Most types of employee benefits are provided so that workers can afford some service that might ordinarily be outside of their financial reach. Hefty insurance policies, lucrative medical plans and even transportation reimbursement all fall under the rubric of expensive investments that are subsidized by employers so that staff members will be content with their jobs.
However, there is an increasingly popular trend that sees companies providing time away from work as a benefit unto itself. This may seem like a simple and unprofitable venture, but paid leaves of absences can actually be more worthwhile than other benefits. When personnel can take time to attend to their own matters as they see fit, whether because of an illness, a death in the family or a major lifestyle change, they will be appreciative of the freedom that their employers have offered.
Additionally, the cost of providing such a benefit isn't necessarily as exorbitant as other services could be. The price is only what a staff member would normally receive as well as the reduced productivity that this incurs. When compared to other benefits that are much more costly, leaves of absences can be very appealing to organizations that are large enough to weather this temporary loss.
