Companies are fighting for employees by offering new benefits

Prague, 21 October 2016

The work environment and non-financial benefits are becoming an important tool in the fight for employees. Companies from various segments should take into consideration not only the value of the provided benefits, but also their employees’ preferences. These differ completely from segment to segment. However, employees across segments agree on one thing – the value of the provided benefits should be at least 100% higher than it currently is. This is what the Grafton Recruitment Agency’s survey indicates.

While employees in labourer professions clearly prefer a 13th salary and extra holiday leave for example, employees in business services find a language course or flexible working hours a more interesting benefit. Employees in IT appreciate home office or the option of working with the most modern technologies and on interesting projects.

The value of the provided benefits also differs. In the production segment this value most frequently ranges at around CZK 1,000 per month, in the business services segment the value of benefits is approximately CZK 2,000 per month. However, employees believe they should receive benefits in the value of approximately CZK 5,000 per month. Employers in the business services sector focus on a first-class working environment as well as providing standard benefits, which represents significant investments. “Our survey indicates that office equipment is an important reason for accepting a job offer and that up to 73% of employees would like to see their place of work before signing an employment contract,“ said Jonathan Appleton, Director of the ABSL Association, which represents companies in the business services sector.” This particularly applies to Generation Y, which is very important for our sector. This is why our members offers a number of unique benefits, so that employees feel good here and can relax here as well as working, which is important for intellectual and creative activities.“

Modern amenities include for example:

• A running track on the roof of the building – employees can take a run while enjoying a view of the city
• Rock rooms equipped with guitars and drums
• Relaxation areas reminiscent of Alpine chalets with a fireplace
• Dark rooms for mediation or refreshing naps
• Cocktail bars or outdoor kitchens with a barbeque
• The option of borrowing an electric car and driving it to a meeting

For example, “child-friendly offices” are becoming a matter of course, not only in business services, but also in the financial sphere and in administration in general. Some offices are even experimenting with becoming a “dog-friendly office”. However, according to the Grafton Recruitment Agency’s survey, there is practically no interest in this benefit among candidates. Current new benefits include the offer of massages at the workplace, office yoga, or healthy sitting courses.

In the case of the production sector the Grafton Recruitment Agency’s survey indicates that innovations, which should attract new employees and possibly retain existing employees, are being implemented. “Offers of extra holiday leave, subsidised catering or meal vouchers are practically standard at all workplaces. Contributions to travel expenses or free company buses are also a frequent benefit. These benefits have registered the greatest year-on-year increase,” says Jitka Součková, Marketing Manager at Grafton Recruitment, and she adds, “However companies are adding more and more benefits and are trying to outdo each other in the effort to take employees away from the competition. “One of the most recent unusual benefits is childcare for example. “The employer assures collection of the child from pre-school and transportation to a specific place, for example an after-school class, home or to relatives. Employers may cover up to 70 per cent of the related costs for labourers,” Jitka Součková comments. Subsidised catering, free beverages at the workplace and contributions towards inoculation are currently standard benefits. Implementation of time off for administration, so that employees are able to settle necessary administrative formalities during office hours, are also a practical innovation.

We also encounter rewards for the fact that employees do not take sick leave or refrain from taking holiday leave during the main season. “Such employees are entitled to financial rewards or can enter a draw for material prizes, such as a television,“ Jitka Součková explains.