National Customer Service Association
...Customer First
Reimagining Employee Benefits: Adapting to a Competitive Landscape
As an employer or an employee, new hire or long-tenured, management or staff, front line or behind the scenes—you are in a new world of benefits expectations as part of your compensation package. According to the article "Employee Benefits Move to the Executive Agenda" by Joanne Sammer and published by SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), the old standard benefits package that nearly every employee could plan on being offered is now in a state of constant flux.
Employers are having to reconfigure their benefits package new hire by new hire in order to attract and retain good people, let alone great new hires. As Sam Hammock, CHRO of Verizon, says, "Our focus is on integrating employee benefits with life to make work easier and better for everyone," so their executive team discusses benefits quarterly—unheard of in the old world. "Quality health care, retirement, parental leave, maternity/paternity leave and generous paid time off policies should be foundational in benefit packages," says Loubna Bribine, HR manager for SES-Imagotag.
While potential employees may primarily concentrate on straight compensation as their focal point regarding ultimate interest in the job, negotiations for extraordinary benefits are also now common. Candidates and current employees are savvy when it comes to what they can request and, in some cases, demand, such as:
So what does all of this mean to the average person seeking a job or wanting to attain the best benefits possible? Certainly, know your options regarding out-of-the-box benefits at your (potential) employer, but always remember that while the job market is in your favor given the lower number of applicants, you still must take pride in what you do every day. Earn those extraordinary benefits and go in with confidence to human resources or your supervisor as you seek enhanced opportunities.
It is so much easier to request expanded benefits based on your actual performance (or performance history if you are an applicant). You have shown not just your ability to excel consistently but that you have the attitude to continue excelling in whatever role you may have.
And best of all: you can be very proud of your personal and professional accomplishments knowing that you have provided exceptional customer service to your (internal and external) customers consistently and with ease, as that is just who you are. The ultimate benefit!
