Reports are coming to the fore that half-day Fridays are becoming an increasingly in-vogue work perk offer.
“Last month more than 1,400 UK job postings mentioned an “early-finish Friday” as a benefit for prospective candidates…That compares with just 583 company postings that offered an effective weekend extension in 2018”.
It’s clear that the pandemic was the key driving factor behind this rise in unique work perks. As any recruiter or student of HR knows, the advent of COVID-19 saw a huge priority shift away from hustle culture and unsustainable grafting to a more home-centric, balanced mix of work, life and play all working in tandem.
A lot of people realised they don’t live to work, they work to live. And when it comes down to job seeking and what perks attract the most people and the best candidates, the acknowledgement that work isn’t actually life ranks pretty highly.
But COVID-19, lockdowns, the great resignation and the ongoing fight for talent in a tech-led world has opened the door to a litany of other work benefits and perks. So with the above report in mind - and critical shortages that need immediate filling where possible in key industries across the country - what are the most in-demand work perks in 2023?
Financial Support Flexible financial support can refer to a range of employer programs and initiatives that provide financial assistance to employees. Seeing as inflation is rampant, and the cost of living crisis is out of control it makes sense this ranks highly. Employer initiatives - bike cycle-to-work schemes or commuter costs - should be of consideration, as are things like private health and dental, ride shares, work from home support (laptop, chairs, desk etc).
Wellbeing, wellness and health. “I’d rather have mental health support at work than a high salary”. From creating more supportive Employee Resource Groups to investing in mental health support, candidates want employers to provide better, more targeted and more personal health support at work. This can include things like access to healthcare, affordable housing, healthy food, gym memberships, work bonding sessions and volunteering days. The cumulative effect - on staff morale, health and wellbeing and on productivity - are vast and should not be ignored.
Childcare expansion. Childcare support goes hand in hand with wider initiatives to support families, and especially women, to work with confidence and passion. Childcare benefits can include things like subsidies for daycare or preschool, tax credits for childcare expenses, paid parental leave, and even on-site caregiving support. This is more important than ever when nursery costs are rising year on year and becoming untenable for many parents.
Caregiving support. From job sharing to better support caring responsibilities to helping with burnout and mental wellbeing, caregiving support is vital in keeping your workplace inclusive, happy and productive.
Programs and services that provide support to people who are caring for family members or friends with disabilities - such as flexible work, paid time off or unlimited time off and employee assistance programmes - go a long way. Other support programs - such as respite care, transportation assistance, and financial assistance - can reduce caregiving stress and allow workers to feel valued and seen at work.
ESG, sustainability and green initiatives. “One in 10 workers are actively looking for a job linked to ESG – rising to 14% among 18–24-year-olds – while two-thirds of office workers admit that there are certain industries they refuse to work in for ethical reasons”.
Green initiatives are efforts to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability. Sustainability is a hot topic, especially for younger workers, and should be a central component of your work perk scheme.
Employers have a host of options to choose from - from volunteering on green initiatives in the community, to supporting charities, to investment in carbon reduction in work - all of which contribute to a better recruitment strategy and increasing engagement at work. Reports are coming to the fore that half-day Fridays are becoming an increasingly in-vogue work perk offer. ● “Last month more than 1,400 UK job postings mentioned an “early-finish Friday” as a benefit for prospective candidates…That compares with just 583 company postings that offered an effective weekend extension in 2018”.
It’s clear that the pandemic was the key driving factor behind this rise in unique work perks. As any recruiter or student of HR knows, the advent of COVID-19 saw a huge priority shift away from hustle culture and unsustainable grafting to a more home-centric, balanced mix of work, life and play all working in tandem.
A lot of people realised they don’t live to work, they work to live. And when it comes down to job seeking and what perks attract the most people and the best candidates, the acknowledgement that work isn’t actually life ranks pretty highly.
But COVID-19, lockdowns, the great resignation and the ongoing fight for talent in a tech-led world has opened the door to a litany of other work benefits and perks. So with the above report in mind - and critical shortages that need immediate filling where possible in key industries across the country - what are the most in-demand work perks in 2023?
Financial Support Flexible financial support can refer to a range of employer programs and initiatives that provide financial assistance to employees. Seeing as inflation is rampant, and the cost of living crisis is out of control it makes sense this ranks highly. Employer initiatives - bike cycle-to-work schemes or commuter costs - should be of consideration, as are things like private health and dental, ride shares, work from home support (laptop, chairs, desk etc).
Wellbeing, wellness and health. “I’d rather have mental health support at work than a high salary”. From creating more supportive Employee Resource Groups to investing in mental health support, candidates want employers to provide better, more targeted and more personal health support at work. This can include things like access to healthcare, affordable housing, healthy food, gym memberships, work bonding sessions and volunteering days. The cumulative effect - on staff morale, health and wellbeing and on productivity - are vast and should not be ignored.
Childcare expansion. Childcare support goes hand in hand with wider initiatives to support families, and especially women, to work with confidence and passion. Childcare benefits can include things like subsidies for daycare or preschool, tax credits for childcare expenses, paid parental leave, and even on-site caregiving support. This is more important than ever when nursery costs are rising year on year and becoming untenable for many parents.
Caregiving support. From job sharing to better support caring responsibilities to helping with burnout and mental wellbeing, caregiving support is vital in keeping your workplace inclusive, happy and productive. Programs and services that provide support to people who are caring for family members or friends with disabilities - such as flexible work, paid time off or unlimited time off and employee assistance programmes - go a long way. Other support programs - such as respite care, transportation assistance, and financial assistance - can reduce caregiving stress and allow workers to feel valued and seen at work.
ESG, sustainability and green initiatives.
“One in 10 workersare actively looking for a job linked to ESG – rising to 14% among 18–24-year-olds – while two-thirds of office workers admit that there are certain industries they refuse to work in for ethical reasons”.
Green initiatives are efforts to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability. Sustainability is a hot topic, especially for younger workers, and should be a central component of your work perk scheme.
Employers have a host of options to choose from - from volunteering on green initiatives in the community, to supporting charities, to investment in carbon reduction in work - all of which contribute to a better recruitment strategy and increasing engagement at work.
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