Employee Benefits refer to the additional non-wage benefits granted to an employee by the employer. Employee benefits can range from allowances, and paid leaves to insurance and training opportunities. Employees are awarded benefits in addition to wages, depending on the policy of the company they work for.

Why do employees offer Employee Benefits?

Employee Benefits are crucial tools in the hands of employers that act as a key to increasing job satisfaction of employees, productivity, and employee engagement.

Researches and studies indicate that non-monetary allowances serve as better motivators for employees as compared to monetary benefits. Hence, it becomes all the more important for employers to grant employee benefits for better performance of the employees which in turn increases the productivity of the firm.

Though there are various types of employee benefits granted by organizations, some commonly granted Employee Benefits are –

1. Insurance Programmes

Certain companies allow health insurance to their employees, covering medical emergencies, and dental or visual aids which save the employees from bearing the cost of seeking medical help. This serves as a secondary monetary aid.

• Retirement Policies

Some organizations offer to cover the post-retirement needs of employees by offering them pensions. This employee with financial security even post-retirement.

• Fringe Benefits

Some organizations ensure a house or a car to the employee on behalf of the company with upgrades every year. 

• Paid Leaves

Certain firms allow the employees fixed days off in a month, which they would be paid for.

• Training Programmes

Certain firms offer skill enhancement training programs to employees to increase their efficiency and improve their performance. This works in favor of both the company and the employees.

• Additional compensatory benefits

Some companies have employed techniques like offering commissions on a set number of sales or gifting the employee with the highest sales with a bonus or a free trip. 

All the above-mentioned techniques improve the performance of employees and act as motivators for them, increasing their job satisfaction and reducing absenteeism. The more the satisfaction of employees, the more is output generated.

Now, the burning question is, since training programs are considered a part of employee benefits, should employee counseling also be considered an employee benefit?  

What is workplace counselling?

Workplace counselling refers to allowing employees a safe space to share how they feel, helping them overcome work stress, and lending a patient ear to the employees.

Some signs in employees which indicates that they require counselling are:

1. Low productivity
2. Lack of Concentration
3. Feelings of overwhelm
4. Irritability
5. Feelings of irritability
6. Headaches and fatigue

Some benefits of counselling in the workplace are-

1. It helps employees cope with stressful situations
2. It reduces absenteeism
3. It helps employees maintain a work-life balance
4. It increases job satisfaction
5. It improves the performance of employees
6. It reduces stress, anxiety levels 

There is rising awareness about mental health and the similar, mental health of the working population is equally important and requires attention. The working population has to deal with the stress of their professional as well as personal life, this takes a toll on their mental and emotional health, and can lead to serious issues if left untreated.

Counseling in the workplace takes place to combat the following issues –

1. To solve interpersonal conflicts with co-workers
2. To deal with workplace harassment
3. To tackle cases of Bullying
4. To juggle multiple roles without feeling overwhelmed
5. To improve the flow of communication with co-workers and superiors

From this, it can be clearly noted that counselling in the workplace works in favor of employees, lightening their burden and improving their work efficiency. Hence, it serves as an employee benefit. 

Just as physical health insurance is considered an employee benefit, similarly, workplace counselling acts as a mechanism to safeguard the mental health of employees. 

Seeking counselling can become essential for employees with increasing stress levels in the workplace. Seeking counselling can be a time-consuming process that involves searching for a suitable counselor, and coordinating to fix a suitable day and time. Having a counselor in the workplace itself can expedite the process. 

Counselling in the workplace significantly improves the environment of the workplace, making it healthier and happier. Along with this, it alleviates stress and also improves the mental health of employees.

Trained counsellors should be readily made available at workplaces in order to improve the efficiency of employees and to give their mental health the attention that it deserves, as it is the need of the hour.

Testimonials of leading industrialists suggest that their firms tend to perform better due to the presence of trained psychologists in the workplace.

It can be confidently concluded that counselling in employee benefits and the availability of trained counsellors in the firm significantly mounts their productivity and saves them from crippling under pressure.

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