Why employee benefits & employee perks are different

Categorised in: Employee Benefits

Whilst the two terms are often used interchangeably, there are some differences between Employee Benefits and employee perks. Find out what they are in today’s blog!

What are Employee Benefits?

Employee benefits are compensations that are given to staff members to incentivise Job Retention. They are often brought in to supplement wages, provide employees with opportunities they wouldn’t necessarily have outside of their job, and tend to be fixed measures. Some examples of an employee benefit include:

• Staff discount schemes
• Employee Training Platforms
• Healthcare services
• Additional holiday allowance (including Unlimited Time Off as well as Flexible Work Policies)
• Wellbeing Support

What are Employee Perks?

On the other hand, this term refers more to factors that can help an employee perform their job more effectively. There is considerable overlap between employee perks and benefits, as both are non-wage compensations and can be used to promote retention and Employee Engagement. However, examples of employee perks cover some of the following:

• Complimentary food and drink
• Company resources such as a laptop or car
• Workplace and team social events
• Policies that Support Diversity and Inclusivity
• A staff room or lounge space

The differences

Essentially, employee benefits are usually seen as measures that can help staff achieve a work-life balance outside of the office. Employee perks, meanwhile, support workers with that same balance inside the office or within working hours. The latter can of course still benefit employees outside of the office (such as the use of a work laptop or car for personal use), but they are primarily for encouraging efficient work.

Yet regardless of the terminology, all businesses should look to incorporate a mix of employee benefits and perks. This is because they all help to achieve the following:

• Higher employee engagement
• Lower staff turnover
• Increased staff wellbeing
• Greater productivity and potential revenue

So, for more information check out Our Employee Benefits App Here (which comes as standard with Our Payroll Services). Alternatively, feel free to Get in Touch Today.