Four-fifths (80%) of female employees want more employer support in their workplace benefits packages, according to research by benefits technology provider Zest.
Its survey of 2,000 UK employees and 872 HR decision makers also found that half of working women (55%) believe their current benefits package is inadequate and 74% want increased financial support from their employer. Just over half (55%) think their employee benefits packages offer value for money.
Private medical insurance (PMI) and increased pension contributions are the two top benefits female respondents would like to receive, cited by 34% and 33% respectively. Three-quarters (76%) want increased pension contributions, while 72% want support with food and energy bills and 68% would like improved workplace savings support.
Just under three-quarters (71%) of working women prioritise financial benefits in their reward packages, while 19% prefer those which support their wellbeing. The majority (92%) of employer respondents have increased investment in wellbeing benefits over the last 12 months.
Just 6% of respondents in the hospitality and leisure sector offer menopause support and 13% offer menstruation leave and maternity support. The sector is the least likely to offer PMI and increased pension contributions, with just 11% and 8% providing these. Nearly all employers in this sector (97%) are seeing employees increasingly ask about their benefits package, with 62% of employee respondents stating they would leave if another organisation offered a better package.
Julia Aaltonen, head of HR at Zest, said: “Employers must ensure they listen to female employees to understand which benefits are most important to them; many organisations are yet to embrace a more personalised approach that delivers value for both employer and employees.
“Organisations that are able to meet employee demands around reward packages not only offer enhanced support but can, ultimately, boost productivity, providing them with a competitive edge. HR leaders with access to simple benefits technology can drive engagement and secure improved value from reward strategies.”
