More about unexpected additional benefits is told by the director of the company that conducted the study, Henrika Bivainienė.
“Motivating factors such as salary, company culture, team, career and growth opportunities are mentioned by respondents as mandatory (eng. must have) – without them candidates would not even consider the employer’s offer. However, every year when conducting a study on motivating factors for employees, we also hear unusual or even exotic requests, which may seem pretentious but cannot be overlooked. After all, when given two identical offers from different employers, candidates will seriously consider additional benefits before deciding which employer to choose,” says Henrika Bivainienė, partner at the personnel recruitment company “Amston,” which conducts annual research on candidate and employee motivation.
The study involved over 500 respondents – working-age Lithuanian residents applying for jobs in customer service, IT, marketing, transport and logistics, human resources, governance, energy, manufacturing, construction, real estate, engineering, law, sales, administration, and finance sectors.
The surveyed participants identified mandatory (eng. must have) and additional (eng. nice to have) motivating factors. The list of mandatory factors includes salary, career and growth opportunities, a results- and goal-oriented team, respect-based culture, and trust. Among additional motivating factors, respondents most often mentioned open communication and trust, a manager as a partner, and meaningful projects. The previously very attractive necessity of hybrid work now seems mandatory only for younger employees.
What additional benefits appeared unusual?
“Botox Day” – a day off for beauty treatments
Paid additional days off are one of the most commonly offered extra benefits by employers. They are granted on birthdays or other special occasions, as well as for achievements. Larger companies often also provide additional days off for volunteering activities, self-development, or even pet care.
Although these benefits may sound exclusive, they are already quite common in the market. Still, sometimes candidates have very specific and non-standard requests for days off, for example, wanting an additional paid day for beauty treatments.
“We had several cases where candidates inquired about the possibility of getting a day off for beauty treatments because they are exclusive, expensive, and can only be done at specific times. This may seem exotic or pretentious, but it is worth remembering that once a children’s room or a pet-friendly office seemed like an excessive demand. Moreover, in the West, this is a much more common practice than we might imagine. It even has a humorous name – ‘Botox Day,’” comments H. Bivainienė.
The expert emphasizes that such and similar needs should be taken seriously when the procedures or visits are expensive, one-time, have long waiting lists, and affect a person’s quality of life. If employees start abusing this and visit places during work hours that can easily be scheduled after work, such requests can be evaluated more strictly.
A shower is needed in the office
As people’s lifestyles and their relationship with the workplace change, candidates want employers to pay more attention to their everyday needs. For example, it used to be common to come to work by car, so people needed a parking space. Some used public transport and therefore expected budget support for ride-sharing services or public transport ticket reimbursement.
Now, especially in the summer season, people often come to work by bike or running; some rush to work after morning workouts, so candidates often inquire about a shower in the office.
“It is important to understand that employees’ requests mostly reflect the lifestyle of a modern person rather than their pretentiousness or pampering. Moreover, the boundary between work and life is increasingly fading, so employers will have to adapt more and more to such needs if they want to retain employees. Whether it is a shower, a washing machine, or a children’s playroom in the office – all this is about helping the employee so that everyday life does not become a headache and does not interfere with productivity,” explains H. Bivainienė.
Wanting the possibility to nap during work
Benefits that ease everyday life, such as a gym or game rooms, have already become quite common. But some study participants express a desire for a sleep or rest room in the office to be able to nap during work hours.
“Especially in international companies, sleep rooms are not very rare, but the need itself is often viewed controversially – how can one take care of the opportunity to sleep during work? But today, the boundaries between work and life are very blurred, and if it is possible to finish remaining tasks at home after work hours, why shouldn’t it be possible to rest and recharge at work?” reflects H. Bivainienė.
The expert adds that rest rooms are also not all the same – it can be just a slightly quieter place to lie down, but some employers invest more and equip rooms with massage chairs, additional sound insulation, or relaxing interiors. Still, candidates do not detail their expectations for rest rooms, says recruitment expert H. Bivainienė.
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