Companies concerned about keeping their top performers and attracting new ones this year may be sweetening the pot with non-monetary benefits, a new Accountemps survey has found. When chief financial officers (CFOs) were asked about the perks they plan to offer or are already offering, subsidized training and education topped the list (29 percent), followed by flexible schedules or telecommuting (24 percent) and mentoring programs (24 percent).
The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from more than 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.
CFOs were asked, "What perks, if any, is your company offering or planning to offer in 2011 in an effort to attract and retain employees?" Their responses:
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Subsidized training/education 29%
Flexible work hours or telecommuting 24%
Mentoring programs 24%
Matching gift programs 13%
Free or subsidized lunch or snacks 11%
Onsite perks such as childcare,
dry cleaning, fitness center, cafeteria 11%
Subsidized transportation 10%
Subsidized gym memberships 9%
Sabbaticals 8%
Housing or relocation assistance 7%
* Multiple responses were allowed.
"On the heels of the recession, perks are a cost-effective way employers can reward and retain staff and attract new employees," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies(R), 2nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). "The most popular incentives are those that aid in career development and give employees some control over their work schedules."
Messmer added, "Offering training and mentoring opportunities also helps businesses develop a more skilled workforce. Flexible work arrangements cost little to implement but show that a company values its staff and their work-life balance needs."
Accountemps' parent company, Robert Half International, also interviewed chief information officers, senior human resources managers, attorneys, and advertising and marketing executives about the perks their organizations are offering. View the comprehensive results in the first-quarter 2011 Professional Employment Report.
Accountemps has more than 350 offices worldwide and offers online job search services at www.accountemps.com. Follow Accountemps for workplace news at twitter.com/accountemps.
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