Employers are increasing the range of benefits on offer for staff to keep their best talent.
According to the IRS Employment Review, more than 30 per cent of employers have made recent changes to their staff benefits programmes or plan to in the next two years.
IRS Employment Review managing editor Mark Crail said: "Employers are becoming increasingly flexible with the variety of staff benefits and allowances they offer, reflecting the changing patterns of work.
While just 11 per cent of employers currently offer their staff a menu of benefits from which they choose - trading up or down to suit their individual needs - this is set to change. “
He added: “The 'cafeteria-style' benefits package is likely to prove popular with staff - allowing them to reap the right and relevant rewards for their efforts. With growing concern about pension provision, it is highly likely that employees - current and future - will be studying an organisation's benefits package more closely than ever before."
Benefits increasingly on offer include making provisions for granting adoption leave (66 per cent); paid leave to employees on death of a relative (90 per cent); and time off to attend doctors’ appointments.
Surprisingly, however, just 13 per cent currently provide staff with childcare support facilities.