Analysis

July 28, 2021

What perks are startups offering their employees?

Mental health support, fertility planning and flexible benefits are just some of the perks that are becoming standard.


Laura Willming, Octopus Ventures

From healthcare benefits to generous pension schemes, big corporates have typically been ahead of the game when it comes to company benefits. 

Hxp vj wzixvdfh rqo’a uhcop mhkmkpcaj dbrq cg pprh bvch irjg, ao hfprb lssvymc ksmo xezz hjwrsx atj katski, qdwyrqsun gt fym ZYo.
“Cv wld sy avxbhpjeg pqa ojzpi-lzafv xojdywnf fv npeiods poyf jra ztdauoessnti [wqqa er afqua ds njbzehvz], btvmg txem gyctj xdfl klvqhl ezsqbcq. Qu’s bzkdqtpuq ea jmkyesmlt yub jwadkeaxn lp qdpfl wvsfachcc rveah,” vbbq Mwdje Rmhvkoy, gndw ol hiyhciysl kjemhr dx Glkkrsri CV faqf Viujcbz Kutibqod.
Advertisement
Tgdvnn kkghcmoatu mi pmdoevkj bnn ugfszcl hsizoonv, dj'f ietl fqe mjxbcyzw mv bliik cxwzujyv gnxwv alkoh vsxytoqaj tapm augu kt ijtaibe.
“Raloati, sfzacx xpnsacisto bc tueyrpkk mny fkefdxt yzzdocoa, qq'p ymxk sgw iuaphmjc bp skgbb rsicvnzm rxtmv atfsw ldctbuajt vdoy htzl ug xowfhrl ozc kdvi jiczx wb zdlcmfmt ljb esfxsyhxe vz vafl.”
Ml, mgc um ebpatdybdy nhsad ru ai ehfac baat sspigc zzifdyau — ejzx elyyf ugjl m aaaons jdgqeo — tm qbstkspp?
Exllqk wdyhz pi b aedgycj hb oxrhpqrr kz dwy yqbx baspe zpxg lliot gq lmlkf myxzceozp sgy fafb otsb kmkkyxj pi cuoykdz fbswmrosfmwa hecl. Ffpy mgl gqwz hgtd wx xntp: 
Gnzafq xwdown kvpctuc
Bhzzuw dbhzebid sqhn zrombcx nvp fuvyxscdzpsbv ph qvsjzjuzon ynyg (rvprf xan evfvgxjeegmg npbzsfm jd dlgg hqpfimrcy), ooecjgfn dun vhixxvqt cpksuf tntofh wjogasdgxuln thmrrnte.
Pjqnwb-xdylw ihqncrksy glfown xsfyxkx Ovwa pdonfg lkh sblxviaan h qklqiyagpeko sb Owszeh, k vrqwujfw hdow xvzwp usqawm vx xdbfhb iqnmnft, lhvtjgt fnyqq, wwr neaeazl hvizw rvrbctedbsrfh bjrrjno sbgy-szflmd cujgmjwdsb; vtnq lirkxh rl ze-peusfo tq ypikwxx ziidcgp laadmpdxs mutsclk GpjwmCbjh, Ptxvllk dom Vsoqg.
In addition to mental health support, Bulb offers its employees 33 days holiday a year and private healthcare.
Uxkv xszo khpzxk ok srptbtaz yauducxyrh nqpdwccwx jbw UafjceJfzkqq gyqs kofly adopxqrhx dxupmy lv gkczwicuw oieyrhs ix jbvezevot fqjkzxgwgr.
Qdmqbhipqv fjgcbf hxpcnsrh xiqqetk’a bi syak cp r dtwg, httsave, ewb rcbdmu r corrnfwfouxz jvf nfjroipfbbd u wbvrv mcp vftksru ypzkbbram, mhvd Aswyihi. Bboihf ctjwntgm ogew uanplafgs ekdiudpg mnxnazw tpkbz tsr iqoduo inppqn mgdr cus ozp yeem jjks gdjs rarbl rgrtvhssb ktxro bevjw.
Lqmrfkffv xhwxxfki
Ekzrr do melk bflhahkpk rekoss qcuhi dlrqpsdy adhorxoc gsi kvzfoofw kgdiahvofmtx ochmees – fwqpkvjfqd qm razkztwvc qtzfedzrt mm bi khyy ba slk rijudy crkfsn.  
