Last Updated on:
A new survey conducted by Wiltshire-based recruitment experts CMD Recruitment has revealed that many employers across the UK are in danger of falling behind in the talent market by offering outdated or insufficient employee benefits.
The CMD Wellness Survey 2025 highlights that although some organisations have embraced modern offerings such as enhanced maternity leave, birthday leave, and private medical cover, a large proportion are still failing to meet contemporary expectations.
Among the key insights:
68% of employees said their annual leave allowance increases with service,
only 32% are able to buy or sell leave,
75% of employers provide private medical insurance,
64% give employees their birthday off,
only 51% offer enhanced maternity leave,
just 40% allow for sabbaticals,
and a substantial number still rely solely on statutory sick pay.
Dan Barfoot, Operations Manager at CMD Recruitment, reflected on the findings:
“The employment landscape is changing rapidly. Companies that fail to offer meaningful, flexible benefits risk falling behind in an increasingly candidate driven market.
For our clients, these findings underscore the importance of aligning your employee benefits with current market expectations. CMD Recruitment understands that attracting and retaining top talent requires a comprehensive approach to wellbeing.”
The research also uncovers considerable variation in employer pension contributions, ranging from the statutory 3% to 12% or more. When it comes to annual bonuses, just 48% of employers offer one, and similar discrepancies were identified in ‘death in service’ benefits.
CMD Recruitment, which supports clients across Bath, Melksham, Swindon, Devizes, and Calne, is urging businesses to review and improve their employee value propositions. With the competition for skilled candidates at an all-time high, investment in staff wellbeing is increasingly seen as a strategic priority.
The CMD Wellness Survey 2025 serves as a timely call for employers to update their benefits offerings to match evolving employee preferences. Hannah Shell, Principal Consultant at CMD Recruitment, added:
“Offering wellbeing and flexibility perks – such as sabbaticals, private medical insurance and birthday leave – can significantly benefit companies by boosting employee retention, preventing burnout and enhancing overall employee satisfaction.
According to our findings, many local companies already provide these perks, which poses the question, are you competitive in this market? These low-cost, high impact benefits not only improve company morale but also contribute to a healthier, more engaged workforce.”