Three purpose-driven employee benefits for the modern workplace

Gone are the days of office pizza parties and team away days to keep employees satisfied. 

Today’s workforce wants more sustainable employee benefits that align with their own core values and lifestyle choices – including their environmental and altruistic beliefs.

In this blog post, we’re breaking down three purpose driven benefits to consider offering your employees, that all come at no additional cost to your company.

Three purpose-driven employee benefits to offer your team

1. Sustainable commuting benefits

When it comes to sustainable commuting, the first employee benefit that probably comes to mind is the traditional cycle to work scheme.

But, is that really what employees want? 

Recent figures show that bike ownership is on the decline, with 2024 yielding the worst bicycle sales in the UK since the 1970s. Meanwhile, city bike sharing schemes like Lime, Forest, Santander Cycles and more are soaring in popularity – with availability in over 48 towns and cities across the UK. 

That’s why CycleSaver was born – reinventing the cycle to work scheme to allow employees to enjoy savings of up to 47% on city bike share through the process of salary sacrifice.

And for those employees who would prefer a vehicle over a bike, there are plenty of electric options to consider too. 

Companies like the Electric Car Scheme or Octopus make switching to an electric car more affordable by allowing you to lease an EV for less through the tax benefits of salary sacrifice. 

2. Volunteering time off

Another way to offer your employees benefits that align with their values is through paid time off to volunteer.

Paid volunteer days give your workforce the freedom to contribute to causes they’re passionate about without having to sacrifice their income or down time. 

For employees, having access to employer-supported volunteering supports community engagement, strengthens employee wellbeing, and helps align personal purpose with professional life. 

For employers, it contributes to their wider corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, while boosting employee morale, team building, and brand reputation. 

3. Payroll Giving Schemes

When it comes to meaningful workplace perks, payroll giving is an employee benefit that should be on every company’s radar.

Payroll giving allows employees to make a donation directly from their gross salary. Through schemes like GoodPAYE, employees are able to support the causes closest to their hearts while taking advantage of significant tax savings.

Payroll giving schemes are especially beneficial to charities, as unlike other donation methods, payroll giving ensures charities receive the full donation amount without needing to reclaim tax through schemes like Gift Aid. 

As employee expectations continue to evolve, so should the benefits that employers provide. Purpose-driven perks, like sustainable commuting options, volunteering leave, and payroll giving schemes, demonstrate that your organisation genuinely cares about people and the planet, not just profit. 

Best of all, these benefits can be introduced at no additional cost to your business, while increasing employee engagement, retention, and reputation. It’s a win-win for your team, your company, and the planet.