Young jobseekers are eschewing high salaries in favor of free consultations and gym memberships, a new survey has found.
Data from a survey by benefits platform Juno found that 72 percent of employers have slightly increased their benefits spending per employee to attract and retain Gen Z talent.
Meanwhile, one in four recent graduates expect businesses to provide “appropriate mental health support”, including access to counselling, therapy and more, according to HR platform iCIMS.
Flexible working remains the most frequently advertised benefit, with 121,977 related listings appearing on job search engine Adzuna in July.
Thousands of roles also offer four-day weeks and “work from anywhere” policies. 1228 more roles promising “unlimited holiday”.
Other popular bonuses included free birthdays (6,801 listings), free food or breakfast (3,580) and free gym memberships (3,424), although the majority of companies offering the latter were gyms.
Aviva and American Express currently list roles with free exercise courses included.
More than 2,000 adverts, including jobs advertised by Frankie & Benny’s and National Express, offered free advice to prospective employees.
Another 146 jobs, including roles advertised by Thomson Reuters, promise “mental health days”.
Laura Coccaro of HR platform iCIMS said Gen Z’s desire to support mental health at work was the result of “non-traditional” schooling, internships and early career experiences.
“As such, their mental health is now a priority and they expect support from their employer,” she said.
Charlotte Obeni, 22, said she would only accept a job offer from a company that offered free or discounted gym membership.
The psychology graduate, who is currently looking for work in London’s sustainability sector, added that the company needs to have a culture where mental health support is not taboo and free therapy sessions are offered, “especially as private is not an option for many and NHS waiting lists are so long’.
Charlotte added: “Support for physical and mental health is what really matters to me, more than salary and bonuses.
“A workplace that has this kind of culture is something I really look for when I’m looking for a job because I know I’ll be working with like-minded people in addition to getting the significant benefits I’m looking for.”
For employers, investing in bonuses that will appeal to younger candidates is a way to win the war for talent as companies scramble to replace workers laid off during the pandemic.
Adzuna’s Paul Lewis said workers would be “more likely to leave their jobs if their current company is not meeting their needs” amid the so-called Great Resignation.
He said: “Flexible working is the best job benefit being advertised right now and it’s no accident. Employees are used to this new way of working and a better work-life balance.
“There is also much-needed change to support the mental health of colleagues, with incentives such as free counselling, mental health days and dog-friendly offices growing in popularity.”
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