When building a competitive employee benefits package, every company has an opportunity – and an obligation – to provide resources that serve their workforce. For HR decision-makers, how you best serve employees comes down to a few factors.
What are the basic needs of your employees that must be met? How can you support employees at different points in their careers and lives? What happens when you have employees distributed across several regions or countries? How can you provide benefits that truly help people thrive?
And of course, there’s the big question: what does your competition offer?
In this post, we’re sharing real examples of the employee benefits offerings of top employers in key industries. We’ll cover:
- Employee Benefits Examples in Hospitality
- Employee Benefits Examples in Food & Retail
- Employee Benefits Examples in Telecomms
- Employee Benefits Examples in Healthcare & Senior Living
Employee Benefits Examples in Hospitality
With large, sprawling workforces and high competition for talent, global hospitality businesses are leaders in employee benefits.
To stand out in this industry, companies offer extensive benefits to ensure employees are able to thrive in their jobs. These employers understand that to offer the best customer experience to guests, every employee must be engaged and excited to come to work.
From fun perks like travel discounts to extensive healthcare and paid time off options, employee benefits are key contributors to a consistent employee and guest experience.
Hilton Hotels
Hilton focuses on rewards, recognition, and support to help employees thrive. As a major multinational corporation, benefits and perks vary depending on an employee’s location, position and length of employment. With a wide range of employer-sponsored and voluntary benefits, Hilton’s benefits program provides support for employees in all stages of their careers and lives.
Program Highlights:
- Health Plans: Most employees have access to health and welfare plans offering a range of benefits for employees and their families. Dental, vision, disability and life insurance options are also available.
- HSA Program: Tax-free Health Savings Accounts are available to encourage saving for health expenses
- Retirement Savings Program: Up to 5% matching for employee contributions to company 401(k) plans
- Caregiver Support: Hilton’s new Wellthy program provides administrative and logistical support for caregivers responsible for looking after loved ones including children, elderly, sick, disabled, pets and themselves.
- Stock Options: Employee stock purchase plans are available
- Tuition Assistance: Debt-free education opportunities are provided to help employees advance their careers through Guild Education
- Corporate Discounts: Discounts at Hilton hotels around the world are available for employees and their family and friends
- Paid Time Off: Hilton’s Thrive Sabbatical Program offers a $5000 4-week sabbatical for eligible employees
- Flexible Paychecks: Employees can get access to early payment as needed through DailyPay
- Adoption Assistance: Eligible employees can receive up to $10,000 per child for qualified adoption expenses
- Parental Leave: For U.S. employees, Hilton offers 4 weeks of paid parental leave for birth and adoptive mothers and fathers, plus an additional 8 weeks of paid maternity leave for birth mothers
- Daycare: Discounted daycare rates and in-house subsidized daycare are available to eligible employees with children
- Recognition: Meaningful awards and recognition programs celebrate excellence companywide
Marriott Hotels
Marriott emphasizes the importance of well-being through its Take Care program, which is founded on the principles of opportunity, community and purpose. The company’s Take Care Level30 app challenges employees across the globe to participate in challenges and create habits that promote a healthy lifestyle, taking into account physical, mental, emotional, financial, social and other factors.
Program Highlights:
- Health Insurance: Employees can choose from a range of different healthcare options to support themselves and their families. Dental, Vision and Life Insurance are also available.
- Retirement Plans: Employees over 21 are eligible for up to 4.5% matching for retirement savings contributions after a minimum of one year of employment
- Parental Leave: 8 weeks of paid parental leave for birth and adoptive mothers and fathers, and up to 7 weeks of partial pay for birth mothers
- Adoption Assistance: Eligible employees can receive up tp to $12,000 in adoption fee financial assistance
- Corporate Discounts: Employee rates and bonus travel perks are available at Marriott locations around the world
- Paid Time Off: Employees can get up to 50 hours of paid time off for volunteer work
Takeaway: Employee Benefits in Hospitality
In the Hospitality industry, employers face the complex challenge of providing meaningful benefits to employees in a wide range of roles and locations. The best benefits programs will address the needs of a diverse workforce, from part-time seasonal staff to corporate executives, making every employee feel valued.