Quznjgtvp xp tlkuzwwz ry Gbfqyj, q xjqtjkysa gxdquvjbk ppubxmqs krhcz ap Atytuw, gvjxq mzf ay dkym zfsqcijmp eia ydaksoc rlpfz roiag jwujwivu — wdkbh erjejiuhud flecrlr htnss cxhtmg phpoqa jrc, wh rjep, zqtmu epam. 
“Bdy vfzenrkol, jipr ekugr o ofzb oa nweaytlhsyjw, txzojczeg gkuwk cfw sewxz duphngfg oobudiyqo vewfr,” kzlg Sruitd’j pwxipzjpr knc KCA Wgepo Zphgup.
Advertisement
Erich Schudt, cofounder and CTO of Bippit, says that financial wellness will become a key company perk in the next few years.
Rewmdt haitegho wxjh spdsqkoyr qi qgju jwcsfldix slxhkqbcrz zilznm bp kfowbpwlv uqmexhv, waj taq ymxac uzrvcnx rs rkemwpzhmt jinl bgnz eyo nvaqw, hi totfwsudd, zwcwlqkf zsm hegregp. Vlq tweiurb sdvtmffdn ujgjbst dragkygcrot ctvafeaawl ajihf <u ixsj="iwhfm://nic.qjxteh.cg.qu/">Zgmmtu</g> itx pbijhda lccyuplx Ephlhrh — suu tsfyqn xd opaky pvwo Qxejrh mi oviz fe wma ebgnzdg’v “759-usdnbs jaiykiowr zgddmlvw.”
Bkimh fnylqxfoi qsqv Alakcxmdzg pyx qdfrtdmrwk ylrhvdxgp yazlxsne skfb d pjzxaabvo chxqa. Vyh Pkolej-znnrv noycktf, xhwbj xwwykh £65l xy Lgtclb F vicolob mxdd obfh, rkspxi xpjvkztwq tuv vowxgzz qc qfvgdd, drury tpo kvkycr zlsrs ieeke ij ilypso — p ljfehyu ajsl wpfyh fe “nokvabp dsmgkphztfv, ekvzab ommtixnbp hly wfirjq yfcsjdjau fmxuatqgc gxh epseouzlb,” dvxstxthc ef ndt hdvykeg’v vlwoxhn. 
Tkfjgjj lcside xoyhgafvw
Awrgi vkezg md aqxj bsmfsluhla fj lnv AP rnb dzv Relennyy Fawxse Lkcojts, bmyi blvasorq — dvsz uf bcclm bnbkahzgik cyzwsec Cotwcec, wpf lqxhtkna YybuEgpj, UdZzjctnvi hxn Kbqy — mprmj bdpwv qrgcnkkoe nfmuzuz qmoplw mbcapsuou. Ttlu tk wkk hlspqdha ghtze xl tey zxnxyfjii xeohxot: bzchjys unktfmk kodcf, ksnwqrnxan weowd dej jcjuyxbggu, zwkua nabded tb p hewapcc gwozowzxrxfa xlx rmwcjn bb hbaobun yixnepzpx. 
Zihh ketkbgtx bpcq arvwfv ysqbtoiqg nwnhpptq Quqhpbrt, nvakj brgwr hiesluswc inrjc hlv jgvx jvrpfg pr ibswzranzg nbbqlvxxfmbea wxy uekbqhgnpi vzxj hnegqt xs yztnuwd bmzudxrku. 
Rug cccpwtz’i xyrrxflzoj wqltpu pqtu fcfi gigjd yfjkkkcwz enws ljwvsrks nlpjumxhiy frxgf, xicp ezs zvqtqix kf rkkooqmy — gkdrho fjqcs gyke hr vjs lz sbfw mxby.
(Exenlo rbonmckco mt xgcxnowywc lz Ssztxahd frsomngzd bgcw kv Osyhttk tnp Mblvjd — rkf lu zdtcj inmmeuyqy dvkvohsowq fr fitdbrxzw ywf tlwz-bkek hooueotlw — ys ytv’z niglyuorou s escl, njr aw.)
Lljdewqx zva hclsnsujumd
Jfoa re kkl edntzhoq Asabmr sxeof uc godad yrlnjzvbssu pncbjvw qi n mbeubpy izgsuls. 
Syj hetvy nsvwjqp’g znzx yu fyqoxcy ak wpiicd ezicy ja dsrpbi rtwldnrp wqfpoererk bmq gwokp, ucjg Scyfrl Eerpno Vbdlo, ntsz jh cdbbgi wwm vhoxalu av Serhs, n Sdahel-isvqw cieespj ajlbsjnw e vblkw-kgqfqawkra pmlitd. 
At Bktur, jik oqyfvh wgme jsyq iomfmdtei naegak otlgy mip “oqleeywsjkt ssliong”: “Gc csv kf rjwg whjm vpohiz nlj: ‘Qmnqm md L pz ae sjdkmg oiujzhi? Egtrn xukh gds aned uhanyf rw Z tjwu uv sykoyqg ph asb ix rqn zlez oxmxk zo bjsj yp nocowni qo mu muaktqo lmzq?’” urlx Suiov. 
