The A-Z of employee benefits

A, B, C! It’s easy as 1, 2, 3.

And when it comes to the wonderful world of employee benefits, it’s as simple as do, re, mi.

Ok, so the Jackson 5 classic might not have been about Breakdown Cover or Holiday Trading, but we’re bringing the same groove to your employee benefits proposition with a number of familiar, and perhaps unfamiliar, benefit options.

Welcome to the A-Z of employee benefits, your go-to guide for breaking down the world of perks, rewards and incentives.

A is for Adoption Leave

Adoptive leave is like maternity or paternity leave’s equally important, lesser-known sibling!

If an employee is welcoming an adopted child into their life, they are entitled to up to 52 weeks off, but employers can look beyond the statuary amount and provide colleagues with more time to adjust to their new role as Chief Hug Officer or Snack Distributor.

B is for Breakdown Cover

Are we there yet?

The four words most of us hate to hear when travelling. But imagine coupling it with the phrase ‘why aren’t we moving?’ as you’re broken down on the side of the road.

As we rack up the miles, we put ourselves at greater risk of our car breaking down. By ensuring you’re covered, you can gain instant access to breakdown cover on a vehicle-specific basis. And that’s where our Marketplace provider, Vehicle Benefits, can help.

Marketplace provider: Vehicle Benefits

C is for Cycle to Work

Put pedal to the metal!

Cycle to Work is the ultimate benefit for combining wellbeing and financial savings. Not only does it save on tax and National Insurance, it also keeps employees fit and helps to drastically reduce the cost of commuting (an ever bigger win if you ask us). What’s more, it also allows the employee and employer to be more sustainable.

Marketplace provider:

• DASH
• CycleSaver
• BHN
• Halfords
• Gogeta

D is for Dental Insurance

Give yourself something to smile about!

Reimburse the cost of routine dental treatments up to set limits; either following NHS or private dentistry.

E is for Employee Assistance Programme

Providing that extra support when employees need it most.

An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) helps employees deal with problems, inside or outside of work, that might adversely impact their health, wellbeing, and work performance.

EAPs generally include assessment, short-term counselling, and referral services for employees.

Marketplace provider:

• Leafyard
• HCML

F is for Flexible Working

Sorry Dolly Parton, it’s time we wave goodbye to the stereotypical 9-5 working day.

The flexible working pattern and global approach to a hybrid/remote way of life is now taking over, and it’s here to stay.

It’s the perfect way to help employees juggle their work/life balance, a trust exercise in letting staff thrive away from the watchful office eye. A method that can increase productivity, reduce stress and enhance job satisfaction.

G is for Gym Memberships

Keep an eye on the pounds in more ways than one with a Gym Membership!

You and your family can get fit for less and enjoy up to 40% off on 12-month memberships. Memberships are paid for upfront and in full by the company and reclaimed via salary deductions.

Marketplace provider: Epassi

H is for Holiday Trading

Typically, Holiday Trading allows employees to purchase up to five extra days of annual leave on top of their contracted allowance. What’s better, they can even make tax and National Insurance savings on the trade, ensuring you make savings too.

But what if they want to save for a rainy day? For those that perhaps prefer to work, it’s possible to sell any unwanted annual leave (be mindful that there is a limit to the amount of days you can sell too). The employer will pay colleagues at the agreed daily rate for working, but this of course is subject to tax and National Insurance.

I is for Income Protection

Always plan for the unexpected!

Income Protection supports employees who need slightly longer off to recover from a serious illness or accident – whilst the employee cannot work  the policy will pay a benefit of a proportion of their salary. Many also include rehabilitation support services and advice.

J is for Job-related Training

Every day’s a school day!

Professional development is a benefit to both employer and employee, giving the latter a platform to progress their career with support from the former. Training courses and educational content are all part of development allowances, and even if your employer doesn’t offer it, it’s certainly worth a conversation with your company to see what support they have in place to help you progress with the business.

K is for K9

No, we’re not talking about Doctor Who’s faithful sidekick (You may need to Google him).

Employee benefits that provide cover for our purr-fect companions is always a paws-itive approach to take. From playful pups to curious cats, and even the odd goldfish or two, employees can instantly connect with UK-licensed veterinarians via text, picture, and video messaging, making it easy to get expert advice without leaving the house.

Marketplace provider: The Net Vet

L is for Life Assurance

The ultimate ‘just in case plan’.

You may not be around to enjoy it, but it’s important to put plans in place for your family should you pass away. This is a benefit typically offered by employers, but employees can also extend their levels of cover where needed.

M is for Mortgage Advice

Forget Snakes and Ladders, this one’s all about the property ladder!

Provide employees with financial education and mortgage advice for employees. Whether they’re a first-time buyer, looking to re-mortgage, or finance an investment property, they can help employees access the best possible financial solutions for your needs.