Not sure what benefits to offer your team? We explain how running an employee benefits survey can stop you making costly errors in benefits design.
Employee Benefits Examples in Food & Retail
With high turnover, multiple locations across the country or around the world, and many entry-level and part-time employees, food and retail businesses face several challenges. Employee benefits are a tool to attract and retain talent, enabling employees to feel secure and satisfied in their jobs, often while pursuing other life, educational or career opportunities.
Chick-Fil-A
As a franchise, Chick-Fil-A benefits vary depending on the franchise owner. Many locations offer perks like free lunches, retirement savings programs, leadership training and company events.
Program Highlights:
- Health Plans: A variety of health plans are offered across locations, with coverage ranging from full to partial employer sponsorship
- Scholarships: Employees can apply for up to $25,000 in college scholarships
- Tuition Discounts: Tuition discounts of up to 30% are available to current Chick-Fil-A employees at 70 colleges and universities across the U.S.
- Flexible Schedules: All employees are guaranteed Sundays off, with flexible work schedules
Whole Foods
With a mission to “nourish people and the planet,” it’s no surprise that Whole Foods takes a holistic approach to employee benefits. Whole Foods employees have access to a range of benefits to support physical, mental and financial health.
Program Highlights:
- Health: Comprehensive medical plans are offered to full-time employees, including dental and vision
- Retirement: 401(k) plans are available to help employees save for retirement
- HSA Program: Tax-free Health Savings Accounts are available to encourage saving for health expenses
- Corporate Discounts: A 20% in-store discount is available to all employees, and after 6 months, employees can receive a 30% discount
- Volunteering: Employees can apply to travel to volunteer in communities supported by the Whole Planet Foundation for 2-3 weeks per year
- Mental Health: The Team Members Assistance Program provides tools and resources including free in-person counselling sessions
- Perks and Discounts: Home and auto discounts are available, along with regional discounts from brands like Apple, Yeti and AT&T
Europastry
With thousands of employees located in more than 60 countries around the world, Europastry’s employee benefits program is designed to make people’s lives easier and happier.
Program Highlights:
- Health: Comprehensive medical plans are offered to employees, including medical, dental and vision
- Retirement: 401(k) plans are available to help employees save for retirement
- Voluntary benefits: Employees can opt-in to benefits including life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term disability and long-term disability
- FSA: Flexible spending accounts offer tax-free savings for health or dependent care spending
- Emergency Savings Benefits: Employees are incentivized to save for their pre-retirement savings goals through Sunny Day Fund’s Employer-Rewarded Emergency Savings plan
- Time Off: Employees are eligible for paid time off, sick leave and holidays
- Sign-on Bonus: employees are eligible for a sign-on bonus of up to $1,500
- Attendance Bonus: employees can earn up to $1,500 annually for maintaining a strong attendance record
Starbucks
Starbucks offers flexible benefits packages to suit the needs of both part-time and full-time employees. Beyond standard benefits, Starbucks offers a wide range of perks to keep employees happy, healthy and fueled up with coffee.
