4 Work Perks to Look for When Job Hunting

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Photo by Gustavo Fring

Starting a new job can feel overwhelming, even when you have years of experience. Along with adjusting to a different workplace and meeting new colleagues, you may need to learn unfamiliar systems, processes, and responsibilities all at once.

There are countless reasons you might be considering a career move. Perhaps you want a higher salary, more challenging work, greater flexibility, or a healthier work-life balance. You may also feel ready to leave an environment that no longer suits you or start over in an entirely different industry. Whatever is motivating your search, salary should not be the only factor you consider. Workplace benefits can affect everything from your monthly expenses to your health, family life, and overall job satisfaction.

When two opportunities offer similar pay, a strong benefits package could make one role significantly more valuable than the other. Here are four work perks worth investigating before accepting your next job offer.

RELATED ARTICLE: Want A New Career? Here's A Roadmap On How To Start

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Job Hunting? Don’t Overlook These 4 Work Perks

01) Health and wellness

Gym memberships, fitness subscriptions, and wellness services can be expensive, so employer-funded health benefits may save you more than you initially realize. Some companies provide free or discounted gym memberships, while others reimburse employees for fitness apps, exercise classes, or home workout equipment. Employers may also offer wellness allowances that can be used for activities that support your physical or mental wellbeing.

These benefits are not only about encouraging employees to exercise. Companies increasingly recognize that healthier, well-supported employees may experience less stress, greater job satisfaction, and a better balance between work and their personal lives. It is also worth checking whether the company offers private dental or health cover. Depending on the plan, this could help you access appointments or treatment more quickly and reduce certain out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

Before accepting an offer, ask exactly what the policy includes. Some benefits begin immediately, while others may only become available after you have completed a probationary period.

02) Salary sacrifice cars

Buying or privately leasing a new car can be expensive, particularly once insurance, maintenance, and servicing are added to the monthly cost. If an employer offers a salary sacrifice car scheme, it may provide a more manageable way to access an electric vehicle. Under this type of arrangement, the cost of the car is deducted from your gross salary before certain taxes are calculated. Depending on your salary and the terms of the scheme, this could make the vehicle more affordable than arranging a similar lease independently.

Packages may also include expenses such as insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover, and replacement tires. This can make monthly costs more predictable and reduce the number of separate bills you need to manage. The process is often simpler than it initially sounds. Employees typically choose an eligible vehicle through an online portal, while the employer and scheme provider handle much of the administration.

However, you should read the terms carefully before enrolling. Check the mileage allowance, contract length, early termination conditions, insurance requirements, and how the deduction could affect pension contributions or other salary-based benefits. You can explore some examples from The Electric Car Scheme to see if it’s something that would work for you.

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03) Enhanced leave

A standard holiday allowance is helpful, but some employers now offer additional paid leave that can make a noticeable difference to your work-life balance. Depending on the company, this could include birthday leave, wellbeing days, mental health days, volunteering days, or additional annual leave after a certain period of service. Some employers also close their offices between Christmas and New Year without requiring employees to use their holiday allowance.

If you are planning to start or expand your family, look closely at whether the company offers enhanced maternity and paternity leave, as well as adoption and shared parental leave. These benefits can provide more time at home and greater financial security than the statutory minimum. You may also want to investigate compassionate leave, carers’ leave, fertility treatment support, or paid time off for medical appointments. These policies may not seem immediately relevant when you are applying, but they can become incredibly valuable when your personal circumstances change.

Do not rely solely on a vague phrase such as “generous holiday allowance” in the job description. Ask for the exact number of days, whether bank holidays are included, and whether unused leave can be carried into the following year.

04) Everyday discounts

Smaller workplace perks may not seem as impressive as private healthcare or additional annual leave, but they can still reduce your everyday expenses. Free office snacks, fruit, tea, and coffee can save money over time, especially if you would otherwise purchase breakfast or drinks on your way to work. Some workplaces also provide subsidized lunches, meal vouchers, or discounts at nearby cafés and restaurants.

You may also receive access to an employee discount platform such as Perkbox. These services can offer discounts on supermarket shopping, cinema tickets, clothing, technology, travel, restaurants, and other everyday purchases. Because these benefits are accessed through a separate website or app, they are easy to forget about. Save the login details somewhere secure and check the available offers before making larger purchases.

A small discount may not seem significant on its own, but regular savings on groceries, entertainment, and household essentials can add up to hundreds of pounds over the course of a year.

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Takeaway

The best job offer is not always the one with the highest headline salary. Health benefits, additional leave, transport schemes, flexible working arrangements, and everyday discounts can all increase the true value of your compensation package.

Before accepting a role, look beyond the basic salary and calculate which benefits you would realistically use. A perk only adds value if it supports your lifestyle, saves you money, or makes your working life noticeably better. It is also important to ask when each benefit begins, whether there are eligibility requirements, and whether you would lose anything by leaving the company before a set period.

Which workplace perk would make the biggest difference when choosing your next job?

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