Wellness Perks Aren’t Just a Draw for Silicon Valley Jobs Anymore
Photo Credit: Employees are shown at a meeting. A range of companies now see the value in providing employees with wellness benefits that go beyond healthy snacks. Pexels / @divinetechygirl
Skift Take
Tech companies aren't the only ones that now offer employee wellness perks. More traditional industries are now getting in on the trend and are finding value in appealing to millennials' desire for work flexibility.
If you heard news of an employer offering jaw-dropping wellness perks to its workers a few years ago, chances are it was a technology company such as Google, Netflix, Facebook, or the like. Fast forward to 2019, and a range of companies now see the value in providing employees with wellness benefits that go beyond healthy snacks.
Take the accounting and consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY). It now offers its Australian staffers six to 12 weeks of annual “life leave.” Employees can use the time to travel, relax to prevent burnout, or even pursue a passion project. While it may seem counterproductive to have employees absent from the office for that amount of time, EY has actually found it adds value. According to the company, the flexibility increases workforce engagement by 11 percent.
The reason behind the offering isn’t just benevolence. EY hopes to appeal to top-talent millennials in the workforce who want more flexibility and fewer by-the-book work experiences. And it
