Revealed: The benefits and incentives your employees want the most

The pandemic has instigated a lot of changes when it comes to workplace benefits. For employers, it made them introduce new perks to retain staff, while employees, on the other hand, got a clearer picture of the benefits they look for when it comes to workplaces.

A new study from HR and payroll software provider CIPHR revealed the most valued benefits and incentives for employees, while also shedding light at how employers are out of tune with that their staff are searching for.

The research revealed that paid sick leave is the most valued employee benefit and incentives, with 67% of over 1,000 surveyed workers choosing it. This is followed by flexible working hours with 57%, and pension contribution matching with 46%.

Rounding up the top 10 are the following benefits:

1. Mental health and wellbeing support (40%)
2. Performance bonus (39%)
3. Four-day working week with full-time pay (37%)
4. Extra holiday allowance (32%)
5. Employee discounts scheme (30%)
6. Flexible working location (27%)
7. Market-value salary (26%)

Read more: B.C's paid sick leave: The pros and cons for Canadian employers

Employers' views, however, on what they think are the most valued benefits and incentives for employees, are not that far behind.

Managers think their employees value mental health and wellbeing support as well as flexible working hours out of all, with 39% of employers believing these are their workers’ top choices.

Only coming in second place is paid sick leave with 38%, and then flexible working location with 32%.                                                                                                                                                       

Rounding up the top 10 are:

1. Performance bonus (31%)
2. Four-day working week with full-time pay (29%)
3. Extra holiday allowance (26%)
   Childcare assistance (26%)
   Health insurance (26%)
4. Pension contribution matching (24%)
   Market value salary (24%)
   Extended paid parental leave (24%)
5. Employee discounts scheme (22%)
6. Access to office/workplace (21%)
   Free snacks at work (21%)
   Employee Assistance Programme services (21%)
7. Extra paid day off for birthdays (20%)
   Home office set-up expenses (20%)