Given the favourable tax treatment afforded to certain share schemes, their popularity is likely to continue to increase. Employers are now more open to flexible working hours and telecommuting. Many have vastly improved their training and development programmes in order to hold on to valuable employees. Flexible Benefits Many employers are offering some form of flexible remuneration package. A flexible package can take several forms.
Many employers operate a simplified form, for example giving a choice of car versus cash.
In a 'total reward' flex package the value of the benefits is added to salary to give a total reward figure which the employee can then use to purchase benefits suited to his own circumstances. The list of benefits can be virtually endless and in is limited only by the degree of flexibility which the employer is willing to offer. Life assurance and holidays at base levels are common examples. Consider your options carefully if your prospective employer offers some flexibility in your remuneration package. If you have the choice of additional retirement benefits in place of a bigger company car for example this may prove more beneficial to you.