When you’re trying to choose a job, there is a lot to think about, and it can sometimes become a little overwhelming. How are you supposed to make the right choice when you haven’t worked for that business, or done that job? Well, this is one of the reasons why starting a new job can be such a lottery. In fact, there are a lot of jobs out there that might seem like dream jobs for so many people, but can actually turn into a nightmare if you don’t have the right perks and benefits to go with it.
Over 20% of businesses don’t offer their employees any kind of perks or bonuses, and that shows they aren’t going the extra mile to ensure employee retention. Throw in the fact that 38% of employees want to receive rewards for good work, and it’s not hard to see that perks matter a lot to us. These are some of the perks you should be looking for when trying to choose your next job.
Parental
Workplace benefits in 2017 showed that one of the key considerations for a lot of employees was parental perks. Notably things like shared parental leave for fathers, and flexible working schedules. Being a parent is not easy, and you have to make sure you put your kids first as often as possible. So, it’s time to start getting involved with businesses that also recognize that, and this is a perk that needs to be a major factor for you in your decision-making.
Pension
You need to think about your long-term future, and that means considering a healthy pension benefit. There will be some businesses out there offering pension re-enrolment services that are really useful for helping you get the best possible pension outcome you can. Your pension is not something you might think you need to concern yourself with right now, but it matters more than you think.
It’s best if the pension scheme the new employer uses has a five star Defacto rating and is MAF accredited, so you know your future livelihood will be in the best hands possible. This is an important consideration and one that could well be a decisive factor when you are applying for jobs.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is an excellent way of looking after yourself and protecting your long-term health. It’s important to try to look after yourself, especially when you are working in a high-pressure business environment. This is why 60% of employees claim that health coverage is extremely importantin helping them decide whether or not to remain in a job. So, you should look for employment with businesses that offer attractive and competitive health and well-being benefits.
Signing Bonus
Not all companies offer this, but the ones that do are definitely worth considering. Signing bonuses are generally paid out to an employee when they join a company, and this will often occur among high-end businesses in a bid to secure talent instead of their rivals.
A good example of this is the software company Huddle, which pays employees a signing bonus of £5,000 when they join! And, as if that weren’t enough, it also pays them £500 as an annual gift! If you can find employment with a company like this, you know the perks are going to be stunning!
Discounts
Discounts are a common employee perk, but they are something we would all expect. It’s nice to be able to save money on purchases, whether they be holidays, groceries, or entertainment. So, you should do some research and try to find out some of the best employee discounts out there, and who offers them. And you need to make sure you avoid any companies out there that don’t offer employee discounts of any kind!
Flexibility
The work-life balance is so important, but so few of us seem to be able to get this adequately these days. You have to look at what businesses out there offer flexible working terms and conditions. Now, this might be unlimited holiday time, which companies like Visualsoft offer, allowing employees to take time off when they need. Or, and this is a big one, the ability to work from home. More and more Millennials are prizing this as an important perk of the job, and businesses are wising up, with an average of 8 out of 10 employers offering this.
As you can see, there are loads of excellent bonuses and perks that are offered, it’s just a case of finding the businesses that offer them. Decide what is most important to you, and try to secure employment somewhere that provides some of the best perks around. What benefits are most important to you? Let us know in the comments!