How to Use the 2026 Benefits Guide
posted 27 Nov 25
The job market in 2026 is moving faster than most organisations can update their policies.
Employee expectations are shifting, wellbeing is now a strategic priority, and businesses are under pressure to compete not only on salary but on the overall experience they offer.
That’s where our 2026 Benefits Guide come in: a practical tool designed to help you benchmark your offering, understand what people value today, and build a benefits strategy that is relevant, competitive and future proof. Our guides focus on three key markets: Business Support, Industrial and Driving.
Here’s how to get the most out of them, and the outcomes you can expect when used effectively.
Start With a Clear View of Where You Stand
Before you can improve a benefits package, you need to know how it compares to the wider market.
Use the guide to:
• Identify which benefits are now considered standard
• See where expectations have shifted (flexibility, wellbeing, clarity)
• Highlight any areas where your current offer falls behind
Think of this as your baseline. You’re not looking for perfection, but you are looking for the gaps.
Outcome: You’ll gain an honest, evidence-based view of your position in the market, so any improvements you make are targeted and meaningful.
Identify What Matters Most to Today’s Workforce
The guide brings together the benefits employees consistently prioritise, such as genuine flexibility, transparent pay structures, wellbeing investment, and development pathways. These aren’t just trends, they’re becoming long-term expectations.
As you review these insights, ask yourself:
• Are we offering the benefits people build their decisions around?
• Where are we strong? Where are we vulnerable?
• Does our package reflect how people actually work today?
This step helps you cut through noise and focus on what truly moves the dial in attraction and retention.
Outcome: You’ll understand the high-impact benefits that carry the most weight in 2026, and avoid wasting budget on low-value perks.
Map the Insights to Your People Strategy
Once you understand the landscape, it’s time to align it with your organisational goals.
Use the guide to inform:
• Attraction strategy: What will make candidates choose you first?
• Retention strategy: What will make people stay long-term?
• Engagement strategy: What builds culture, trust and loyalty? • Workforce planning: How do benefits support your future needs?
Linking benefits to strategy ensures you’re not just adding perks, you’re strengthening your business.
Outcome: Your benefits become a strategic tool rather than a standalone HR exercise.
Explore our 2026 Benefits Guides
Use the Guide to Plan an Annual Review Cycle
One of the biggest mistakes organisations make? Updating benefits every three to five years. In today’s market, that’s too slow.
The guide is designed to support annual reviews, helping you:
• Spot expectations that have shifted since last year
• Adjust flexibility policies as working patterns evolve
• Re-evaluate bonus structures and pay transparency
• Ensure wellbeing support remains relevant and accessible
Regular reviews keep you competitive, consistent, and aligned with the market.
Outcome: A future-ready package that evolves at the same pace as your workforce.
Translate the Insights Into Clear Employee Communication
A good benefits package can fall flat if people don't understand it. Use the guide to help you shape clearer, simpler messaging.
Focus on being:
• Transparent
• Practical
• Easy to understand
• Specific about what’s available and how it works
The clearer your communication, the stronger your employer brand becomes.
Outcome: Higher engagement, better understanding, and fewer barriers in attraction and retention.
Track the Impact and Adjust as You Go
Once you’ve made improvements, measure the results:
• Are you seeing more applicants?
• Are offer acceptance rates rising?
• Has turnover reduced?
• Are people using the benefits you’ve introduced?
The guide helps you take a continuous-improvement approach, essential in a market where expectations shift quickly.
Outcome: A benefits package that stays competitive, relevant, and aligned with the realities of modern work.
If you want to see how these insights play out across different parts of the UK labour market, our Benefits Guides for Business Support, Industrial and Driving offer clear benchmarks and practical advice to help you refine your approach for 2026.
Explore Our 2026 Benefits Guides
Download the 2026 Benefits GuidesGet a clear view of how benefits are shifting across Business Support, Industrial and Driving roles with our latest guides. They highlight the key trends, expectations and practical insights you need to benchmark what “good” looks like for 2026.
