Lost in Translation? Employees says CEOs Don’t Speak Their  Language of Appreciation

Boostworks, a leading provider of employee benefit solutions, today unveiled findings from a new study, ‘Beyond the Salary Slip’, examining the opinions of over 3,000 HR professionals, C-suite, and employee respondents. The research, carried out by Opinion Matters, highlights a significant disconnect between employee desires and the realities of benefit programmes, including reward, recognition and well-being programmes.  

The findings paint a compelling picture with a mere 40% of employee benefits being utilised, and 47% of employees feeling undervalued, believing leaders are out of touch with their reward preferences, The findings also reveal that a concerning 54% of employees are rarely, if ever, consulted about benefits schemes that directly impact their work-life satisfaction. 

While competitive salaries remain important, the study highlights that a staggering 92% of employees say benefits significantly impact their overall job satisfaction. “This fulfilment translates to increased engagement, with strong benefits packages leading to a reported boost in employee productivity,” commented Boostworks CEO, Andy Caldicott. “The needs of today’s workforce are more diverse than ever. Gone are the days of a one-size-fits-all benefits approach. With Millennials and Gen Z prioritising student loan repayment assistance and mental health benefits alongside traditional offerings, a well-designed package caters to these evolving needs. Furthermore, the findings show a clear connection between strong benefits and business success.” 

Key findings:  

Attraction and Alignment: 63% of employees were attracted to their current job due to the company’s reward, recognition, and benefits programs. However, over two fifths (44%) of employees feel they do not get rewarded by their organisation at all for their accomplishments.  

Recognition Deficiency: 65% of employees believe improvements are needed to their organisation’s current reward and recognition programme. Furthermore, a concerning 44% of employees feel that they do not receive any recognition from their organisation for their accomplishments, contributing to a sense of unacknowledged efforts for 52% of employees (over the past 12 months). 

Lack of Understanding: Just under a quarter (21%) of employees admit to not fully understanding the reward, recognition, and benefits available to them through their employer. 

Top Priorities for Recognition: Work anniversaries, birthdays, and significant life events such as births or adoptions of a child top the list of events employees believe should be recognised and rewarded. 

Desire for Tailored Benefits: While 54% of employees currently have tailored benefits, the majority desire more personalised rewards, with 90% expressing a preference for immediate rewards that offer real-life benefits, such as extra days off or flexible working hours. Wellbeing and Development priorities are also considered priorities for employees: with a strong desire for non-monetary recognition supporting wellbeing (82%), career development opportunities (86%), and peer-to-peer recognition initiatives (83%). 

Next generation wants and desires: Millennials and Gen Z employees want to see student loan repayment assistance and mental health benefits prioritised alongside traditional offerings. 

“Promisingly, 72% of companies are actively planning to customise their benefits offerings, highlighting the strategic importance placed on attracting and retaining talent,” Caldicott concluded. “The learnings from this research are clear – now is the time to reflect, recalibrate, and reinvigorate the strategies and programmes that will define your success in recognising and valuing your most important asset: your people.”  

By offering a comprehensive employee benefits package that addresses the needs of a multigenerational workforce, businesses can position themselves as employers of choice. This translates into competitive advantage, allowing them to attract and retain top talent in today’s dynamic job market. To find out how to transform your benefits, rewards and recognition programmes download the full white paper here. 

For more information on the services offered please visit: www.Boostworks.co.uk  

Methodology 

The research and analysis for Boostworks was carried out online by Opinion Matters during December 2023. Questions posed to three panels resulted in 505 C-suite leaders, 502 HR professionals and 2,003 employees responding from a geographically representative sample. 

All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and is fully compliant with the UK’s Data Protection Act (1998). 

About Boostworks  

Working with nearly 500 companies throughout the UK, Boostworks is a prominent provider of employee reward, recognition, benefits delivery, and wellbeing solutions. The organisation helps companies to empower their people making them feel celebrated and respected everyday through its employee engagement and recognition platform. With flexible programmes and technology companies can actively promote engagement strategies, employee motivation, and improved business performance. Recognising the uniqueness of each individual, Boostworks places flexibility at the heart of their offering, distinguishing them from others in the industry.   

The organisation’s clients include Costa, easyJet, BMW Mini Rolls-Royce, TATA Steel, RAC, Olympus, Coventry Building Society, Heathrow, and many more.   

Discover more at www.Boostworks.co.uk