As the working world reopens and rehires, online job advertisements are competing to attract top talent with a variety of ‘benefits’. But are these work perks just for show, and are UK companies offering us what we actually want?
To find out, Moneypenny has analysed 1000 job advertisements on Indeed.com, and surveyed 1,000 UK office workers, revealing employer’s most commonly offered benefits, and how they line up with the workforce’s expectations.
Indeed analysis results
The number one ‘perk’ mentioned across all Indeed job listings analysed, was a ‘pension’.
41% of employers listed this as one of the perks a potential employee can expect if they’re successful in their application.
This was followed by ‘working from home’, with just 22% of job advertisements offering this benefit, despite WFH proving to be a viable option for many workers.
The top five most offered benefits according to the Indeed analysis were as follows:
- Pension – 41%
- WFH – 22%
- Gym – 12%
- Flexible working – 11%
- Sick pay – 11%
Survey results
The survey took a closer look to see if these listings reflect how the UK feels about work benefits.
The top three perks listed above were also named as the top three benefits that UK workers believe should be mandatory for employees – pension, sick pay and flexible working hours.
Following those, the other listed perks that workers don’t believe should be added as ‘extra’ were as follows:
4. Free eye tests
5. WFH
6. Maternity/paternity and adoption leave
7.Time in lieu
8. Kitchen facilities, and tea and coffee
However, analysing the survey results revealed that 42% of UK workers said that a pension is the benefit that matters the most to them, lining up with the most offered perk.
The table below reveals the top ten perks that workers are looking for, according to the survey:
| Pension | 42% |
| Sick pay | 41% |
| Flexible work hours | 40% |
| Ability to work from home | 30% |
| On-site parking | 23% |
| Death in service insurance | 21% |
| Training | 20% |
| Bonus scheme | 19% |
| Free eye tests | 18% |
| Time in lieu | 18% |
The survey also revealed the benefits that UK employees already have included at their workplaces.
This included a pension (49%), sick pay (44%) and on-site parking (31%). However, less likely ones were mentioned.
In fact, 4% of respondents reported to have unlimited paid holidays, and 5% said they have dog friendly workspaces.
The survey results also highlighted that the majority of Gen Z (18-24) said they’d like to have weekly drinks and travelling for work the most, as a quarter of participants said so.
However, the boomer generation (65+), as only 2% said the same as their younger colleagues.
They would prefer to have a pension (60%), sick pay (48%) and flexible working hours (38%). These priorities are also reflected across all of the other age groups, with Gen Z being the exception.
Moneypenny also analysed the survey’s results by region, highlighting that a pension is deemed a mandatory perk by workers in East Anglia, East Midlands, London, North West, Northern Ireland and Wales.
However, sick pay was the top choice for the North East, Scotland, South East, South West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Workers across the regions all said the same, according to the data, with all saying a pension or sick pay would be their number one benefit.
Yorkshire and the Humber workers however, said they’d actually prefer flexible working hours.
Ceri Henfrey, Chief Operating Officer at Moneypenny said: “After spending months cooped up indoors, having a healthy work-life balance is more important than ever.
“We believe that one of the ways to help keep your staff happy is to provide them competitive and useful benefits that will enhance their experience working for you.
“We’re not surprised to see flexible working, wellbeing programs and more ‘fun focused’ perks being featured across the listings we analysed, however it would be amazing to see more companies following suit in the future!”
The post A pension, hot beverages or a beanbag? What UK workers actually want from their work benefits appeared first on HR News.
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