A recent survey by Hudson, Dublin based specialists in recruitment and talent management, has highlighted how many companies in the financial services and IT sectors in particular are utilising creative lifestyle perks to recruit the best candidates.

These range from the more traditional extras, such as better pension plans, to more unusual benefits like free housekeeping, and dry cleaning services.

According to Peter Cosgrove, managing director of Hudson’s Irish operation, ‘While salaries are important, it is obvious that, to recruit and retain staff, many other factors are being examined.  Many companies are now offering performance related bonuses where individual effort and achievement is recognised while soft benefits include contributions to further education and training, company child-care facilities, extra holidays and technology.  The more unusual benefits we’re coming across include free bicycles to cycle to work, housekeeping and dry cleaning pickup services, as more companies follow the US model.  It may only be a matter of time before dog walking is bundled in there too!

‘It is also clear that the new breed of worker we call Generation Y - those born since 1980 - have a different way of looking at work and certainly are more concerned about what work can do for them as opposed to just being happy to be employed. They are also interested in corporate social responsibility initiatives and "green" policies in their potential employers.’

The survey also revealed that salaries would remain strong during 2008 in a market that is still driven by candidates, despite a backdrop of national and global economic slowdown. However, in the medium term many companies will focus on consolidation rather than growth. Another interesting finding is that the hiring process appears to have become much more rigorous with an increase in the use of tools such as psychometric testing and assessment centres.

Visit http://uk.hudson.com/documents/uk-ie-salary-survey.pdf to read the survey for yourself.