New research reveals the company benefits and perks employees want most in 2026

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Do you have what it takes to attract and retain top talent in today’s hiring market? With skilled talent harder to find and salary budgets at their tightest, employers are relying on the strength of their employee benefits and perks to give them the competitive edge while keeping workers motivated, learning, and well.

Using data from the latest Salary Guide, our recruitment experts highlight the benefits and perks that make a truly competitive remuneration package in 2026.

Top 4 benefits employees value most

4. Professional development opportunities

As AI and tech adoption evolve roles and processes, training is no longer a perk — it's a currency.

Nearly seven in ten professionals say learning and development opportunities are a top priority, a sentiment shared by employers, 68% of whom also view this as critical to a well-rounded remuneration package.

3. Flexible work arrangements

Recent return-to-office expectations have only heightened the appeal of hybrid arrangements for professionals who value their work-life balance.

Our data shows that 78% of professionals want flexible work arrangements—which encompasses flexible hours and/or remote working—and 74% of employers are currently offering this.

2. More paid time off

Burnout and work-life balance have been a hot topic for the past few years. Considering this, it comes as no surprise that 80% of workers surveyed for the Salary Guide said they wanted more paid time off.

Only 57% of employers currently offer this as part of their benefits package, potentially opening the door for an easy win in 2026.

1. Annual performance bonus

Our research shows that 82% of workers view the potential for a bonus as a vital component of their compensation package. Moreover, they rank it above many other benefits in terms of importance.

In comparison, only 71% of employers offer this, suggesting that adding a strategic bonus structure (as outlined later in this article) could be a key factor in securing top talent in 2026 without overstretching salary budgets.

Emerging employee benefit trends for 2026

Learning and development opportunities

L&D opportunities have become so vital to the future of work that they’re now a crucial attraction and retention factor.

Paid time off for participation in external L&D programmes (67%), in-house training (62%), and internal leadership programmes (62%) are the most influential factors regarding an employee's decision to join or stay with an employer.

Health and well-being benefits

More than half (54%) of professionals now view access to mental health resources as a deciding factor in whether to join or stay with an employer.

Data from the 2026 Salary Guide also shows that mental health resources, gym memberships, and stress reduction programmes are increasingly built into employer benefit strategies to support mental and physical well-being.

Financial allowance for working from home

Nearly two in five (42%) of employers offer a financial allowance for working from home, alongside similar benefits like a company phone (47%), childcare vouchers (40%), and fuel assistance (39%).

As the economic pinch continues to squeeze wages, perks that reduce the financial impact of work remain some of the most wanted employee benefits.

Most common company perks offered by employers

Bonuses

Bonuses have become a strategic tool for employers to reward high-performers without increasing base salaries — around 70% of businesses use them as part of a wider compensation package. Entry-level talent is typically overlooked for bonuses, giving employers looking for graduate talent a strong acquisition play.

Company car or car allowance

Our data shows that 48% of employers offer a company car or a car allowance, but given the trends we've seen, it's increasingly becoming a legacy benefit. Many employers now pair or replace car allowances with greener, lower-cost mobility options, such as cycle-to-work schemes, travel allowances, or public-transport subsidies.

Sabbaticals

Nearly half of employers (49%) offer sabbaticals — a benefit that remains incredibly popular with workers. For organisations looking to differentiate without raising salary budgets, sabbaticals remain one of the most appealing long-term retention tools.

The organisations that win top talent in 2026 won't be the ones offering the most perks, but those offering the right blend of flexibility, development, wellbeing, and financial support. With salary budgets under pressure, a strategic benefits package remains one of the most effective methods for attracting and retaining talent.

Explore the 2026 Salary Guide today or schedule a personalised walk-through to help identify winning strategies for your recruitment needs for the year ahead.

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