A new study reveals Polish workers prioritizing financial benefits like gift cards and raises over traditional wellness perks amid economic uncertainty.
Gift Cards Reign Supreme in Most Regions
A study by UCE Research commissioned by Amilon shows that in 12 Polish voivodeships, gift cards are the most desired employee benefit. In regions like Podlasie, Opolszczyzna, and Podkarpacie, over 50-60% of workers specifically requested this financial benefit rather than traditional wellness offerings.
Employees are increasingly using these benefits for practical purposes like groceries, bills, and household appliances rather than luxuries, indicating a strategic approach to financial survival in uncertain times.
Interest in Psychological Support Plummets
Once considered a sign of employer responsibility, psychological support as an employee benefit has seen dramatic drops in interest. In Opole Voivodeship, zero percent of surveyed workers listed psychologist services as a desired benefit.
This decline doesn’t indicate a lack of mental health issues but rather reflects how financial stress reduces people’s capacity to engage in self-care. When basic needs are uncertain, professional psychological support feels like an unaffordable luxury.
Wellbeing Loses to Basic Necessities
Financial benefits have become a safety buffer for workers, allowing them to breathe in months when expenses exceed income. Unlike traditional perks, these benefits address immediate financial pressures rather than long-term wellness.
The money from gift cards rarely goes toward pleasures like SPA visits or entertainment. Instead, it’s allocated to essential categories that help workers maintain stability in challenging economic conditions.
Sports Cards and E-Learning Seen as Outdated
Employee benefits once considered prestigious, like sports cards and e-learning platforms, are now largely ignored. In Lubusz Voivodeship, interest in sports cards fell below 4%, while e-learning platforms don’t exceed 10% in most regions.
This isn’t because workers lack interest in exercise or development, but because they don’t want benefits to substitute for adequate compensation. Especially as inflation and living costs have long outpaced wage growth, workers prioritize actual financial security.
The Future of Benefits: Flexibility and Value
The study reveals regional differences that expose the weakness of “universal” benefit programs. What works in major cities doesn’t necessarily meet the needs of smaller regions, and standardized offerings are increasingly seen as disconnected from reality.
The future of employee benefits lies in flexibility and real financial value rather than additional wellness slogans, as workers clearly communicate their preference for concrete support over superficial perks.
