Looking to hire that experienced manager before your competitor does? More money, a 401k and vacation time may help, but to seal the deal – try a health club membership. According to a recent study out of the Westborough, Mass., offices of Lee Hecht Harrison, a career services consulting company, a health club membership is the perk most job seekers want from their next employer.
Flextime, finished second in the survey of 1,058 managers.
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“Given a wish list of discretionary benefits including use of company car, concierge services and tuition reimbursement, the greatest number of respondents – 58 percent – said they would like to have a health club membership in their new job,” said Renee Gilson, a senior vice president at Lee Hecht Harrison.
That does not come as a surprise to Kim Rose, owner of River Bend Athletic Club in South Kingstown.
Rose said that as part of a group called the New England Fitness and Wellness Providers, she has approached insurers and HMOs asking them to include health club memberships as part of packages offered to companies. It’s a trend that Rose sees expanding.
“We have always realized that it is an important factor for the employee,” she said. “People in the industry know the benefits of exerciseWorkers become more productive. Their home life is better.”
Rose said it is encouraging to hear such results from a survey, particularly if employers act upon them.
“Now, we just need the companies to let us in,” she said.
But to date, respondents don’t necessarily expect to get a health club membership – or flextime, said Gilson.
“When asked which they actually expect to receive, just 8 percent said a health club membership. And only 24 percent expect flextime – fewer than half of those who want it.”
Gilson said that employers looking to attract talent in a tight labor market may find that offering benefits many job seekers want, but don’t expect, is a good way to differentiate themselves from competitors.
“By the same token, companies should begin or continue to offer things like cell phones, laptops and other technology that job seekers both want and expect.”
Tom Wharton, president of Lifocus, a corporate outplacement and career counseling office in Warwick, said desired perks vary widely, depending on the employee.
“Certainly, flextime is an issue, and in-house exercise equipment is becoming important,” said Wharton. “When you get into senior level employees, there are contractual considerations.”
Wharton also points out that gender can play a role in what employees are looking for when they move to a new company.
“Females tend to be drawn to companies that have flextime and child care on site,” he said.
In terms of compensation, the Lee Hecht Harrison survey found that 65 percent of those queried wanted stock options from an employer and 61 percent wanted a signing bonus. But only 30 percent of those respondents actually expected to get the stock options, and just 10 percent actually expected to be offered a signing bonus.
The survey also found that 87 percent of those surveyed expected to get a 401k plan with their next job.
Other findings from the Lee Hecht Harrison survey include:
Nancy Rosanoff, a Pleasantville, New York-based consultant, said things like health club memberships and retirement plans are important, but they don’t necessarily get to the heart of what people want to get out of work. Rosanoff said workers want to know that their skills and abilities are being utilized.
“The lines between employer and employee are becoming much more blurred,” said Rosanoff. “It is going to have to be much more of a team, rather than hierarchical approach. There needs to be a focus on creativity – on giving people an opportunity.”
