Does your employee benefits package stack up?

We have seen a big increase in clients hiring over the past few months and it is set to continue. Whether that is due to a skills shortage or because they have learnt to adapt and push through, it means finding the best talent is not necessarily going to be easy and you won't necessarily have 'the pick of the bunch’.

Maybe you have adapted over the past year and feel you offer an excellent benefits package, but do your benefits align with what candidates want and find most valuable? And how does your benefits package stack up to others in the industry?

Let's kick things off with flexible working - something that's been at the forefront for the past year, due to COVID-19. Many businesses now offer flexible working and as we continue into 2021 and beyond, most candidates take it as standard, that flexible working will be a way of working and not a benefit. So what benefits are candidates looking for? How can you ensure you stand out from the crowd and attract the very best in the industry?

Candidates are looking for professional development and training more than ever, as well as career development and a big focus on wellbeing. Those businesses that understand this and can tailor their benefits package to accommodate this, will be the ones that attract the talent! How many of the below do you currently offer?

• Monthly training allowance - to be spent, however the employee sees fit, with no caveat from the business.
• A structured career development plan - one created by both the employer AND employee at the start of their employment, with regular reviews throughout the year (that happen on time). Clear targets and objectives for the employee to achieve and an end goal in sight – promotion/salary increase etc.
• Company training days/events – Send your employees to a training event/day or better still, host a training event day yourself! Get some pizza and drinks in, line up numerous relevant speakers/trainers/influencers and watch your team engage and their motivation levels rise!
• Monthly wellness allowance – we have all heard of a gym allowance, but not everyone finds release at the gym. Offering a wellness allowance, will allow your employees to spend that money in whatever way they feel will help them best.
• Company bonus scheme – based on the company performance and more importantly, the employee performance...and don't change the goal posts after you've set the benchmark.Hard work should be recognised and rewarded!
• Paid sabbaticals – what a great way to say thank you, by allowing your employees to take a month off paid, after x amount of years’ service. To realise a dream, or go travelling etc.
• Well-being events – from day retreats, mindfulness sessions and spa days. This is a day out of the office to switch off. Good for the mind and body as well as recharging those batteries!

Other more quirky and bold ideas we love:

• Bucket list – get your employees to write down something from their bucket list on to a piece of paper, a ball etc. Every time the business hits a major target, a piece of paper/ball etc is drawn at random and that person gets to live out their bucket list dream!
• Unlimited holidays
• Company away weekends - all work and no play...treat your team to a weekend away for the summer or crimbo party.
• A gift of their choice when they start – for the office, so they have the chance to make the work environment a place they want to be.
• Bring your pet to work day – studies show that people believe having an animal in the workplace makes them more productive and less stressed.
• Star of the month/quarter award – nominated by the entire agency/department.