More than three quarters (82%) of employee respondents will check an organisation’s benefits package when job hunting, according to research by Jobsite.
Its survey of 1,000 UK employees and 500 employers also found that 34% of employer respondents view benefits as an important recruitment tool.
The research also found:
- 72% of employee respondents would be more motivated and likely to stay at an organisation if offered an attractive benefits package.
- 62% of employer respondents believe they offer a good benefits package, and 47% of employee respondents agree.
- 20% of employee respondents feel their benefits package is poor.
- Just under half (49%) of employee respondents would sacrifice £115 a month for benefits that would contribute to a better work-life balance.
- 93% of employee respondents and 95% of employer respondents believe having flexibility in the workplace makes staff feel more trusted and valued.
- 25% of employer respondents are worried about the effect flexible working will have on staff productivity.
- 41% of female employee respondents value their benefits package at £50 or less a year.
- 29% of male employee respondents value their benefits at more than £500 a year, compared to 17% of female employee respondents.
- 52% of employee respondents name increased annual leave as their top benefit, followed by an enhanced pension scheme (48%), flexible working (45%), and private healthcare (34%).
Nick Gold, chief executive officer at Jobsite, said: “The discrepancy between businesses and employees in attitude towards benefits is very surprising. It’s yet another indication of the new modern working culture, in which employees are looking for flexibility in their working life and remuneration.
“Businesses need to adopt this culture and recognise that offering a strong benefits package is an excellent way of attracting and retaining the best talent. A modern approach to this is creating a flexible ‘shopping list’ style of package, allowing employees to decide which benefits offer the most value to them as individuals.”
