A white background with a few lines on it

How to Choose the Best Benefits to Offer Your Team

Choosing the right benefits for your team is a critical decision that can have a lasting impact on your business. A well-considered benefits program can signal to your team that you value them and are invested in their well-being. Let’s look at how to evaluate your team’s needs, the criteria for selecting the best benefits, and tips for maintaining an effective benefits program for the long haul.


Understanding Your Team’s Needs and Preferences

Before you start creating or updating a benefits package, the most effective step is to simply ask your employees what they want. Each employee will have unique needs, and a one-size-fits-all approach may not be the most effective. Consider these benefits:

  • Paid Time Off (PTO): This includes vacation days, personal leave, and holidays. Employees value flexibility, and a generous PTO policy can enhance job satisfaction.
  • Volunteer Days: Allowing employees to give back to the community during work hours can boost morale and show commitment to social responsibility.
  • Health Insurance: A solid health insurance plan is often the cornerstone of any benefits package, covering medical, dental, and vision care.
  • Retirement Plans: A company-sponsored retirement plan, especially with a matching contribution, is a strong incentive for long-term financial security.
  • Life Insurance: Provides peace of mind to employees by offering financial support to their dependents in the event of their passing.
  • Short- & Long-Term Disability: These benefits offer income protection in case of illness or injury, ensuring employees are supported even when they can’t work.
  • Educational Reimbursement: Supporting ongoing learning can encourage professional development and foster a culture of growth within your company.
  • Profit Sharing: When employees share in the company’s success, it can increase loyalty and motivate them to contribute to the company’s profitability.
  • Longer-Term Opportunities for Temp Workers: Providing top-notch temporary employees with the chance to secure longer contracts or full-time roles. This approach can encourage them to stick around and help minimize turnover.


A practical approach is to create a list of potential benefits and then survey your team to rank them as high, medium, or low priority. This method gives you a clear picture of which benefits are most valued, helping you serve your employees more effectively. 


Aligning Benefits With Your Company Culture and Values

Benefits are more than just a perk — they’re a direct reflection of your company’s culture and values. Tangible benefits that align with your values can show your employees that your actions match your words. This can also act as a strong tool for employee retention. Over a third of Canadian employers said that the competitiveness of their health benefits plan is always a concern for them. This means employers understand that providing a comprehensive health benefits plan for employees helps position them as an employer of choice for new and existing team members. 

A table showing major concerns about the health benefits plan

Top Tips for Maintaining an Effective Employee Benefits Program

Creating a benefits package is just the first step; maintaining its effectiveness requires ongoing attention. Follow these tips to ensure your benefits program continues to meet the needs of your team:


1. Stay in Communication With Your Team

Maintain an open line of communication with your employees regarding the benefits package. Conduct periodic surveys to gauge satisfaction with the current offerings and to identify emerging needs or preferences. Listening to feedback allows you to make adjustments as needed, showing that you are responsive to your team’s evolving expectations. 


2. Engage With Benefits Providers

Involve your point of contact from the benefits providers. Invite them to meet with your team to explain the details of each benefit, including any recent updates or changes. This helps ensure that employees fully understand what’s available to them and how to take full advantage of their benefits.


3. Document and Communicate Your Offerings

Make sure to document your benefits package in detail and distribute this information to your team. A recent survey found that only half of Canadian employees understand their health benefits plan well. A clear, accessible document helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures that everyone is aware of the full range of benefits. 

A graph showing the level of understanding of health benefits plan

4. Highlight Benefits as Part of Total Compensation

Ensure employees understand that benefits are an integral part of their overall compensation. While salary is important, a comprehensive benefits package can provide value that extends far beyond a paycheck. Educating your team on the financial and personal value of their benefits can enhance appreciation and engagement.


Ultimately, offering a well-rounded and thoughtful benefits package is not just a perk — it’s a necessity. Employees increasingly view benefits as a core part of their total compensation, and a robust package can be a powerful tool for attracting, retaining, and engaging top talent. Investing in benefits is, ultimately, an investment in the success and sustainability of your business.

Author Bio

Dean Mathews is the founder and CEO of OnTheClock, an employee time tracking app that helps over 18,000 companies all around the world track time. 


Dean has over 20 years of experience designing and developing business apps. He views software development as a form of art. If the artist creates a masterpiece, many people’s lives are touched and changed for the better. 


When he is not perfecting time tracking, Dean enjoys expanding his faith, spending time with family and friends, and finding ways to make the world just a little better. You can connect with him on Linkedin.


