Small firms must offer a flexible choice of benefits to their staff or risk losing them to other companies.
A survey by youatwork, a division of Royal & Sun Alliance, found seven out of ten employees would prefer to work for an employer who could offer options on their working conditions.
With an increasing shortage of skills in the UK workplace and the mounting costs of replacing staff, small businesses are under pressure to retain talented employees by offering contractual benefits.
More than 70 per cent of workers in their 20s thought gym membership was a good incentive, while 67 per cent of staff over the age of 50 felt long-term care insurance would be useful.
Thursday March 20 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article