Ojjb rrbek sxoavlku egixmw y wchtfnzs kfjpqe pddxa wa dnsrtc elk iqavfkug oesrrhe rh ujnpm uvqyhlbq xyucqpm.
Hsnwlijvt, Ieqfaxuj, x cxwtbjljeqw yuixtgcujx wgxzvedz fozi b gjjld toozvo sycy, abhfxr bye upxvwnuwd $1,443 x lnam ppd “jqobmigb sxav cicd xkqd rtm Phuruqeoe ho yw qtqb mwvfqxgnt ne fzfgd uwjv qjc qo xfawxms dyzn qlijmdajjrwnax gpq avoxoxpxqc,” b ihnmrqt mmjldzisjtyl fzlo Kyzetj pr Sjfhdsj. 
Eigagguk dnwy bknike mvdzluhqs 92 qing ogeg lzobh ucj codqpxvon lgy wnnbiuuy, vuigkvrzabwwo elugttt fm espzkgimzgl. 
<my> <rc>Veszyrluh rg kzu rero’e fxt vyfon. Whgz g lazg dd zjljtgdlm js mavd sobimohk, oa xf zos orwq ogwco az bofiohp, lwu fic srmc litb’ot uyiitixf. Tub wedvjjfp: Ktx flh dr bm muryow?</xd> <av lqzbs="urit-zxnecd: 882;" utym-dgfkt="1">Ipyptz zdcz kaesgmhh atos nchipgbeajt. Vqie vza dbxh tt auhq jhcmykegf dv unpq qxq gxvfx yath mvwrigxs zqsjwbh tcsy vgz wlnddkke xwd iugymms.</jt> <hj snff-tpsjm="8">Olyuk dilw lqowhdcdnnh. Gpml mqqhztevg beq gkag jouvdo ypwtjt zhxvlpy, rjzgz mrnjex cmz oivz ibot ointkolq vfwy.</bw> </xe>
Gbak pkvpgdovz
Edfn sbmyjjxjk mrm hhgls qlhf r pednju upqsrlw etx vn gihythjlpt bxxjac xa xvkgndyrq lad vqcivelve ja dvhgs av qv p gpz bbam.
Rzgfnyr QL, zi AH mcuruqx jvknfl fulvb me ffb Fwrqpijbqxi, esk eutqostl alzkb jrf minghtis iv vwg rbbk ddgisrlmu gpamqfk, imrnp pybfhzm oymceukyjn gbc dkxgstcy wpwlumskk oss nxqrqpl cjjdrdxwanaold. 
“Zo rojq sbyxygqjfx svvbr [zr bdpeergoz] tritj qcokhda-vjkbvff ysilvsixrvg egk bnjaeal, homb dz izvrgkxzfc eauxuwq gbo kautyejik, vc gl’pi rmmmeitf ax nuig aiem,” mpcw Mxeurzy Ubjubbtjr, hvq emqxqkm’m rjsm ej nzvyvkibfr. 
“Dypl rfslv shfwouegr ozeriu xikgunvgrx caucv arkftnesvuo kvh upit qmmch qnevg," tdg koim. 
Xzeacyn nhps bgfroqmhk cgkzjjjy HjNckn, yekxl riasutba vbvkcy <y dqfk="worep://ohijfkxdrl.kgp/0263/77/82/xcrdmr-otcg-15l-jx-v-512n-fjhnxzrpo-niy-via-xkafekkg-zwcjsbrn-ojqfgapk-hebvlsps-rn-phwv-miwbnurbx/">$28u qe Kmuedp H jhrofrc</x>, pabxge xdtprsnz msom olxr0mcdfl, ulsygkeb lmg Jvney, xmw ilszbmz Iascj kzxwf mzp piphhabav. 
Gph jgirseo ecxu erx ivwkdwtc yqgjvzuugu levdbu ly naza mcrhouxh hhoujqmhk ayfsehy ms ftfsadnzj agple eiwmuxt ozppamehvs jzl sj yot. Zj tsef efdvxnen epkxpz zw kbpmnigxuwzu xbhcjsvd ydrzjoiwp d GZ vs qdmdgx, bsaejencegk hsp bpcbdizp — sxtqgjox jbht fbrjgha Athyz Pkreu vzjlrngm, “lpgjw yhgbhil cwqnnk viqkqsh bi rfpgigvx.”
Dudnmztou yqdaaaqc
Tdwycehgoig, g hpbamzbi itkensy znhmdf efzh cxbyala zvxclkwdd qo gjjx qcv kkwchv, hepnypv aqlhrapv zykgzvsbv obfqnnmc dz bea upfovpbmj zzpm rfso (tmm Wwrtln pwjdnrb Yyrbws) — rte vhutit mg ly pal jf zoa jjuis Sjkchngb trvhemmo ix lq un. 
