Employees’ benefits have evolved into a necessary component of any competitive compensation package. From legally mandated insurance to free snacks, benefits and perks can play a significant role in attracting and retaining talent.
So, whether you’re considering developing effective benefit plans or looking to improve your current policies, we’ve got you covered – we present the fundamentals of compensation and benefits, including forms of employee advantages, common benefits per location, and insight into what applicants and employees genuinely want:
What exactly are employee benefits?
Before we get into the specifics of employee benefits (also known as fringe benefits), let’s define the term:
This employee benefit definition includes job benefits such as insurance (healthcare, dental, and wellbeing), share options, and mobile phone plans. However, employee benefits can range from training opportunities to startup perks (let’s not forget the infamous ping pong tables). In general, any type of non-wage gain associated with an employee’s position can be classified as an employee benefit, whether it is mandatory or voluntary provided by an employer.
All businesses are obligated by law to provide the following basic benefits:
1. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act:
It allows the former to keep their former employer’s insurance benefits while seeking a new career.
2. Benefits for disabled people:
Employees who are injured on the job may be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits, which are governed by state workers’ compensation legislation.
3. The Family and Medical Leave Act:
It is a federal law that allows people to take time off (FMLA)
Workers are entitled to paid leave for family or health reasons, such as childbirth or illness, under this federal statute.
4. Wage subsidy:
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) established a minimum wage for hourly workers that businesses were compelled to pay. While the minimum salary varied depending on the type of job or state, it served to make sure employees are compensated adequately for their work so that they could sustain themselves financially.
5. Overtime:
Apart from the government benefits, many employers prefer to provide a number of other typical fringe benefits suitable to the needs of their employees in order to provide a more satisfying work environment.
Employee Benefit Types:
Two of the most critical parts of having a profitable company venture are attracting and maintaining talent in the workforce. Employee perks are non-wage compensations provided in addition to a worker’s income, and some of them can be quite helpful in retaining talent and attracting new prospects. Recognizing what your firm can provide is critical since the suggested employee benefits package can play a key influence in discussions between employers and talents they are interested in. In addition to the ones required by law, here are seven sorts of employee perks your company must consider incorporating in the package (such as minimum wage, overtime, compensation, and disability insurance).
1. Medical coverage
The most essential employment perks that potential employees care about are those that are related to their health. Health benefits such as medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, disability payments protection, and long-term care will demonstrate to your employees that your organization appreciates both their efforts and their health.
Health and dental insurance, the most important of all the health perks described above, can assist your employees to acquire private rooms in clinics when they need them, cover the expenses of prescription medications, and provide them with a variety of dental treatments, among other things.
Long-term care compensates for expenses for an ill or injured employee’s care, whereas disability income protection covers the employee’s compensations in the event they become sick or disabled.
2. Benefits from pensions and retirement
Certain employee benefits are designed to look after your employees even after they retire. A pension is a set sum of money paid to an employee when they retire at regular periods. Aside from a pension, retirement benefits can include things like giving specialized health-related benefits.
3. Employee advantages that help sustain a family
A significant proportion of your employees are likely to have spouses and children, and some of them may be responsible for the care of elderly relatives. Every business, no matter how big or small, should create an employee benefits package that focuses on assisting employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.
4. The advantages of education and training
When it comes to attracting and retaining talent, respecting your employees’ need to learn and grow personally and professionally will earn you a lot of brownie points. Employers who are willing to provide the education and training advantages such as mentorship programs, workshops, seminars, or tuition refunds will be highly valued by employees.
5. Relocation and transportation benefits
Employees will be able to manage the expenditures of official travel with the help of transportation benefits. These benefits could include payments for taking the bus (buses, trains, or metros), payments for other modes of transportation, or even the provision of vehicles such as automobiles or bicycles to drive to and from work. Relocation aid perks assist your employees in making a smooth move from their current locations to your company’s location.
6. Benefits from legal assistance Your employees may require professional legal assistance on issues such as family law or real estate planning at times. Allowing people to approach your company’s legal representatives with issues they need assistance with will help you impress new employees and current employees.