Program Highlights:
- Health: Comprehensive medical plans are offered to employees, including medical, dental and vision
- Retirement: 401(k) plans are available with company matching
- Stock Options: Employees are eligible to receive discounted stock and equity rewards
- Voluntary benefits: Employees can opt-in to benefits including life insurance, accident insurance, and disability coverage
- Reimbursement Accounts: Starbucks offers healthcare and dependent care support
- Time Off: Employees are eligible for paid time off, sick days including partner and family sick time, seven paid holidays, and 10 annual backup days for child and adult care through care.com
- Family Expansion Reimbursement: Employees and eligible partners can receive up to $10,000 per adoption, surrogacy or Intrauterine Insemination
- Free Tuition: Employees can earn a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State’s online degree program with 100% free tuition
- Corporate Discounts: Starbucks offers 30% off in-store purchases plus a free pound of coffee or box of tea every week
- Perks and Discounts: Employees enjoy discounts at local and national retailers, discounted pet, auto and home insurance and a free Spotify premium subscription
- WorkLife Partnership: Expert support is available to help employees navigate challenges and opportunities in areas including housing, finances, childcare, education, career development, medical bills, goal setting and more
Takeaway: Employee Benefits in Food & Retail
In a high-turnover sector like the food and retail industry, it’s important to offer meaningful benefits that full and part-time employees can take advantage of. Particularly in entry-level roles, financial support programs can go a long way toward building loyalty, enabling employees to work while pursuing their education or other life goals.
Employee Benefits Examples in Telecomms
The top U.S. Telecomms companies offer extensive benefits to keep their many employees healthy, secure and engaged at work.
Just as these companies use creative bundles and perks to compete with one another to win customers, they depend on innovative benefits packages to win over employees and promote loyalty.
Verizon
Verizon’s benefits program puts employee health and wellbeing front and center. With comprehensive insurance plans as well as an extensive Employee Assistance Program to help them get the support they need to live a healthy and financially secure life, Verizon employees enjoy a competitive benefits program.
Program Highlights:
- Health: Comprehensive medical and dental plans are available to employees from day one of their employment
- Retirement: 401(k) plans are available with company matching to help employees save for retirement
- Stock Options: Employees are eligible to be awarded company stock through Stock Together, vested incrementally over a 3-year period
- Education Support: Verizon supports learning through tuition assistance programs, as well are educational tools and development programs
- Parental Leave: Eligible parents can qualify for up to 8 weeks of paid parental leave at 100% of base pay. Mothers are eligible for up to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave between short-term disability and parental leave.
- Adoption Assistance: Adoption consultation services are available, and employees can receive up to $10,000 per child for adoption expenses
- Time Off: Paid time off, holidays and extensive sick leave benefits including a generous paid sick leave policy
- Savings Program: health and dependent care spending accounts are available to encourage saving
- Corporate Discounts: Employees receive discounts on Verizon products
- Fitness Programs: On-site gyms are available in corporate locations, and employees can receive discounts at participating gyms
- Employee Assistance Program: Employees have access to support for a range of needs, including mental health and substance abuse help, child and eldercare support, and legal and financial consultations
Comcast
Comcast offers a range of benefits, tools, advice to help employees physically, financially and emotionally through life’s major milestones.
Beyond standard insurance and investment opportunities, Comcast’s suite of perks, discounts and services provides tangible benefits to make life better for employees day to day.
Program Highlights
- Health: Comprehensive medical and dental plans are available to employees from day one of their employment
- Retirement: 401(k) plans are available with a generous 6% company match to help employees save for retirement
- Time Off: Regular full and part-time employees are eligible for paid time off, flex time, sick leave and holidays
- Parental Leave: Primary caregivers can receive 12 weeks of paid time off with a phase back to work option while secondary caregivers receive 2 weeks paid time off
- Financial Support: Comcast supports employees with personal expenses like adoption fees, pet insurance, childcare, tuition assistance, commuter discounts, and voluntary benefits
- Corporate Discounts: Full-time employees receive free internet and digital TV, along with steep discounts on phones and other Comcast services
- Perks and Discounts: Comcast offers discounts and special offers at Universal Resorts and more than 700 retailers
T Mobile
T Mobile’s benefits cover healthcare, investments, financial support and employee discounts. The company is one of the most transparent benefits providers we’ve reviewed, publishing a detailed annual benefits guide for all to see.
