Common job benefits

There are certain aspects of a job benefit program that are seen in most businesses and should be included when creating benefits for your employees. The following are the most common job benefits that you should offer to your employees. Extended health care Though Canada has a progressive public health system, not everything is covered under the different provincial programs. Providing extended health care to your employees allows them to gain access to health care that is not covered under public health insurance. Some examples of what you can cover in your benefits program are:

• complementary medicine such as chiropractic care, massage therapy, and physiotherapy,
• mental health care,
• eye care, and
• dental insurance.

In most provinces, workers have to pay for these services out of their own pocket, which is why it would be considered a benefit for employees. By offering something like an extended health care program, you can attract employees to your business as well as retain them once they are there.

• Paid time off The Government of Canada requires each province to give workers at least three days of paid time off, but if you are able to increase this, it could be considered a benefit for your employees. The reason this would be considered a good thing to do is that people are starting to understand why paid time off can become necessary. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned that certain things are out of our control and employees should not be punished for needing time off to quarantine or recover from an illness. By adding a day or two to the minimum required by law, employers can show that they truly care about their workers, which can go a long way in finding and maintaining good employees.
• Insurance plans In order to feel secure in their jobs, employees need to have the benefit of comprehensive insurance plans. Insurance plans should at the minimum include both short-term disability and long-term disability, so that employees know that an accident or illness will not mean they lose their jobs. People like knowing that their families will be taken care of if the worst was to happen, so including employment insurance as part of your benefit programs can be a great way to boost morale. Another aspect of this is providing life insurance for your workers. No one wants to think that the worst is going to happen, but we all also want things to be taken care of if it does. Providing life insurance tells workers that their employer cares about them and their family.
• Retirement plans Knowing that you will be able to retire comfortably is a huge benefit for employees of your company. There are two main ways of doing this: one is by creating a pension plan and the other is by providing Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) for your workers. Both of these strategies work in the same basic way, where you as an employer pay into a fund that the employee can access after retirement. The big difference is that RRSPs are a bit more flexible and do not have as many restrictions in terms of when and how much you can access. Either way, providing your employees with retirement saving plans is a wonderful way of adding value to the lives of your employees.
• Flexible work schedules Some people might consider this more of a perk than an employee benefit, but either way, this is a wonderful way of showing appreciation to your workers. As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, the way we work is changing. Employers had to be flexible so that their employees could continue their work and stay safe. We have seen that when employees are able to have flexibility in their schedule, they often are more productive, meaning this does not just benefit the employee but also the business. In this modern world, we no longer have to adhere to strict working schedules as business can happen at any time. Giving employees the ability to work on a schedule that makes sense for their lives is a great job benefit to incorporate into your business.
• Remote work options Just like we saw in the last example, having remote work options can be essential for businesses to maintain good worker relations. If you run the type of business where remote work is a possibility, then it is important to give your employees that option. The idea of working remotely is not going to go away even if the pandemic does, so allowing your employees to work from home can help create a relaxed work environment. Having this option can be seen as a job benefit and could also help you recruit new or more workers. Flexibility is going to be hugely important in the post-pandemic world, so it is important for businesses to jump on board when it comes to remote work. Related article: 10 Recruiting Strategies for Hiring Great Employees

Small business benefits for employees

It can be much more difficult for small businesses to offer benefits programs as their budgets may not allow for it. Things such as extended health care plans can be expensive, so small business owners may need to find other options when it comes to job benefits. The following are a few examples of benefits for employees that will not break the bank.

• Employee discounts Providing employees a discount on services or products is a great way to give your employees job benefits. This does not just apply to businesses that sell products but can include those providing services. For example, providing discounted gym memberships for a local gym means your employees can have the benefit of the discount and stay healthy. A lot of small businesses will also give friends and family rates to employees or their families, which is another wonderful way of showing your appreciation to your workers.
• Free meals Providing food for your employees is always a great way to increase staff morale. If your business has a small kitchen for example, why not keep the fridge stocked with healthy snacks that are available for anyone to munch on? This will not add much money to your budget, but can make staff feel appreciated and happy to work for your company.
• Childcare Allowing your staff to have flexibility around childcare can make a huge difference to how happy your employees are. A small business is probably not able to provide in-house childcare, but they can make it easy for their employees to take extra time off with no penalty if their child is sick. Or, having the ability to leave work early so that they can get to their child’s school play can make all the difference in how satisfied your employees feel and is an easy way to add job benefits for your employees. Related article: Employee Satisfaction Surveys: What They Are and Why They’re Important For Your Business