Job perks not as important as culture, opportunities and leadership

By The Press Association22nd March 2016Career AdviceCareer Advice, Careers, CPD, Workforce

A £5,000 joining bonus, extra holidays, discounted wine and free food and booze are among the perks being offered by some firms, according to a new study.

A survey by jobs site Glassdoor found that other benefits included an annual outing to the cinema for staff and their families, free bicycle repairs and an extra day off to go Christmas shopping.

Research among more than 1,000 workers highlighted the best perks being offered by companies including software firm Huddle (£5,000 joining bonus), money transfer company TransferWise (annual, all expenses paid holiday), Airbnb (money to travel), the Body Shop (volunteering days), AutoTrader (wine club) and Jive Software (free food).

Joe Wiggins of Glassdoor said: “Perks might get people in the door, but when it comes to what keeps employees at companies and satisfied on the job, it’s a different story.

“Culture and values, career opportunities and senior leadership are the most important factors in cultivating employee satisfaction, which can directly impact employee retention.

“While benefits and perks are a great way to get employees interested in a company, they’re not among the leading factors that keep employees satisfied on the job and with a company long-term.”