{"id":9159,"date":"2023-08-07T17:52:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T17:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/?post_type=resources&p=9159"},"modified":"2026-03-20T09:58:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T09:58:36","slug":"most-popular-employee-benefits-uk-2023","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/employee-benefits\/most-popular-employee-benefits-uk-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The most popular employee benefits UK 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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by Paula Flores<\/strong>, HR Data Insights Analyst at Brightmine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to update your benefits package but don’t know where to start? Based on the findings of our new survey, we explore the most popular benefits in 2023 to help employers stand out from the competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2023, HR & Compliance Centre<\/a>, formerly XpertHR tools and resources, conducted a survey of 200 organisations that asked about the benefits and allowances employers are offering and explored which ones are gaining traction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A strong reward package helps employers to differentiate themselves from competitors and retain talent, so it needs to be in line with, if not actually to go beyond, current market trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits offered by employers can provide a welcome boost to employees’ financial circumstances as inflation continues to outstrip pay awards. At the same time, involving employees in the decision-making process has become increasingly popular, especially as employers are looking to provide benefits that their workforce actively use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rise of wellbeing benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wellbeing<\/a> and mental health at work is a subject that has risen to the top of every organisation’s agenda in recent years. The breadth of associated benefits on offer in UK organisations has grown as societal developments have placed a greater emphasis on a more all-encompassing understanding of wellbeing. It is therefore no surprise that, in another recent HR & Compliance Centre global survey, organisations stated that wellbeing was linked to their mission or purpose, with 24% saying it was a business priority, while another 45% indicated that wellbeing was important and deserving of close attention for its impact on their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our new survey, almost all respondents said they offer at least one benefit that aims to positively impact mental wellbeing. Three in five organisations said they provide dedicated mental health support to their employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although an employee assistance programme remains the most popular benefit, with nearly eight in 10 organisations offering one, the provision of digital resources and mental health support is becoming more common among organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, cost-of-living pressures have also put a new emphasis on financial wellbeing programmes to help employees navigate challenging times. More than one in four organisations said they already offer such programmes, which are designed to help employees not just to reduce debt but also to get the most from their money and achieve financial goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Premium resource: Benchmarking – HR Metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nearly eight in 10 organisations assess their benefits by benchmarking against competitors. Can you afford to miss out? Check out the Benchmarking – HR Metrics<\/a> resource where you can see these and many other metrics to boost your employee value proposition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A good pension is fundamental<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No good benefits package is complete without a strong pension programme. This is well understood by employers. Many organisations said they are in the process of reviewing their benefits package to make sure that it is not only “aligned with workforce demographics” but also that the “benefits we provide match with market trends”. This often includes reviewing their pension contributions since these are seen as a fundamental benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employees of different levels often receive very different contributions from their employers. Many organisations operate matched contributions schemes, whereby employees receive a higher contribution from their employer as they increase their own payments. However, the most notable trend in pension provisions is the move to a salary-sacrifice scheme for contributions. Around seven in 10 organisations (69.5%) operate this tax-efficient way of boosting pension savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flexible benefits gain momentum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With a vast array of benefits options available, there are many ways for employers to reward their staff while also boosting engagement and motivation. Examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n