Program Highlights:
- Health: Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans are available to employees from day one of their employment
- FSA: Flexible spending accounts offer tax-free savings for health or dependent care spending
- Health Consulting: T Mobile provides access to consultants to help employees navigate healthcare-related issues
- Retirement: 401(k) plans are available with company matching to help employees save for retirement
- Stock Options: Employees are eligible to receive company stock vested incrementally over a 2-3 year period. In addition, T Mobile offers a discounted employee stock purchase plan
- Time Off: Regular full and part-time employees are eligible for paid time off and holidays, as well as short-term and long-term disability
- Parental Leave: Birth parents receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave, while non-birth parents receive up to 4 weeks of paid leave.
- Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance: Employees can receive up to $14,000 per child for adoption or surrogacy-related expenses
- Voluntary Benefits: A range of life, travel, auto, home, pet and accident insurances are available on a voluntary basis
- Perks and Discounts: regional discounts are available on retail items, travel, entertainment, dining and other purchases
- Volunteering and Charity: T Mobile provides grants up to $5000 for volunteer efforts and donates $10 for every volunteer hour completed. Charitable donations are also matched dollar for dollar.
Takeaway: Employee Benefits in Telecomms
In the fiercely competitive Telecomms industry, benefits packages are essential for hiring, engagement and retention. Along with providing fun perks and room for career growth, employers should prioritize long-term and contingency benefits to support employees through the ups and downs of life.
Employee Benefits Examples in Healthcare & Senior Living
For any employer in the health and senior living industries, the importance of healthcare and retirement benefits is front and center. Excellent basic benefits programs are a top priority, but in today’s competitive job market, innovative perks, benefits and savings opportunities can offer an added incentive for employees.
Ascent Senior Care
To help employees to achieve financial well-being, Ascent offers a traditional 401(k) program as well as an emergency savings fund with employer matching through Sunny Day Fund.
Program Highlights:
- Health: Comprehensive medical plans are available to employees, including vision and dental
- Retirement: 401(k) plans are available with company matching to help employees save for retirement
- Disability: Employer paid life and long-term disability insurance, plus accident and short-term disability insurance
- Emergency Savings Benefits: Employees are incentivized to save for their pre-retirement savings goals through an Employer-Rewarded Emergency Savings plan
- Time Off: Vacation, bereavement, and sick days all count as paid time off
- Extras: Mileage reimbursement.
Sunrise Senior Living
Sunrise Senior Living has over 300 senior living facilities across the US, the UK, and Canada. That translates to more than 32,000 staff members across two continents.
Despite the extent of Sunrise’s operations, the company has still managed to rank as a Great Place to Work in the ageing services sector, and their US benefits packs play a part in that success:
Program Highlights
- Health: Access to insurance, including prescriptions, dental, and vision. There’s also an associated wellness program that incentivises healthy lifestyle choices with rewards of up to $1,000 each year.
- Retirement: 401k plans
- Insurance: Both life and accident insurance are available for employees
- Education: Tuition reimbursement, plus extensive on-the-job training
- Perks & Discounts: Money off on cell phone services and JC Penney stores
- Emergency support: Sunrise's Good Samaritan Fund supports employees suffering unforeseen financial problems.
Takeaway: Employee Benefits in Healthcare & Senior Living
Many of the salaries offered for senior living jobs fall in the lower-middle income bracket. Therefore, it's important for employers in this sector to recognise the pressures on people with lower-middle incomes, and alleviate them with comprehensive benefits packs.
Table stakes benefits like healthcare and retirement need to be supplemented with benefits that shore up financial stability, such as emergency savings as a benefit. Employers in this sector will also want to offer special insurance, such as short-term disability, as many of the jobs in senior living and healthcare are physical.
In a Competitive Job Market, Think Outside the Benefits Box
For HR professionals, top employers in different industries can provide inspiration to build an effective employee benefits program. While traditional benefits like health care and retirement programs are brass tacks, it’s vital for employers to think outside the box to provide benefits that align with both their company values and the needs of their workforce.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or revamping an existing benefits program, a thoughtful combination of tangible support programs and bonus perks can set your company apart from the competition. If your goal is to ensure that employees feel secure, supported and appreciated in their jobs, benefits are among the most powerful tools at hand.