In Several Countries You Must Register With Relevant Authorities For Employee Health Benefits
This is inevitably an aspect of employment on which a candidate will focus and compare terms and conditions from different employers. To remain competitive is, therefore, important to secure the best candidates. In general, benefits can be divided between what is mandatory and what are additional benefits that it may be customary for an employer to provide.
Mandatory Benefits
As can be seen from the below, while it is impossible to generalize, some benefits are mandated to be compulsory in most countries and take the form of benefits directly provided by the Government or mandated by the Government as compulsory for the employer to provide.
- Maternity and paternity leave are mandatory benefits in many countries although the extent and terms vary considerably.
- In most countries some form of payment from the employer during maternity leave of absence is mandatory.
- Many countries now provide for the right of an employee to take time off to care for a dependent relative.
- Paid time off for sickness is a benefit in most countries.
- Usually the Government will provide a minimum level of health benefit cover to which an employer must contribute – to do so the employer is likely to have to register with the relevant authorities.
- In many countries the Government also provides some form of long term disability benefits through regular social security payments from the employer and employee.
- The Government may also provide a death in service benefit.
- Unemployment insurance may also be mandatory either through normal security payments or additional payments.
- Worker’s compensation insurance is mandatory in most countries.
- Some form of payment for travel is mandatory in some countries e.g. Japan.
- Contributions to some form of housing fund are mandatory in some countries e.g. in China.
- Contributions to a Government retirement fund or pension fund is also mandatory in most countries.
- Profit Sharing – this is an unusual one to be a mandatory benefit but is mandatory in, for example, Mexico.
Supplementary Benefits
Supplementary benefits are ones that are at the discretion of the employer who will take into consideration what is normal in the industry and for the seniority of the candidate. Generally this will be by negotiation between the employer and employee or the employer may have a standard package of additional benefits.
Examples of additional benefits are: additional medical insurance, an extension of medical insurance to include dental or vision, free additional training, help with child care costs, additional life insurance to top up any mandatory death in service benefit, and a car or car allowance.
These are general guidelines, for more information on your specific country or situation, please connect with us.