Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

These are the best 20 best perks and benefits offered by top companies

More than third of employees admit perks and benefits are amongst their top consideration before accepting a new job

Zlata Rodionova
Friday 18 March 2016 13:55 GMT
Comments
Airbnb offers staff employees $2,000 (£1,413) to travel and see the world.
Airbnb offers staff employees $2,000 (£1,413) to travel and see the world. (Getty)

From free food to a day off for your birthday everyone enjoys a company that comes with benefits. But some employers go beyond pensions, healthcare or company cars to attract new talent, according to a report.

More than a third of employees admit perks and benefits are amongst their top consideration before accepting a new job, according to a survey of more than 1,000 people by Glassdoor, a recruiting website.

The best perks being offered by companies included an all expenses paid holiday for the whole staff from TransferWise, a £5,000 joining bonus offered by Huddle a software firm and a $2,000 (£1,413) travel allowance from Airbnb.

Joe Wiggins, Glassdoor career trends analyst said perks might “get people in the door” but when it comes to what keeps employee satisfied at their job it’s a different story.

Economic research, culture and values, career opport­unities and sen­ior leadership are the most imp­ortant factors in cultivating employee satisfaction, according to Glassdoor economic research.

“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 long-term,“ Wiggins said.

These are the 20 best perks and benefits offered by UK employers, according to Glassdoor.

1. Huddle

(Stockbyte/Getty Creative)

The software company gives employees a £5,000 joining bonus called a 'Huddle Cuddle', as well as a gift worth £500 every year.

2. TransferWise

(Andrea Rossato, Italy)

The firm takes all staff members away on annual, all-expenses-paid company holidays.

3. Airbnb

Airbnb offers staff employees $2,000 (£1,413) to travel and see the world.

4. Skyscanner

Official figures suggest a sharp decline in underage drinking since the 1980s (2014 Getty Images)

Skyscanner, a website which enables people to find comparisons for flight, hotel and car hire, has negotiated employee discounts at the local pub and beauty salon.

5. The Body Shop

Arash Derambarsh, a municipal councillor for the commune of Courbevoie in Paris stands alongside other volunteers. He believes only legislation can prevent food waste by large supermarkets. (Arash Derambarsh)

The company pays staff for five volunteering days per year.

6. Peninsula Business Services

How long is too long for the Christmas decorations to stay up? (Rex Features)

The HR, employment law and health and safety consultancy lays on a Christmas party for employees' children.

7. AutoTrader UK

(iStock)

AutoTrader UK has a wine club, giving employees discounted wine delivered to their door every month.

8. Jive Software

The company offers staff free food including Bacon Thursday and Hot Food Friday, healthy snacks, free drinks including soft drinks, beers on tap and coffee.

9. Opus Professional Services

Tenuta Borgia, Italy

Opus Professional Services has a villa in Italy that employees can use free of charge whenever they want.

10. Visualsoft

Britons could end up paying more for holidays to continental Europe and they risk losing important consumer protections (getty)

The firm offers unlimited holiday time and unmonitored flexitime, allowing staff to take the time off that they need.

11. CA Technologies

A mother and her three-year-old daughter eat lunch together on a park bench on September 16, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. Germany is currently debating the introduction of a nation-wide home child care subsidy (Betreuungsgeld), which would provide parents of one to three-year-old children the option of receiving EUR 150 (196.91 USD) a month to care for the child at home rather than sending him or her to a daycare center. Critics argue it would prevent the integration of children of recent immigrants into German society. (Adam Berry/Getty Images)

CA Technologies helps parents out with an on-site Montessori daycare facility.

12. Rackspace

The British love affair with pets does not extend to insurance (AP)

The company offers employees an extra day off for their birthday

13. Allen & Overy

Dental hygienist (iStock/ M_a_y_a)

Allen & Overy provides a GP and dentist on-site, helping to keep employees' health in tip-top condition.

14. Pentland Brands

Pentland Brands provides an on-site swimming pool, gym, tennis court and football pitch.

15. ARM Holdings

Holidaymakers in Benidorm, on Spain's Costa Blanca (Getty)

ARM Holdings offers employees a 4-week sabbatical for every 4 years of service.

16. ASOS

Consumers are now looking to be able to change clothes every couple of days – or even every day (Corbis)

Staff benefit from a 40 per cent discount on website purchases.

17. Swinton Insurance

Oxford Circus on Black Friday morning (Ryan Ramgobin)

The insurance company gives employees an additional day's holiday for Christmas shopping.

18. Google

(iStock)

The tech giant provides employees with free food while they are at work, with a range of different cuisines on offer.

19. Jagex

Jagex, UK’s largest independent developer and publisher of online games offers staff free bicycle repairs at the office, encouraging them to cycle to work and keep fit.

20. Holiday Extras

The company hires out a cinema every year and offers a free film showing to all employees and their families.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in