Communications gap
However, comparison of our two studies shows a huge disparity between the benefits employees say they are offered, and what employers say. For example, while 63% of SMEs claim to offer professional development and training, just 20% of SME employees claim that is the case in their workplace. Similarly, while 41% of SMEs say they provide childcare vouchers, just 7% of SME employees seem to be aware of this. Almost one in three SMEs (29%) say they offer community leave, where employees are given opportunities to work with charitable organisations during working hours. Yet just 3% of SME employees believe their employer provides these opportunities.
These disparities suggest that SMEs have a communications challenge. They are either not making it clear to employees what benefits they are entitled to, or they are providing benefits that are irrelevant to employees and therefore not stimulating their interest, or even awareness, at all. “Providing benefits to employees is not enough,” explained Anthony Vollmer. “Apart from being relevant to employees, for benefits to be truly effective, employees have to understand their value and appreciate their existence. This requires clear communication on the part of the employer.”
Employee benefits provided by SMEs
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Professional development and training
Financial bonuses / incentives
Team social events / functions
Flexible and/or remote working
Pension contributions over the minimum legal requirement
Socialising space within the work environment
Childcare vouchers
Life insurance and/or critical illness insurance
Employee Assistance Programme
Free / subsidised travel (Cycle to Work scheme, company car etc)
Longer paid parental leave than the minimum legal requirement
Leisure / shopping discounts (gym membership, cinemas, restaurants)
Community leave
Flexible pay
Four-day working week
Holiday buy, sell and trade schemes
Performance based leave
Workplace childcare / nursery provision
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
Percentage of SME employees (<250) who say their employer provides this
Percentage of SMEs who say they provide this
Whitepaper – The Engaged Employer 16
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