Employers have been urged to be more proactive in letting their workforce know what perks and benefits are on offer.
According to research from GRiD, two in five employers are leaving it up to staff to engage with their employee benefits.
When organisations do tell people what perks are available, they’re doing so in varied and inconsistent ways, such as including details in a welcome pack, on the company intranet or on a noticeboard.
Significantly, less than a quarter (24%) are communicating benefits on a person’s first day in the job.
And just 19% are letting people know what perks are on offer in job adverts.
That’s despite 71% of employers admitting they expect face recruitment struggles this year.
Early communication is essential
GRiD has encouraged to employers to be proactive and clear about communicating employee benefits and to do so as early as possible.
Katherine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, said this is “essential” for retention, recruitment and workplace wellbeing.
“When staff feel genuinely supported, they are more likely to stay with their employer,” she commented.
“So while offering a comprehensive employee benefits package is important, equally important is how those benefits are communicated.”
Ms Moxham added that this could help businesses retain existing employees and reduce the challenge of finding and hiring new people.
Why recruitment struggles can cause future problems
Nearly all of the organisations who expect recruitment struggles are worried about possible knock-on effects, such as:
- reduced productivity - 32%
- business disruption - 30%
- increased workload for existing staff - 27%
- gaps in expertise - 26%
“In today’s competitive recruitment market, employees increasingly recognise that it’s not just about the benefits on offer, but what they signal: an employer that genuinely values and prioritises the health and wellbeing of its people,” said Ms Moxham.
Written by James Glynn
Senior Financial Content Writer
