What employee benefits are most valued in the charity sector?

Working in the charity sector can be extremely rewarding for employees. However, that isn’t always enough to retain employees at your organisation. Instead, you should aim to provide an employee benefits package, that shows how much you value your hard-working employees. In this blog, we delve into some of the most valued employee benefits in the charity sector, while offering advice on how you can retain the best employees.

Flexible working

Flexible working can be an attractive benefit, especially when it comes to family emergencies, medical appointments and childcare. Flexible working isn’t just about being able to work from home either. It’s about being giving your employees the choice to work the hours that suit them and achieve a better work life balance. As a result, employees can prioritise family commitments and grasp volunteering opportunities as they see fit. This perk is beneficial for the charity industry as it demonstrates to employees that their company trusts them, improving employee retention in the process. Several charities are even said to be moving to a four-day week, with no loss of pay. This could be something to consider in order to ensure your employees aren’t looking elsewhere for other roles.

Wellbeing support

Given the nature of the industry, it is important to consider your staff’s mental health. Wellbeing support ensures employees have access to the support they need, through support groups, counselling and mindfulness programs. It can also help to have an open-door policy in the workplace, where staff experiencing mental, emotional or physical difficulties can talk openly. This can help them to feel part of a caring, inclusive culture that allows them to be themselves.

Furthermore, healthcare benefits are said to be one of the most popular employee benefits in the charity sector, as offering coverage in this area will alleviate the financial burden of bills by ensuring employees can access private healthcare when they need it.

Money saving perks

Love a bargain? Money saving perks can help to relieve any financial stress that your employees may be feeling. If your staff need to travel frequently for work, it can be beneficial to offer discounted transport, airfare, and hotel stays, making work trips more comfortable and enjoyable.

In addition, money saving perks can be a great way to encourage employees to prioritise their physical health. From gym membership deals to national park tickets, providing employees with affordable options shows that you care about their personal wellbeing. Also, with work output being directly linked to employee wellbeing, it only makes sense to look after your employees in the charity sector, as you’ll be looking after your business too.