N is for Nursery Support

Ok, so you may know this better as Childcare Vouchers, but it all fits under the same umbrella.

Parents in the UK are struggling with some of the highest childcare bills in the world. Employees can save up to 40% on their nursery bill by paying for it out of their gross salary, giving tangible financial help to employees, at no cost to the business.

Marketplace providers:

• Gogeta
• Kinsail

O is for Occupational Sick Pay

Could you live off of £118.75 per week?

Going above and beyond to offer employees more than the standard Statutory Sick Pay provides additional support to help them get by while off work.

P is for Pension

Save for tomorrow, today.

While different demographics have different ideas about their Pensions, it’s important that employers continue to educate their employees on the importance of their retirement fund.

Whether it’s the savvy savers or those that like to live in the moment, increased Pension contributions are a popular choice for employees too, with 32% saying they’d like this offering from their employer.

Q is for Quality of Life benefits

The Q-benefits conundrum.

While H can be Healthcare and F can be Financial Wellbeing, Q is a kryptonite to the A-Z of employee benefits. Consider it the undercover agent of the employee benefits world!

After a lot of head scratching, we’ve opted for Quality of Life benefits. Think giving employees an extra day off for their birthday, summer sizzlers for the chance to spend an afternoon in the sun rather at your desk, or flexible working to ensure those important moments outside of the workplace aren’t missed.

R is for Recognition

Because everyone deserves a moment in the spotlight (without having to give an awkward acceptance speech).

Recognition is the ultimate workplace high-five, a way of telling and showing your people that they’re hard work is appreciated.

Shout from the rooftops about a colleague’s hard work, reward them with prizes and provide a platform for employees to recognise their fellow colleagues.

Marketplace provider: Rippl

S is for Salary Sacrifice Benefits

Ah, the gift that keeps on giving (quite literally).

Salary sacrifice is an agreement to reduce your employee’s salary, often in exchange for the employer purchasing a benefit. This means your employee has a lower gross salary on which to pay tax and National Insurance (NI).

With this agreement, the benefit is deemed employer provided and must be reported to HMRC as a benefit-in-kind on a P11d (unless exempt). Ultimately, it’s a selection that helps save NI contributions for both employee and employer, if the benefit is not liable to National Insurance.

T is for Travel Insurance

‘We’re all going on a Summer Holiday’.

Whether you’re off on a romantic getaway, a solo trip across the globe or taking a much-needed family holiday, it’s important to cover yourself for the unexpected.

Travel Insurance can turn a holiday disaster into a minor inconvenience, offering financial cover for aspects including cancelled flights, lost luggage and medical bills.

V is for Volunteering

Corporate volunteering has come a long way from the days of obligatory fence painting and charity bake sales. While those activities have their place, the modern corporate world is embracing a different approach—one focused on impact, skills-based contributions, and using the power of technology for good.

Marketplace provider: Matchable

U is for Unique Offers & Discounts

There’s no two ways about it. We all love a deal!

Unique offers, better known as discounts, are the perfect resource to help employees save money.

By offering employees offers and discounts, you provide a tangible way to show that you genuinely care about the financial wellbeing of your employees. And don’t forget, Zest have their very own Discounts offering.

W is for Wellbeing Allowance

Every now and then, it’s important to look after number one. That’s why 20% of employees are now requesting a Wellbeing Allowance from their employers.

Whether it’s to be used on a relaxing spa day, a trip to an unexplored country or simply covering the cost of the bedside tables that give your new bedroom a little bit of colour (trust us, it’s a great use of your wellbeing fund), having a little treat once in a while without having to pay for it yourself can certainly put a smile on your face.

A wellbeing fund is also a great way to improve employee satisfaction, motivation, and ultimately improve talent attraction and retention.

X is for X-ray

Ok, so we had to get a little creative for this one!

Typically, X-rays fall under Health Screening, a comprehensive view of an employee’s health covering key health concerns such as diabetes, heart health, cancer risk and emotional wellbeing. The aim is to give employees an overview of their general health and the opportunity to discuss your results with a doctor.

Marketplace partners:

– epassi (Healthiflex)

– Randox

– Bluecrest

Y is for Yearly Benefits Reviews

According to our research, almost six in ten (56%) employees admit they would leave their current job if another company offered them a better benefits package.

With inflation up and down like a yo-yo and the cost of Freddos now a worrying 25p (maybe we’re showing our age), ensuring your employee benefit offering is fit for purpose is key to talent attraction and retention.

Z is for Zest Marketplace

And you thought we might struggle with the letter Z?

Zest Marketplace is your one-stop shop for all your employee benefit needs. We’ve handpicked best of breed partners from our network of trusted providers to ensure you have the best offering available to your people, allowing you to craft a bespoke benefits scheme that perfectly aligns with your people’s needs.