Employee benefits play a crucial role in attracting and retaining talent in the workforce. Companies that offer comprehensive benefits packages are able to differentiate themselves in the job market and stand out as desirable places to work. The benefits an employer provides can greatly impact an employee’s overall satisfaction and quality of life. This can range from health insurance and paid time off, to more unique perks such as flexible work arrangements and professional development opportunities. By offering a strong benefits package, companies can foster a positive and supportive work environment that promotes employee engagement and motivation.
In our study of over 28 million job descriptions from 16,400 companies across 165+ countries, we found that benefits offered to employees can vary widely. From free meals to legally required insurance, companies offer a range of perks. Some of the most common benefits offered by a majority of companies include health insurance, paid time off, and retirement savings plans. However, companies are also increasingly offering unique benefits such as flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and wellness programs to help employees balance work and personal life.
The above graph contains common benefits and their percentage(number of times the JDs mentioned the benefit)
We also found that extra annual leave is the most common benefit offered by companies, followed closely by health insurance and retirement benefits. While health insurance typically covers the basics, some companies provide separate benefits such as dental (occurring 38% of the time) and vision insurance (occurring approximately 31% of the time). Additionally, flexible working hours and remote work are gaining popularity as employers recognize the benefits of offering more flexibility to their employees. Many companies are also investing in their employees’ development through benefits such as education assistance, and professional training. These benefits can not only improve job satisfaction but also help employees grow their skills and advance their careers within the company.
The above graph contains relatively niche benefits and their percentage(number of times the JDs mentioned the benefit)
In our analysis of niche benefits, we discovered that companies are offering nursery and childcare benefits to support working parents. These benefits, which are common in countries like the US, UK, Australia, and Europe, may include on-site or nearby childcare facilities, subsidies for childcare expenses, or flexible work arrangements. Additionally, companies are also providing pet insurance to cover employees’ unexpected veterinary expenses.
Fertility issues, due to increased stress levels, lack of work-life balance, and delayed childbearing, are becoming increasingly prevalent in the corporate world. To address these challenges, some companies are offering fertility assistance as an employee benefit.
In an effort to provide more flexibility to employees, companies are also offering flexible work hours, remote work options, and sabbaticals.
Below is the analysis of some interesting benefits that we have observed particular to specific geography –
Multisport card:
A multisport card is a card that allows access to multiple sports and recreation facilities. This is prominently found mostly in central and eastern European countries like Poland, Czechia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Croatia. The Multisport card is common in Poland and surrounding countries due to its popularity as a convenient and cost-effective way for people to access a variety of sports and recreational activities, including gyms, fitness classes, and swimming pools.
Overtime allowance:
We found that overtime allowance was given predominantly in Japan. Overtime allowance is given as a benefit in Japan to compensate employees for working additional hours, which is a common occurrence in the country due to its long working hour’s culture. Another factor is Japan’s ageing population. With the population getting older, there is a need to retain experienced and skilled employees who have valuable knowledge and expertise. Offering overtime allowance gives additional financial benefits, which can help to mitigate some of the costs associated with getting older, such as higher healthcare expenses.
Free Massages:
In countries like Japan and Germany, where corporate wellness culture is more prevalent, it’s more common for companies to provide on-site massages to their employees. In the United States, tech companies and startups are known to offer this type of perk as well.
Identity Theft Protection:
Identity theft protection as a benefit is seen mostly in the United States due to several reasons, including: High instances of identity theft in the US. Stringent data privacy laws and regulations. Growing awareness among consumers about identity theft. Increased adoption of technology and online services that store personal information. As a result, many companies in the US offer identity theft protection as an additional benefit to employees to help protect their personal information and mitigate the risk of identity theft.
In conclusion, employee benefits play a critical role in attracting and retaining talent in the workforce. Companies are offering a wider range of benefits, including traditional ones like health insurance and paid time off, and new-age benefits like flexible work arrangements, wellness programs, and student loan repayment assistance. Benefits like extra annual leave, flexible work hours, remote work options, and professional development opportunities are gaining popularity, while traditional benefits like health insurance and paid time off are becoming less effective.
Companies should assess their benefits packages regularly and tailor them to meet their employees’ changing needs and priorities to ensure they remain competitive in the job market.
