The number of employers offering staff reward schemes is likely to soar in the next two years.

A survey by accountancy firm Deloitte & Touche found although fewer than one in five companies offer employee benefits, more than half plan to introduce schemes.

Of those firms, 84 per cent intended to implement the system in the next two years.

The top reason for introducing rewards, such as gym membership and vouchers, was the desire to meet the changing needs of employees.

The need to boost staff recruitment and retention were other popular reasons.

More than two-thirds of the companies polled said operating a benefit system had reduced their costs.

Thursday April 10 2003