EXCLUSIVE: Around two-thirds (65%) of workers consider flexible-working options to be the most important staff benefit, according to research from marketing organisation Mintel.
The study, which surveyed 1,000 full and part-time workers, asked respondents to consider which employee benefits are most important to them.
Of those surveyed, 66% believe having over 20 days of holiday is the most important workplace benefit.
The research also found:
- 63% of respondents consider sick pay a significant benefit.
- 62% believe a workplace pension scheme is a very important workplace benefit.
- 38% of respondents think that private medical insurance (PMI) is an important employee benefit.
- 29% consider dental insurance important, and 26% consider health screening or health checks important.
- Around a quarter (24%) of respondents highlighted free or subsidised gym memberships as an important workplace benefit.
- Around one in 10 (11%) look for fitness classes at work, while 8% look for weight loss or management advice or programmes.
- Almost half (46%) of respondents say they have not been offered a work area assessment or adjustment, while 58% have not been given access to stress management support or advice.
- Less than a fifth (17%) of respondents look for work area assessment and adjustments, stress management support or advice and access to a workplace doctor.
Lewis Cone, senior research analyst at Mintel, said: “From 30 June 2014, every employee was given the right to request flexible working hours after the government extended the right previously reserved for carers and those looking after children.
“According to Mintel’s research, a large proportion of people rate this initiative highly, though a number of companies still do not grant this request or inform their workforce of their right to request such working hours.”