Top Priorities for Employees When it Comes to Benefits Offerings
Building a successful business often depends on having a motivated team. But motivation isn’t the same for everyone, and it’s important to know if your organization is doing enough to help teams feel valued and supported. While a competitive salary can certainly help, it isn’t typically enough to keep teams grounded and willing to “stick it out” with the company long-term.
Benefits offerings are another critical element when trying to attract top-tier talent, and most importantly, keep it. Below, we’ll cover some of the top priorities employers should have when evaluating and implementing their benefits offerings for their teams.
Comprehensive Healthcare
Many modern businesses are looking for ways to make their benefits packages stand out from their competitors’. One way they’re doing this is by offering perks that extend traditional health insurance coverage limits and by providing employees with access to mental health counseling, professional coaching, or employee assistance programs (EAPs).
There are other ways to extend benefits beyond traditional healthcare coverage. For example, many businesses find success by offering free gym memberships to their teams or setting up regular workshops on how to handle burnout.
By being more inclusive in healthcare coverage options, you tell your workforce that you care about their having a balanced and fulfilling life outside their job duties.
Retirement and Financial Planning
Many employees place a lot of importance on securing their financial future. While you may not control an employee’s financial challenges, you can definitely help by providing the right benefits.
Providing access to retirement savings plans can help give employees a sense of financial structure and security. This stability can help them feel more confident about staying with your business for the long term.
Flexible Work Arrangements
Giving employees more control over their work schedules is another sought-after company perk that many talented job seekers want. With competition for remote and hybrid workers increasing, many businesses are also providing generous time-off policies that allow teams to rest and recharge.
Some forward-thinking companies are even offering sabbatical leave to reward long-term employees for their loyalty, helping to prevent burnout while keeping tenured employees actively engaged in their work.
Customizable Benefit Plans
While it’s common for many businesses to adopt similar benefits frameworks for their employees, forcing a one-size-fits-all benefits structure often misses the mark for everyone. This is why customizable stipends, section 125 plans, and lifestyle spending accounts have become much more popular.
These funds let your team choose where to direct their benefit premium allotments based on their actual needs. For example, one person might want to buy a better office chair, while another might prefer more vacation time or vision and dental benefits.
Giving this type of flexibility to employees helps ensure your business’s investments deliver better ROI across all spending categories.
Family and Dependent Care
Another way to stay competitive when building out benefits offerings is to look for ways to support their unique living circumstances. One way to show you care about and value your employees is to offer benefits such as additional parental leave that goes beyond the legal minimum.
Giving teams the time they need to bond with a new family member helps employees return to work feeling supported rather than stressed.
Beyond offering childcare benefits, many employees are also caring for elderly parents. Offering eldercare resources or flexible "family care days" shows you understand the different life stages your team is going through and can go a long way toward building a loyal and motivated team.
Education and Skill Building
Another important benefit many job seekers seek is employers who are willing to help them create a clear path for their career growth. Supporting employees with additional funding for professional courses or certifications helps your team sharpen their skills and move up the ladder.
When your staff sees that you’re invested in their career, whether that’s within your company or in other organizations, when they move on, they tend to feel more connected to the work they do.
Choose the Right Benefits Offerings For Your Employees
A great benefits plan is more than just a list of random company perks. It’s about showing your team that you actually listen to them and understand what they need to stay motivated.
By looking for ways to improve your employees’ health, financial security, and professional development, you’ll help to create a positive and productive workforce.
