Also include a one-paragraph email version for anyone who would rather not have this conversation verbally.