Undecided between two job offers? Consider extra salary benefits
5 de August, 2022
People change jobs for various reasons. Because they want to work in a different area or in a company they like better, because they want to progress in their careers or take on more exciting projects, because they are looking for a better balance between their professional and personal lives and much more…
Gone are the days when salary was the only element that entered the equation when exploring a new job opportunity. Although remuneration is still important, workers now value other aspects.
For this reason, many organizations have adopted a policy of extra-salary benefits – benefits that complement the salary package – that meet the expectations of candidates who are open to a new professional challenge.
Is this your case? Are you looking for a job? Do you already have offers on the table and are considering them? Then take a good look at the benefits and conditions offered by the companies in question.
Employee benefits to consider in your analysis
If you have two (or more) job offers and the salary component is similar, it is crucial to analyze the extra salary benefits involved.
You should, of course, make this analysis according to your needs and what is most important to you at the stage of life you are in. We are not all the same and what may be useful for someone else may not be for us.
Discover in the list below some of the most common employee benefits that can make a difference in a job offer:
- Meal allowance: although it is not compulsory, most companies in Portugal choose to give it to their employees. Even so, you should understand what the daily amount will be and whether it will be paid in cash or by social voucher (the maximum daily tax-free amount in cash is €6.00 and, if paid by card, this amount becomes €10.20, increasing your liquidity at the end of the month for food expenses).
- Health insurance: many companies offer their employees a health plan with the aim of promoting their quality of life and well-being (through easier access to health care).
- Support for education and training: employees who have children of school age or who want to develop their skills themselves value benefits that allow them to increase their purchasing power at schools, universities, training centers, language schools, etc.
- Childcare support: for those who have children or dependents in nurseries, kindergartens or similar, having some kind of benefit that increases their liquidity to support these costs can be a differentiating factor.
- Extra vacation days: the possibility of having more paid vacation days (for example, birthday or other days) is also one of the aspects most valued by workers and which many companies already include in their benefits policies.
- Flexible working hours: reconciling personal and professional life becomes easier if the company allows employees to have flexible working hours and manage this – the coexistence of personal matters with work – in a more carefree way.
- Teleworking: the covid-19 pandemic has brought with it confirmation that, in many roles and areas of activity, people can work remotely without detriment to their work. Many people value the possibility of working remotely, whether it’s just a few days a week, a month or 100% remotely.
- Transport allowance: in many cases, the cost of commuting to work is a significant burden, so many companies pay a transport allowance (they cover the cost of a public transport pass or fuel or provide a company car, for example).
- Other benefits such as performance or attendance bonuses, special conditions for access to gyms, nutrition consultations, payment for subscriptions to streaming platforms, among many others.
Now that you know some of the main employee benefits that can be granted by companies, you can better evaluate any job offers you may have.
Are there any other benefits you consider important? Tell us all about it!
Article updated in January 2025 to include the new meal voucher values in effect.