While health coverage may seem like the employee benefits perk that workers value most highly, it's not the advantage that legal professionals consider to be the best of them all, according to the results of a recent poll.
In a new survey conducted by professional staffing firm Robert Half Legal, more than two-thirds of lawyers interviewed said that flexible hours and the ability to telecommute were far and away the best perquisites of their job. Slightly less popular incentives included benefits that they could only take advantage of with that company and in-office – such as free lunches or snacks – as well as training courses that helped them improve their knowledge of a particular subject.
In what may seem surprising, just 14 percent of respondents cited higher compensation as fringe benefit they enjoyed the most and was the most likely to keep them with the company.
Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, indicated that these results aren't altogether unusual, given the type of salary lawyers often make straight of law school.
"For lawyers who are already highly compensated in many cases, job satisfaction is often linked to non-monetary criteria," said Volkert. "These attorneys may be enticed to leave their current employer for a firm that offers more advancement opportunities, meaningful work or better work-life balance."
He added that business owners of all types may want to consider this survey in their assessment of what factors will help retain their current crop of employees.
According to a recent article published in the Wall Street Journal, more employers are paring down their employee benefit packages so that they can save costs and still comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Traditionally, health benefits have played a substantial role in keeping employees satisfied with what their workplace provides.
