Employee benefits are more important to candidates than ever before. It's no longer enough to offer a competitive salary – companies are wooing recruits with top-notch benefits packages that include catered meals, personal trainers, and luxurious holidays. 

Of course, you don’t have to offer over-the-top benefits to be competitive. At the end of the day, candidates value benefits that will improve their quality of life, such as healthcare, childcare, flexible working hours, and robust pension plans. 

Post-pandemic, many companies are offering flexible benefits packages to go alongside newly flexible working hours. A MetLife survey found that 50% of employees would sacrifice part of their salary for the opportunity to craft their own benefits packages. 

After all, a healthy and happy employee is far more likely to stay with your company and do their best work than one struggling with their quality of life. So, it's important that you promote the advantages of working for your company by highlighting your benefits packages at every step of the hiring process. 

The top employee benefits for candidates in Switzerland 

Not every benefit is created equal. While some companies attempt to dazzle their candidates with extravagant options, most senior Swiss recruits prefer sensible benefits packages that provide value to their lives. 

Experts recommend that you conduct market research and focus groups to find out what benefits your desired candidates actually want and value the most. This research can ensure that you’re offering the right benefits to attract and hire for the best cultural fit. You should also consider allowing your employees to create their own ‘mix and match’ package that suits their needs.

Here are just a few of the benefits offered by the top companies and banks in Switzerland. 

• Childcare benefits - Give employees peace of mind that their children are in good hands by offering quality childcare. This is especially important to Swiss people, as childcare comes at an extreme cost.
• Parental leave – Similarly, candidates are attracted to competitive parental leave packages that exceed the Swiss national allowance of just 14 weeks for the mother. Where possible, you should exceed this leave and offer it to all parents to split and use how they best decide.
• Eldercare benefits – Similarly, caring for an ageing parent is stressful and costly. Your employees will appreciate this benefit, as around 70% of Swiss people over the age of 80 suffer from chronic illness.
• Extended medical insurance – Extended benefits cover dental care, elective procedures, chiropractor treatments, eye health, counselling, massage therapy, and more.
• A handsome pension plan – This is one benefit that should never be overlooked. Offering a strong pension plan will attract the best recruits in your industry.  
• Flexible working hours – The pandemic changed the way we live and work, and employees want the opportunity to work from home and set their own hours.
• Professional development opportunities – Employees at all levels of their careers appreciate the chance to learn new skills and participate in mentorship schemes to pave the way for promotions.

Offering a good benefits package could set you apart from the crowd

Your benefits package could be the difference between a candidate accepting your offer and going to work for a competitor. Remember – attractive benefits build trust and show respect, important aspects of fostering an ethical workplace.  

Your company’s benefits package should be effectively communicated throughout the entire recruitment process, from the initial job description to the final interview - and even the onboarding process. Be clear about what you offer and clarify if you allow flexible working hours – people want to know. 

Communicate your benefits and attract the best candidates

Are you unsure about the best benefits to offer, or have you been having trouble attracting the right candidates? Now is the time to get in touch with Swisslinx to discuss your hiring needs. 

Swisslinx is a specialist recruitment agency whose core markets include financial services, digital and technology, healthcare and life sciences, and commodities and natural resources. They have the connections and the experience to help you recruit the top talent in your field. 

Discover more about their financial services team and digital and technology expertise, or explore the site to find out more about how Swisslinx can help.