One aspect of job ads that is often overlooked is employee benefits. A PR Newswire Survey found that 95% of Americans take into account benefits and perks when considering applying for a job. While the main reason for seeking employment may be financial gain, the majority of employees put value in non-fiscal contributions as well.

Employee Benefits Boost Your Appeal

One means of attracting quality employees who fit with your company and its culture, is the draw of employee benefits. Whilst most job ads include remuneration details, in the hope that it will pull in potential candidates; many companies forgo the chance to show off what it is that really makes they’re company worth working at.

This can be a big mistake – whilst salary is important to most job seekers, it does nothing to differentiate your company. A survey of HR leaders found that 60% of them believe an attractive benefit package is a vital part of recruiting.

Although the economy and living expenses are pushing up job seeker’s bottom lines, many would be willing to take a lower paying job with attractive benefits.

Make sure your benefits compliment your company culture

When it comes to employee benefits, it’s important to remember that different benefits will attract different people. This means you have to take a look at what benefits your company offers and see if they are in line with your employee’s wants and needs.

Is your company culture performance driven with a ‘job done at any cost’ type of attitude? Benefits that take the stress out of employees’ day to day life, such as laundry service and free meals at work would be ideal for people who are willing to work longer hours to get things done.

On the other hand, if you want creative people who think outside the box, you would be better off providing them with the freedom that keeps their creativity flowing – flexible working hours, a variety of options in terms of work stations, or perhaps paid leave.

Another thing to consider is demographics – we now employ people spanning over four generations, and priorities differ from group to group. The latest sector to join the workforce, Generation Y, are more likely to favour perks such as annual paid leave, partially or fully subsidised training and development, and flexible work hours. Whereas Generation X and the Baby Boomers are more likely to look more favourably on benefits such as life insurance, health care, and a sense of job security.

Of course, this is not always the case, but by ensuring your benefits are taking into account your ideal employees needs; using them in your ad will help to draw in the applicants you want.

Money Matters; So does Balance

These days, there is an increasing demand for that elusive work-life balance. This means a company that can offer this to its employees holds a massive draw card. Whether it’s through leisure activities, decreased hours, paid leave, wellness perks such as free or subsidized health care, gym memberships or healthy food supplied to the office; benefits that acknowledge an employee’s needs are going to make a job ad far more appealing.

Just remember to only promise things you can deliver on, because if you don’t, you can be sure that it will be heard about. It is important to note that one of the more cost effective perks is also one that holds huge appeal – a flexible work day that gives people the ability to fit their life in with their work.

Spend or Save?

If you’re a small business, or you’re only just starting out and have limited capital to work with, you might be sitting there thinking ‘well that’s great if you’re an established company, but what can I do?’ The answer is plenty. Big or small, employee benefits are a worthy investment.

Thinking back to how costly it will be to hire, fire, rehire; it becomes easy to see how spending money to create happy employees will give you a slower turnover as well as more productive employees. Not only this, but employee benefits can give a lot of value to those receiving them without putting you out of pocket – perks don’t have to be monetary, it’s about the value placed by the employee that makes it worthwhile. When writing your ad, consider some of these ideas!

Perks that Will Give Satisfaction

• Employees want Purpose: targets to reach and responsibilities can be perks if you put the right spin on them – desirable employees will rise to a challenge rather than shy away from it.
• Employees Value Flexibility: Flexible working hours and telecommuting options give employees the chance to regain a work/life balance.
• Attention keeps them Happy: Regular feedback and a chance to voice issues without fear of consequences shows you value your employees without having to blow your budget handing out bonuses.
• Potential for Growth: Top employees are rarely going to be happy to settle into one role for the rest of their life – offers of promotion, expansion and skill development could turn your ‘maybe’ applicant into a ‘hire me please!’

This article was kindly supplied by Haystack Jobs.