Generous benefits package = more likely to treat staff well?

easylife73

No, as it's a charity I feel quite strongly about. You can't expect everybody connected with a charity to work on a volunteer basis, if you want qualified staff to do a good job you have to be able to compete in the marketplace as an employer, otherwise you'll end up with low paid, unmotivated staff who end up doing more harm to the reputation of the charity than good in the long run. We've had previous dealings with them, and I'm more than confident that they use their funds in an appropriate manner, thank you.

DKLS

easylife73 wrote: »

As the title says really...I'm curious to know whether, from experience, people would say that if an employer has a generous benefits package it's a good indication that they respect their employees and are more likely to be a "good" employer, so to speak? Obviously not all employers are able to offer lots of benefits, for various reasons, and I'm not suggesting that that makes them "bad" employers, but generally, if the package is good is it a good sign?

Not necessarily, I have been involved in devising the benefits packages for a number of companies mainly they are designed to benefit the organisation, the ones I was involved with were put in place to aid staff retention and recruitment.

Basically how do we attract the best staff and how do we keep them and motivate them.

I find a better sign of a company is to look at their values, I can instantly spot a organisations issues as soon as I read their list of values.

easylife73

In what way DKLS? What sort of thing would be reassuring and what would be a red flag?

DKLS

easylife73 wrote: »

In what way DKLS? What sort of thing would be reassuring and what would be a red flag?

Its not so much red flags or about reassurance its more that I know what I can expect if I worked at a company.

If you look at a list of companies values you normally find that because its been listed that behaviour isn't a norm in that organisation and more an aspiration.

easylife73

Aah, I see what you mean, that's interesting and I've never thought of it like that before.

Gavin83

theoretica wrote: »

My current work has some great benefits: good sickpay, well above minimum holidays. However I am confident I could earn double my salary pretty soon if I left.

I'm basically the same. I work for the public sector so the benefits are generally good. However I could earn a lot more by shifting to the private sector. However they normally treat you well and respect you as a person and that goes a long way.

usefulmale

easylife73 wrote: »

No, as it's a charity I feel quite strongly about. You can't expect everybody connected with a charity to work on a volunteer basis, if you want qualified staff to do a good job you have to be able to compete in the marketplace as an employer, otherwise you'll end up with low paid, unmotivated staff who end up doing more harm to the reputation of the charity than good in the long run. We've had previous dealings with them, and I'm more than confident that they use their funds in an appropriate manner, thank you.

I think that 6 figure salaries, chuggers and endless begging letters and/or phone calls do far more harm to charities than having employees organise and pay for their own car leases etc ever will.

If you feel that strongly about the charity, you should be happy with fewer benefits than what a company that actually generates a profit can offer.

pinpin

Deleted%20User wrote: »

I know of a company gives 32 days holiday, gym downstairs, car parking, unlimited tea and coffee, feed lunch twice per week not that there is any structure, all in a beautiful office (I couldn't make it up)

I get so depressed when I hear things like this! lol
My 'working life' since I got my first job about 10 years ago and ever since has always felt a bit like i'm a slave. Punch the clock as I enter the building, supervisors making sure i'm not taking too many toilet breaks or talking to my co-workers about non-work issues, Short, unpaid lunch breaks, tiring work without gratitude etc etc.

But I have some friends whose work-lives just seem like a different world.
They seem to almost be able to leave and arrive at work whenever they want! Boozy lunch breaks which run into the late afternoon. 'Meetings' which last the day whilst they chat and drink coffee and eat good food.
One of my friends who works for a a large social networking company (who you'd have all heard of) has a wide screen TV as big as a full sized football goal in the office which is connected to a games console, and the staff play FIFA on it for hours at a time during the 'working' day to unwind!

If I ever have another life after this one, I really hope i'm lucky enough to land such a job!!

easylife73

I'm not talking about having a 6 figure salary :rotfl: I'm currently only just above the free tax code level and don't think I'm headed for that astronomical a rise just yet! We support this charity already and have never received the begging letters etc that tend to follow with other charities once you're on their radar, don't know about chuggers but haven't come across them personally for this charity, although obviously that doesn't mean they don't necessarily have them (I'll be the first to admit I don't get out much.)

With regard to the car lease scheme, they don't pay for the cars, the employee does, they've just negotiated an offer with the lease companies, so I don't think that's much to be worried out to be honest. I'm not saying I wouldn't be happy with less benefits as they're a charity, was just asking whether the benefits offer was an indication of a decent employer in general terms. The fact that they are a charity is frankly secondary to the original query.

theoretica

usefulmale wrote: »

I think that 6 figure salaries, chuggers and endless begging letters and/or phone calls do far more harm to charities than having employees organise and pay for their own car leases etc ever will.

If you feel that strongly about the charity, you should be happy with fewer benefits than what a company that actually generates a profit can offer.

The problem with perceptions like this is that as I implied above salary and benefits are linked. If a charity can get good staff at a lower wage by giving benefits, and the benefits cost it less than the increase in salary would do (for reasons of scale, and income tax/NI efficiency) then surely it is a sensible thing for it to do?

For instance, allowing employees to buy a few more holiday days if their work allows is something I consider a benefit, but would probably save the employer money.