Benefiting from Benefits - CareerAlley

Benefiting from Benefits - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Searching for the right career isnt just about finding a job that you are suited to its also about finding an environment that suits you, an organization that suits you, and benefits that suit you. When it comes to benefits, what you can expect will generally depend on your level of experience and your chosen field of work. Many organizations realize that in order to attract a higher standard of employee, it is essential to provide a higher standard of employee benefits. Better benefits can mean happier workers, higher morale, and higher productivity. As you enter the workplace, there may be certain benefits available to you as standard, some benefits you may have to work your way up to, and some will be offered as a bonus for doing well. So, what should you be looking out for when searching for your perfect career? Group Insurance One of the most popular employee benefit programs is group insurance (offered by companies such as Apia Insurance). This will normally include life insurance, health cover, dental cover, and a range of other insurances. It can be an opt-in program, where sometimes the employer will pay the premiums, and sometimes the cost will be split between employer and employee. In order to take full advantage of this benefit, be sure to find out as much information as possible. Find out what is covered and what is not, and how much the policy will pay out when needed. Sometimes group insurance does not offer enough cover, in which case, it can be a good idea to purchase further cover from an independent provider. Income Protection Income protection can help to provide regular payments in lieu of a salary if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. Again, the level of cover will differ according to the provider, so be sure to find out how much cover you have. You may need to get further cover if your employer is not offering enough. Vacation Most organizations provide permanent employees with a certain number of paid days of vacation per year. On top of that, you may be able to take unpaid days off. Also find out if you will get paid extra for working public holidays if required. Sick Leave Again, most organizations offer a certain number of paid sick days per year. Depending on the employer, you may have to provide a medical certificate in order to get paid for days off sick. Retirement Plans Check out the retirement plans on offer to see if they give you what you need. Think about what you want out of your retirement, and whether the investment opportunities on offer are right for you. Profit Sharing Many organizations will give employees a chance to share in the success of the company. For listed companies, this will often come in the form of employee shares. If you work for a profitable company, this can be a great investment. Company Car Company cars were once offered much more freely than they are today. If you have a sales job, or one that directly involves traveling, then a company car may well be on the cards. If not, you may have to be fairly high up in the organization before they give you a car. Free or Subsidized Meals Another popular work perk is free or subsidized meals. This may mean cheaper meals in the cafeteria, food vouchers to use within the work complex, or free breakfast, snacks, tea and coffee in the break room. While it may not sound like much, this can really save you money day-to-day. Gym Membership If you have a sedentary job then you may want to blow the cobwebs off after work in the gym. Many jobs now offer discounted or free gym membership to workers to allow them to blow off steam and get the blood flowing to the brain. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook