Comparing employee benefits In different industries and company sizes: What’s working and what needs improvement?

1 of January, 2025

It is important to understand how employee benefits vary across different industries and company sizes. As companies strive to stay competitive, they must ensure that their benefits packages are up to par.

Comparing employee benefits across different industries and company sizes can help employers identify potential gaps and create a more equitable employee benefits structure. With this in mind, it is necessary to consider what is working and what needs improvement in order to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of employee benefits.

This article will explore the various employee benefits offered in different industries and company sizes and provide insight into what needs to be improved. This way you will keep your HR reports updated. Let’s start!

Advantages of comparing employee benefits

There are many benefits to comparing employee benefits across industries and company sizes. Employers can leverage this information to better understand their employees’ needs and develop more equitable benefits packages that show employees they are valued.

Additionally, comparing employee benefits provides employers with insight into which companies are ahead of the competition and which ones lag behind. This knowledge can help employers stay ahead of the curve and set themselves up for future success.

Comparing employee benefits is also beneficial from a research perspective. This can be done through surveys, focus groups, or interviews with employees from various industries and company sizes.

Further, through comparing employee benefits, employers can better understand the various components of a benefits package. This can help employers gain a better grasp on how their current benefits offerings compare to industry standards and highlight any potential gaps.

Comparing employee benefits across different industries

Employee benefits vary across different industries and company sizes. While some industries have particular gaps in their benefits offerings, others provide robust benefits packages that rival any other field.

One way to compare employee benefits across industries is to review the compensation surveys available on websites focused on that matter. Compensation surveys provide detailed information on average salaries and benefits offered by particular industries.

This information can help employers identify potential gaps in their benefits offerings and better understand how to improve their benefits structure.

Another way to compare employee benefits across industries is to conduct a survey or interview employees from various industries. This can help employers gain a better grasp on how the benefits offerings vary and the reasons behind them.

Comparing benefits across different company sizes

Employee benefits vary across different company sizes. As a company size grows, the benefits offerings also vary.

Generally, smaller companies have fewer resources to devote to employee benefits, making it more difficult for them to offer extensive packages. Larger companies, on the other hand, have more resources and are able to offer more extensive benefits packages.

One way to compare employee benefits across company sizes is to review compensation surveys. Comparing employee benefits across company sizes can help employers identify the differences in benefits packages and determine what areas need improvement.

Another method to compare employee benefits across company sizes is to conduct employee surveys. This can help employers gain a better sense of the benefits offerings and pinpoint areas for improvement.

What is working for employee benefits?

• Company-paid healthcare: This is one of the most important aspects of an employee benefits package. Providing healthcare benefits can be costly, so many companies only offer coverage to higher-level employees. However, many employers have made it a priority to offer healthcare benefits to all of their employees.
• Paid time off: In addition to salary, many employers offer their employees paid time off. Some of the most common types of paid time off include vacation, sick, and holiday time. Employers are increasingly offering unlimited time off to make their benefits packages more appealing.
• Employee perks: Some employers go above and beyond to offer employees perks. For example, some companies allow employees to bring their dogs to work or offer free company meals.
• Wellness programs: As the health industry evolves, workplace wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular. Wellness programs are designed to promote healthy living among employees. Employers are offering incentives, such as reduced health insurance premiums or gift cards, to employees who meet wellness program goals.
• 401(k) plans: Employers are increasingly offering their employees 401(k) plans. These plans allow employees to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis, which is one of the biggest benefits.

What needs improvement for employee benefits?

• Healthy lifestyles: While wellness programs can be beneficial, some employers have gone overboard. For example, some companies have implemented workplace bans on certain food items. Articles such as chocolate or soda, which can be unfair and discriminatory. Other employers have implemented policies that require employees to undergo biometric screenings, such as glucose tests, which are unnecessary and infringe on the employee’s privacy.
• Pension plans: Some employers have pulled back on offering their employees pension plans. Pension plans can be costly for employers, but they can also provide employees with financial security in the long run.
• Paid parental leave: While some employers offer paid parental leave, many do not. Paid parental leave is important because it gives new parents the time they need to care for their children and return to work.
• Vacation time: While most employers offer some form of vacations, many do not offer paid vacation time. This is unfortunate because it can give the impression that employers do not value their employees’ time off.
• Flexible work schedules: Many employers offer their employees flexible work schedules, but not all do. Working parents are often at a disadvantage with inflexible work schedules because they need more time off during certain times of the year, such as when students are on break and during the summer months.

Employee benefits vary across different industries and company sizes. Comparing employee benefits across industries and company sizes can help employers better understand the needs of their employees and develop more equitable benefit packages.

Through this comparison, employers can identify potential gaps in their benefits offerings and make the necessary adjustments to provide an attractive benefits package that shows employees they are valued.

Employee benefits are an important part of any business because they help employees feel valued and boost morale. 

We hope this article has been insightful for your business. To have control of all of your benefits, you can use HR software such as Sesame HR. Try it for free now!

Iris Serrador

People Partner | LinkedIn | | Web | +post

Customer-oriented, both internally and externally, specializing in the definition and implementation of HR policies, as well as talent management, recruitment, and retention. Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, organization, and team coordination skills. Over 12 years of experience in Human Resources.

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