Employee benefits offer a way to attract and keep people, contribute towards improving wellbeing, and encourage required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. However, there are several factors to consider when introducing a benefit to make sure it’s valued by workers while also supporting people management practices and aligning it with wider business goals.

This factsheet explores the past and present of employee ‘perks’, from paternalism to the start of the UK welfare state and through to today's more individualised approach. It looks at the types of benefits employers can offer, and what to consider when implementing employee benefits as part of a reward strategy.

On this page

Members access only

Unlock exclusive, tailored content and resources, just for members.

Sign in to access

Not a member yet? Find out how you can become a member today!

Bullying
and harassment

Discover our practice guidance and recommendations to tackle bullying and harassment in the workplace.

View our resources

Related content

Factsheet
Employee relations: an introduction

Understand what employee relations means as a concept and what it means to employers

Thought leadership
Skills, better jobs and business partnership key to UK growth agenda

Ben Willmott explores the new Labour Government strategies to enhance skills and employment to boost economic growth

Report
Working Lives Scotland

Dedicated analysis of job quality and its impact on working lives in Scotland

Report
CIPD Good Work Index

The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives

Explore our other factsheets

Factsheet
HR policies

An overview of the purpose and benefits of HR policies and how to implement and communicate them effectively throughout an organisation

Factsheet
Workforce planning

Explores the benefits of workforce planning, the activities involved and the stages of the workforce planning process

Factsheet
Discipline and grievance at work

Learn the fundamentals of disciplinary and grievance policies and practices in the workplace

Factsheet
Employee relations: an introduction

Understand what employee relations means as a concept and what it means to employers

Factsheets