Survey Reveals Employee Benefits That May Decrease Workplace Stress

As we are living and working in a stressful-enough lifetime, there are some perks that are highly missed when they are not present in the workplace. We as humans spend around 2,080 hours per year at work, so it's natural to get stressed from it and to want some valuable relaxers, said resume.io. 

Knowing that, resume.io experts surveyed 1,000 employees in the United States to uncover the workplace perks that matter to them the most, reflecting on a growing focus on stress reduction and work-life balance. 

Key findings: 

• 76% of U.S. employees across generations consider paid overtime a must-have perk.
• 75% of workers stated that getting paid sick leave is non-negotiable.
• Health insurance and dental packages are essential stress-relieving benefits for Gen X and Boomers, with 75–84% rating them as must-haves.
• 30% of Generation Z prefer flexible, balanced and pet-friendly offices. 
• Women value inclusive and supportive benefits such as maternity/paternity leave (over 33%) and DEI training (nearly 30%), while men focus more on financial perks like stock and investment options.

Paid overtime tops the list of must-have perks, stated in 76% workers. Across all generations, paid overtime emerged as the top workplace perk, with 76% of U.S. employees considering it essential. This indicates that employees value compensation for extra effort, not just flexible hours or casual office perks, and view it as a critical factor in managing stress and maintaining financial stability, according to resume.io. 

Health insurance, paid sick leave and dental coverage matter to more than 75% of employees. For Gen X and Baby Boomer professionals, comprehensive health insurance and dental packages are top priorities, with 75-84% rating these benefits as essential. Access to reliable healthcare and preventive coverage directly reduces financial and health-related stress, contributing to greater peace of mind on the job, said resume.io. 

Flexibility, four-day workweeks, and pet-friendly offices are appealing to Gen Z. One-third of Gen Z employees say that a compressed workweek, such as a four-day schedule, is non-negotiable. This preference reflects a generational focus on work-life balance, time for personal pursuits and mental health, demonstrating how schedule flexibility is now considered a key stress-reducing factor, said resume.io. 

Men seek financial benefits, while women prioritize maternity leave. Women place greater importance on inclusive and supportive workplace benefits, with over a third prioritizing maternity or paternity leave and nearly 30% citing diversity, equity and inclusion training, according to the resume.io survey. Men, on the other hand, tend to focus on financial perks such as stock and investment options. These distinctions show how gender influences stress-related priorities and overall workplace satisfaction, said resume.io.