Benefiting from Benefits

Searching for the right career isn’t just about finding a job that you are suited to – it’s also about finding an environment that suits you, an organization that suits you, and benefits that suit you. When it comes to benefits, what you can expect will generally depend on your level of experience and your chosen field of work.

Many organizations realize that in order to attract the best employees, it’s essential to provide a higher standard of employee benefits. Better benefits can mean happier workers, higher morale, and higher productivity.

As you enter the workplace, there may be certain benefits available to you as standard, some benefits you may have to work your way up to, and some will be offered as a bonus for doing well. So, what should you be looking out for when searching for your perfect career?

Group insurance

One of the most popular employee benefit programs is group insurance. This will normally include life insurance, health cover, dental cover, and a range of other insurances. It can be an opt-in program, where sometimes the employer will pay the premiums, and sometimes the cost will be split between employer and employee.

In order to take full advantage of this benefit, be sure to find out as much information as possible. Find out what is covered and what is not, and how much the policy will pay out when needed. Sometimes group insurance does not offer enough cover, in which case, it can be a good idea to purchase further cover from an independent provider.

Income Protection

Income protection can help to provide regular payments in lieu of a salary if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. Again, the level of cover will differ according to the provider, so be sure to find out how much coverage you have. You may need to get further cover if your employer is not offering enough.

Vacation

Most organizations provide permanent employees with a certain number of paid days of vacation per year. On top of that, you may be able to take unpaid days off. Also, find out if you will get paid extra for working public holidays if required.

Sick Leave

Again, most organizations offer a certain number of paid sick days per year. Depending on the employer, you may have to provide a medical certificate in order to get paid for days off sick.

Retirement Plans

Check out the retirement plans on offer to see if they give you what you need. Think about what you want out of your retirement, and whether the investment opportunities on offer are right for you.

Profit Sharing

Many organizations will give employees a chance to share in the success of the company. For listed companies, this will often come in the form of employee shares. If you work for a profitable company, this can be a great investment.

Company Car

Company cars were once offered much more freely than they are today. If you have a sales job, or one that directly involves traveling, then a company car may well be on the cards. If not, you may have to be fairly high up in the organization before they give you a car.

Free or Subsidized Meals

Another popular work perk is free or subsidized meals. This may mean cheaper meals in the cafeteria, food vouchers to use within the work complex, or free breakfast, snacks, tea, and coffee in the break room. While it may not sound like much, this can really save you money day-to-day.

Gym Membership

If you have a sedentary job then you may want to blow the cobwebs off after work in the gym. Many jobs now offer discounted or free gym membership to workers to allow them to blow off steam and get the blood flowing to the brain.