There are very few people who can genuinely say that they hate their job. However, more people could tell you that they hate their workplace or their actual boss before they tell you that they don’t like the job that they do. The thing is, you can change jobs. You can retrain and you can do something totally different. What you can’t do, is control the space in which you work – unless you are the boss.
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It’s rarely a job that makes people leave, but the atmosphere and situation in which they are working. Bad bosses are the biggest reason that people choose to hand in their notice and make a swift exit from the space they’ve spent all their time building their experience. It’s so important that you are happy in your job, and for that to happen you need a boss that cares about you and your wellbeing. It’s not just your mental wellbeing, but your general happiness.
Employers hire you to do a job for them and for that they return a salary and benefits, if you’re lucky. They need you as much as you need them; you need them so that you can progress your entire career and they need you so that they can earn as much money as possible and go far. To that end, you both have to have an equal relationship and that means knowing what you expect from each other.
You need a boss that is going to care about your goals and you need one who will be willing to make your working environment a comfortable and tolerable one. For that, you need a boss who will offer you the benefits that you need to keep you happy. And that means knowing which benefits are going to be the best for you. From vision insurance benefits to paid lunch breaks, there is a world of options out there and it’ll benefit you to be able to discuss these when it comes to discussing the contract you are signing. It’s time to stand up for yourself and ask for what you need – you may love your job and not want to leave, but are you willing to sacrifice your happiness for that? Probably not.
Employee perks packages need to be clear and consistent. The last thing that you want is to think you’re getting one thing but really getting something else. You could be offered a great wage, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have extra benefits on top. So, without further ado, let’s talk through some of the employment benefits that you should consider looking for with your job hunt. These, plus a comfortable salary and a happy, open and easygoing boss should ensure that you are happy in your workplace. Let’s go!
Lawful Benefits At Work
We’ll start with these ones, as these are the benefits that your employer should – by law – include in your working contract. You should check what’s required in your state, but the below are the things that need to be included:
Healthcare
All companies that have more than 20 employees on the payroll should continue to pay medical benefits to former employees for up to 18 months after they leave the business. This is called COBRA – consolidated omnibus budget act. This mandates that even after you leave the job you can be covered.
Disability Compensation
This, along with workers’ compensation is a must for employers to pay their staff. It ensures that those who are sick or injured can still be paid until they are well enough and can return to work. The rules differ state by state, but most employees are eligible for these payments, especially if injured on the job.
Family/Medical Leave
Some employers have to provide maternity or paternity leave as well as adoption leave. However, these are not usually paid and are at the discretion of the employer as to whether they will or not.
Health Insurance
As well as certain health benefits we mentioned earlier, your employer is also required to offer a healthcare plan if there are more than 50 people working for that company. These can include vision insurance benefits as well as a dental plan. If this is something that you require, you need to ask about it.
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Other Benefits
Other than the benefits listed above that are required by law, there are other benefits that you can get from your employer. These are at their discretion and they don’t have to offer you anything if they don’t want to. So, let’s check out some of those!
Paid Vacation
Some employers are more than generous with the time that they give you for vacation, but the biggest excitement here is that you can get your vacations paid. There are certain employers that will even talk to you about earning extra vacation days if you want them!
Bonuses
Money talks and if you know that you can earn more money on top of your basic salary, you should ask your boss about it. Some positions pay performance bonuses and you should certainly be rewarded for going above and beyond in your role.
Paid Leave
It may not seem like a perk, to be paid when you are ill. However, in a climate whereby people go without pay when they are sick, it’s a benefit that you want!
Company Car
There are some positions that require you to drive for your day to day work tasks. Asking your boss for a company car to save your own car from wearing out is not a big ask. You should be looked after in your role, and there’s no harm in asking.
Paid Overtime
Believe it or not, there are companies that do not pay their employees for the overtime that they do. The laws, however, change state to state and some places won’t offer overtime pay. So, if your company offers extra cash for you to work extra hours, this is a bonus you want to know you’re going to get!
If you are in a meeting or an interview with an employer, perks are something that you can discuss. You have to remember that you are interviewing the possible employer as well as you. You should consider that you are within your right to ask them about perks and benefits as much as you are to ask about their hours of work they have planned for you. There are too many employers that take advantage of their staff, knowing that their staff are desperate for the work and have families to feed. If you ensure that you speak to your employer about the available perks before you commit, you will have no surprises when it comes time to start work.
You should also remember that you are more than within your right to refuse a post or walk away from a position that does not suit you. You are deserving of happiness; of loving a job and an employer at the same time. You don’t have to compromise what you want to suit what an employer wants when they save money.
So, when it comes to your next interview or your next meeting with your boss, you’ll be able to tell whether they care about you based on what they can offer. You should be happy in the role in which you work – and benefits are a part of that package as much as anything else they can offer.
