While applying for a job, the salary is not the only deal-breaker. Work conditions and employee benefits also play a significant role.
Let us look at different types of work benefits that you may ask before accepting a job offer:
Paid Leave
This leave is when you do not have to work for a day, but you still get your payment for that day. Holidays, sick leaves, government holidays, personal days, and vacation days can all be considered paid leaves.
You might want to ask the company if there’s a policy regarding using paid leave before you’ve accrued it if you’re starting a new job right before a holiday or planned trip.
Medical Leave
The term “medical leave” refers to any leave that is taken by employees who are unable, due to a medical condition, to perform the essential job functions.
A medical leave of absence doesn’t need to be taken all of them at once. Flexibility can help the employees deal with recurring conditions or setbacks without fearing for their jobs.
Parental Leave
As authorized by the Government of India, parental leave can be availed by any employee, irrespective of their marital status. The only condition is that they should have a child, for which they are legal guardians.
A parent may take leave following the birth of a child, an adoption, the arrival of a foster child, or for any other reason.
Remote Work
When the employees can work remotely from home or elsewhere outside an office setting, either full-time or part-time, based on their needs, it is called remote work.
Learn about the company’s policies on remote work schedules, virtual meetings, and communication, so you can decide whether you can work from home sometimes or all the time.
Flexible Schedule
Having a flexible schedule refers to working hours and days outside the traditional nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday schedule. As with remote work, the pandemic increased a desire for flexible schedules to accommodate different work styles and time zones and employees with children or caregiving responsibilities.
Schedule flexibility can also be negotiated — just make sure you and your employer agree on the days and times you’ll work.
Mentor Programs
Through mentor programs, you are paired with someone who is more experienced within your organization who can answer questions and provide guidance to help you advance on your career path.
Learn whether a company offers formal or informal mentoring, as well as what their programs entail. Mentorship programs can help employees feel valued, foster growth, and enhance job satisfaction and productivity.
Educational Resources
A majority of companies provide some type of education benefit, including access to online courses, on-the-job training, tuition reimbursement, and stipends for learning and development.
In addition to showing that a company values and encourages its employees, education benefits are a good sign that a company invests in its employees. If you’re considering working for a company that offers educational benefits, be sure to ask what kind of benefits and perks are available.
Life Insurance
In life insurance, you choose the beneficiary (or beneficiaries) who will receive money from your policy if you die. Life insurance may not seem vital to you if you’re a young professional without children or anyone who relies on you financially.
Yet you should consider it, especially if your employer covers the entire premium.
Health Insurance
Health insurance covers (or helps cover) your medical expenses at the time they arise as long as you pay a monthly or an annual premium to the insurance provider.
It is also essential to determine if the policy will cover your dependents (usually children or a partner you support financially), if you have dependents or plan to soon, and how much the policy will cost.
DEI Programs
In Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives, diverse and underrepresented groups are encouraged to participate, including women, people of colour, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community. Employee resource groups (ERGs) and mentorship programs may be part of the programs.
Rather than just noticing that a company offers a DEI program, it is a good idea to investigate the specifics of what they offer and how we can align our values with theirs.
Wellness Benefits
Employer wellness programs provide more resources beyond health insurance for the purpose of improving an employee’s health.
Increasingly, wellness programs are taking on a broader, more comprehensive approach by offering individualized resources that address employees’ emotional, social, physical, and financial needs.
Conclusion
Ensure that you understand the company’s benefits and perks and how they fit into your overall compensation structure before accepting a job offer. Make sure you ask plenty of questions so you can learn exactly how each benefit and perk align with your requirements and then negotiate to get what you want.
Which of these benefits is more important to you than others? Let us know in the comments.
Mentor Monkey aims to provide the best social learning ecosystem for career aspirants and professionals to help millions of young minds ace in their career and professional journey and discover their true valour.