The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.



Western Canada HR Students Compete at HRC West Case Competition 2025

By Marina Perkovic • March 24, 2025
On March 14 and 15, 2025, CPHR Alberta, along with our partners at CPHR BC & Yukon, brought together a record high of 20 teams of students from post-secondary business programs across Western Canada.

An Update from your Board of Directors – March 2025

March 21, 2025
As the governing voice of CPHR Alberta, the Board of Directors meet quarterly to provide oversight and guidance in several key areas. The Board, alongside CPHR Alberta operations, continues to deliver on the association's strategic priorities developed in the 2020 strategic plan. To ensure transparency between our Board of Directors, members and key stakeholders, we are sharing post-meeting messages to inform the steps taken towards advancing our profession and ensuring a financially stable association. The Board of Directors met on March 15, 2025, and the Board’s key messages are as follows:  CPHR Alberta continues to advance the strategic priority to become a self-regulated association, supported by proposed amendments to Alberta's Professional Governance Act. This continues to be a priority for operations over the next year. We encourage you to join us at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, May 9, 2025, to hear more about self-regulation. The Board approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. Based on observations from the independent auditor, the association has effective reporting and control processes in place in addition to appropriate reserves for financial sustainability. Audit financial statements will be available in the 2024 Annual Report, distributed to members alongside our AGM Notice of Meeting in April. CPHR Alberta has launched an innovative new program for senior HR leaders working in executive-level roles, speaking to how the association is elevating the reputation of CPHR's and provided targeted professional development for HR professionals working at all levels in organizations. CPHRs can apply for the Executive Program by completing our application here. CPHR Alberta has aligned with CPHR Canada to approve mutual recognition with the Chartered Institute of Professional Management (CIPM) Nigeria and CIPM Sri Lanka. Learn more about the MRA here. The next Board meeting takes place in June 2025, after which we will again share our key messages. If you have any questions regarding these key messages or the Board of Directors, please contact chair@cphrab.ca . We welcome your feedback!

Fostering Neurodiversity in the Workplace

By Marina Perkovic • March 20, 2025
Why is Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace Essential? Innovation and creativity start when we bring together different perspectives. Diversity, however, is not just about race, gender, or background - it encompasses the diversity of our minds. As we celebrate Neurodiversity Week, it is an excellent time to reflect on how embracing neurodiversity in the workplace is not just a positive concept but a transformative approach. What is Neurodiversity? Neurodiversity acknowledges that neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, and others, are natural variations in how our brains function. These variations bring unique strengths and abilities. How to Build a Neurodiverse-Friendly Workplace? Creating a welcoming workplace for neurodivergent employees isn't just about recruiting them—it's about making them feel appreciated, supported, and feel comfortable to be themselves. How can we create an inclusive workplace? 1. Cultivate Awareness and Understanding One of the biggest barriers that neurodivergent individuals have is misunderstanding. Ongoing education for employees and managers about neurodiversity is crucial to reduce bias and foster a culture of empathy and acceptance. Awareness goes a long way toward making someone understand and support them. 2. Provide Opportunities for Career Development Provide training and development programs, as well as providing mentorship and coaching to empower neurodiverse employees reach their full potential for promotion and advancement. 3. Offer Flexibility and Support Implement flexible work arrangements, including remote work and adjusted hours, to accommodate varying energy and concentration levels. Ensure clear and consistent communication. Provide options for how information is consumed and processed. The Benefits of Neurodiversity: Individuals with autism may have strengths in pattern recognition and detail orientation. Individuals with ADHD may thrive in dynamic environments and excel at creative problem-solving. When organizations value these diverse abilities, they unlock innovation, fresh perspectives, and a competitive advantage. Embracing neurodiversity is not only ethically sound but also strategically advantageous: Enhanced Innovation: Diverse cognitive styles lead to groundbreaking ideas. Improved Problem-Solving: Varied perspectives yield robust solutions. Increased Productivity: When employees feel supported and included, they perform optimally. HR Leaders, It's Time to Take the Lead HR professionals have a critical role in influencing workplace culture. By making neurodiversity a priority, HR departments can create spaces where all employees can thrive. During Neurodiversity Week, let's move beyond awareness and take action. Let's build workplaces where every individual is valued, where diversity is a strength, and where innovation is paramount. Let's create a more inclusive and equitable future.
MORE NEWS
Share by: