Flexible working hours, bigger pension contributions and extra holiday for long service are amongst top work perks British employees want, according to some recent surveys.
Employees are looking for more tailored benefits packages that will reward their loyalty to an organisation, as their attitude to careers and workplace benefits evolve. Whilst many companies offer flexible working, fewer than 20% of them currently offer shorter working weeks or remote working options.
The nature of work has changed considerably over the last few decades and it is now normal for employees to change job – even career – regularly as part of their personal and professional development. Technology is also driving the ability to be much more flexible about when, where and how we work, moving away from the traditional 9-5 office based set up.
Some employee benefits packages have fallen out of favour – such as health/dental insurance or a company car. 17% of respondents would now prefer more access to mental health care, and 8% would like an office pet!
How priorities are shaping what employees want
One of the more interesting findings was how employee wish list of benefits differed depending on their age:
A recent report from Carers UK showed 1 in 7 workers are juggling work to care for sick, elderly or disabled relatives, so there is a significant risk to losing valuable members of staff.
What the research is telling employers
It's clear from all the research that having a suite of benefits, which would allow employees to choose the thing they value most, whether it's more holiday, flexible working or enhanced pension contributions is preferred, and that a one-size-fits-all approach may end up not being very attractive at all.
Yes, certain benefits can be quite costly, but they are investments worth making if you want to attract the right employees & retain them. Having a happy and healthy work force also means, they will be more productive too!
If you are an employer, understanding what employees value the most and then meeting those needs, is crucial. Otherwise, you run the risk of being unable to attract dynamic individuals, you could also lose talented members of the team, which, in today's very competitive jobs market, you cannot really afford to do.
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