Employee benefits are more important to candidates than ever
before. It's no longer enough to offer a competitive salary – companies are
wooing recruits with top-notch benefits packages that include catered meals,
personal trainers, and luxurious holidays.
Of course, you don’t have to offer over-the-top benefits to be
competitive. At the end of the day, candidates value benefits that will improve
their quality of life, such as healthcare, childcare, flexible working hours,
and robust pension plans.
Post-pandemic, many companies are offering flexible benefits
packages to go alongside newly flexible working hours. A MetLife
survey found that 50% of employees would sacrifice part of their
salary for the opportunity to craft their own benefits packages.
After all, a healthy and happy employee is far more likely to
stay with your company and do their best work than one struggling with their
quality of life. So, it's important that you promote the advantages of working
for your company by highlighting your benefits packages at every step of the
hiring process.
The top employee benefits for candidates in Switzerland
Not every benefit is created equal. While some companies attempt
to dazzle their candidates with extravagant options, most senior Swiss recruits
prefer sensible benefits packages that provide value to their lives.
Experts recommend that you conduct
market research and focus groups to find out what
benefits your desired candidates actually want and value the most. This
research can ensure that you’re offering the right benefits to attract
and hire
for the best cultural fit. You should also consider allowing your
employees to create their own ‘mix and match’ package that suits their needs.
Here are just a few of the benefits offered by the top companies
and banks in Switzerland.
- Childcare
benefits -
Give employees peace of mind that their children are in good hands by
offering quality childcare. This is especially important to Swiss people,
as childcare
comes at an extreme cost.
- Parental
leave – Similarly,
candidates are attracted to competitive parental leave packages that
exceed the Swiss national allowance of just 14 weeks for the mother. Where
possible, you should exceed this leave and offer it to all parents to split
and use how they best decide.
- Eldercare
benefits – Similarly,
caring for an ageing parent is stressful and costly. Your employees will
appreciate this benefit, as around
70% of Swiss people over the age of 80 suffer from chronic
illness.
- Extended
medical insurance –
Extended benefits cover dental care, elective procedures, chiropractor
treatments, eye health, counselling, massage therapy, and more.
- A
handsome pension plan – This is one benefit that should
never be overlooked. Offering a strong pension plan will attract the best
recruits in your industry.
- Flexible
working hours – The
pandemic changed the way we live and work, and employees want the
opportunity to work from home and set their own hours.
- Professional
development opportunities – Employees at all levels of
their careers appreciate the chance to learn new skills and participate in
mentorship schemes to pave
the way for promotions.
Offering a good benefits package could set you apart from the
crowd
Your benefits package could be the difference between a
candidate accepting your offer and going to work for a competitor. Remember –
attractive benefits build trust and show respect, important
aspects of fostering an ethical workplace.
Your company’s benefits package should be effectively
communicated throughout the entire recruitment process, from the initial job
description to the final interview - and even the onboarding process. Be clear
about what you offer and clarify if you allow flexible working hours – people
want to know.
Communicate your benefits and attract the best candidates
Are you unsure about the best benefits to offer, or have you
been having trouble attracting the right candidates? Now is the time to get in
touch with Swisslinx to discuss your hiring needs.
Swisslinx is a specialist recruitment agency whose core markets
include financial services, digital and technology, healthcare and life
sciences, and commodities and natural resources. They have the connections and
the experience to help you recruit the top talent in your field.
Discover more about their financial services team and digital
and technology expertise, or explore the site to find out more
about how Swisslinx can help.
