The benefits and policies employees want — or they’ll walk

With the vaccine rolling out and COVID numbers shrinking in the U.S., more employees are returning to the physical workplace. But they’re not looking to return to business as usual.

Seventy-seven percent of employees say they are ready to return to work on a temporary basis, but they are looking for certain benefits and concessions from their employers regarding flexible schedules, childcare support and their overall well-being, according to a survey by Randstad, a global provider of flexible work and HR services.

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Fifty-four percent of employees say they prefer a flexible work arrangement that allows them to work both on-site and remotely beyond the pandemic. Those employees are willing to make a career move to continue working from home. Twenty-three percent of employees changed jobs for the opportunity to work remotely.

Employees are no longer willing to put up with benefits and compensation that don’t support their lives now: almost one-in-five workers changed jobs during the pandemic, Randstad found. Forty-two percent cited compensation as the deciding factor, and 30% of employees switched jobs for better benefits.

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"American workers experienced a turbulent year that has forever changed their expectations for employers around benefits and workplace safety," Karen Fichuk, CEO of Randstad North America said in a release.

In order to keep their top talent and support the workforce through the challenges of the last year, 41% of organizations offered new health and wellness benefits and 72% also implemented new health and safety policies, according to the Randstad data.

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But as things return to normal, workers will continue to hold their employers accountable and push for benefits that keep them safe and supported. Twenty-three percent of American workers would like to see their employers implement regular surveys on their well-being, 22% want to see new policies to maintain a proper work-life balance, 20% would like new skills training for technology, and 16% would like financial assistance for childcare, the data found.

“Benefits are one of the most important ways companies can attract and retain top talent,” Fichuk says. “Now is the time for employers to review their offerings to ensure they meet market expectations."