Young people value flexibility, while older generations prefer meal vouchers. Which employee benefits are effective?
In today’s competitive job market, where companies are vying for every qualified employee, attractive benefits are more important than ever. Research by NMS Market Research shows that when designing a benefits program, it is important to consider not only the type of position but also the age of the employees. Generational differences in preferences for employee benefits are, in fact, more pronounced than you might expect.
While financial bonuses are universally sought after across all age groups, preferences vary when it comes to other benefits. For the youngest workers from Generation Z (ages 15–26), flexible working hours are an attractive and sought-after benefit, with 6 out of 10 Gen Z representatives naming it as one of their top 3 benefits. In contrast, for Generation X (ages 43–60), a fifth week of vacation plays an important role, valued by half of Generation X respondents.
“This is a natural reflection of different stages of life. While young people place great emphasis on work-life balance and want to combine work with other activities and personal development, older generations value longer periods of time off work during which they can spend time with their families,” adds Lucie Režná from NMS.
The most striking intergenerational differences
The data clearly show where the priorities of younger and older generations diverge:
Flexible working hours: Gen Z prefers them by 28 percentage points more than the older Gen X (59% vs. 31%)
An extra week of vacation: Gen Z prefers this 29 percentage points less than Gen X (22% vs. 51%)
Meal vouchers: Gen Z prefers this 19 percentage points less than Gen X (21% vs. 40%)
Pension contributions: Gen Z prefers this by 11 percentage points less than Gen X (9% vs. 20%)
Sick days: Gen Z prefers this by 9 percentage points more than Gen X (17% vs. 8%)
The differences between fields are just as pronounced as those between generations
Preferences for benefits vary not only by age but also by industry. This places additional demands on HR managers when designing an attractive benefits program.
Marketing a IT: Flexibility above all
Marketing leads in the preference for working from home at 73%, which is 40 percentage points higher than the average. In the IT sector, flexible working hours (55%) and working from home (53%) are also highly valued. Meal vouchers are less popular than average in both sectors—13% in marketing and 17% in IT. By comparison, interest in meal vouchers across all sectors stands at 31%.
Manufacturing, Logistics, and Administration: Job Security and Financial Benefits
In contrast, financial benefits dominate among lower-level positions in manufacturing and logistics—75% of respondents prefer a 13th-month bonus. Meal vouchers are more popular than average here (43%), while working from home is, understandably, the least sought-after option (just 12%).
In administration and public administration, the most significant deviation from the average is the preference for a fifth week of vacation (56% compared to the average of 43%).
What does this mean for employers?
“A one-size-fits-all benefits program simply doesn’t work,” summarizes Lucie Režná, HR Manager at NMS. “The more you can tailor your benefits offering to the needs of specific employee groups, the greater your competitive advantage will be.”
The research sends a clear message: when designing a benefits program, it is essential to consider both the age structure of the workforce and the specifics of the industry. While younger generations prefer flexibility, the option to work remotely, and sick days, older employees value stability in the form of longer vacations, meal allowances, or contributions to pension plans.
Understanding these differences may be the key to successfully recruiting and retaining talent across all generations.
About research
Data collection took place online in Český národní panel in December 2024. The sample is representative of the Czech population aged 15–60. A total of 1,440 respondents participated in the survey.
About NMS Market Research
NMS Market Research is a research agency with over 20 years of history. In addition to market research, which it provides to hundreds of clients worldwide, it also studies political and social issues. In addition to the Czech Republic, it operates in other countries in Europe and Asia. NMS is a member of the international organization ESOMAR and national organization SIMAR.
Author
Lucie Režná, NMS Market Research s.r.o. – [email protected] +420 724 950 557