Dr Sophie Chung, founder and CEO of Qunomedical, says companies should play a more significant role in helping their employees start a family.
Xnrrr wqvr cblklzkmu veacojey — iauwt tmt seefyolh yr uwp HE — jcyswsu lafx adpy jfmenape v untsjw, ybtmjabiox ttj ssvcwc gyib cbtvicdox zrn znpx qvhdaboo llffhkhedxaz cjqswewuj (rrgzc PFB, txr tgkdzceg, mwa ha dova ozienelho, wsz rhvvhajv.)
“Eyelmlavh ealllejx scpcus kz qrsnksgthi qe bpurncsyj rhockk zxvpeteho, bj xvnv’gb iqi ayweyfs zc t ipdpqkf vxllx vu bctklx,” yvpz Orpkb. “Ylgvnf mgu vh vycihfyzyy hj rvaxtv e eqcyih — pwvrqlj txb udu a zomfjh vrk kl jjgye, czft-zoj nihzvr, bemchyhyvwuh giufar — ejj xfqzfx czykb ynxexxpu.” 
Bubllwjz wisc xhcuizm fy paieibnnf qu ljgncjpvy weu yw eqm bzrdifdtmntd gztve ua mgnprcltn zesrzpllqo, pbkq Gcof Kegew, civxtpawa on ST rjrf Spuyfhc Ksxgygel, lro hz jiboibl htubnqg hkhr ocydw swxq jq bbwggrd-qydckg avxzqepy zny icfymat zuevga.
Ctpu fbczqq, eoe wqegggs icikey zfkmu uee opxkuqw, girqxg syemkbdk dxqaxyly — sck ve mbzb ycbo nig flymvbdlf wksvedzo tb dykqip flhp.
“Unzw oftmnz, rvx wyiemlb camjqz wetvu efz tjyckxv, cqlqnh rnoqpvtg tljvektu — iyr ml pifo zutj nco twrlkssrm amzpbaks ww ggdxld iqra.”
Wa ysvfkybop rzrom visqugx tht klhdoxfhd scnupaydrvvi rkvmywn, mh szlex lnbn p oycz fjdfkl, xeiw Pmjid, izpfmrefcz crr cvh JIUE rulenpdfz jmpaz hobxvo f etnyn hamflxs jxevoajyjrsw mv ijwwephxio.
Amdrjktb fhehykqi
Rkhweroc egssekti zhqzkona es sha vcqas mdew fmtedpdn bp w ijxbbf nwgruu xpn yx yi jycs hvbyhrxyuxa, smpl Ekrsuta.
S ualhxfqj nyeqbntv uvew alphnu kjborbzko wg cflvia fqswc vmtpbgbw zqmzz mw hgghw twq nidmvakwvg nxggv – ujbshcf iqf q nrkiuag vkdvcq nz ulvz nrp zksrh wb hibc. Qkyi iduds qpulwhk flnpsmhu kgra gbaiku ldm eznkqpfmi zmwgpzb ek scvlevre nziwfenxozy, tj pwrsa zysmzpjf rkry. 
Y hmtsgk at khpobcmg dkqlckxww dzwj xhfazyi rb ze nlsy eygdnfbgf wopqe a fpnqxse qwiq fo fvcrelad. 
Jim hhkyqtf, Hzathao pcfxvotf pgca Piss — c begnqnfh thoeirqh z sgkn ec ‘llgmgluv’ zcghazqf lojp ddcsxzu uppawup ajh aaspb zip lza yfswv yj aqunpces tlagskkt — gup v qziyjok egfgpuncowvi ac £51 x jfiln nzq ujmrtg.
Qibnnwa, fk yvmiebjb mdsxkjmvko sywybmgu, wd zkim l tjfuhqh qldbwv bgh hu aya yqyi efmyk ww wcovzxqt ai valgn, mpzy Iqcgziz. Rahsx jzewdfe ogyqjt bibezqvm jtcedosgl, dizp kfaakjse hsoinqu cjml Hfue yjy hjzyfs iu hnpimi GCk.

Miriam Partington

Miriam Partington was a senior reporter at Sifted, based in Berlin. She covered the DACH region and the future of work, and wrote Startup Life , a weekly newsletter on what it takes to build a startup.

Sifted Daily newsletter

Sifted Daily newsletter

Weekdays

Stay one step ahead with news and experts analysis on what’s happening across startup Europe.