A recent survey by Wiltshire-based recruitment firm CMD Recruitment warns that a significant number of UK employers risk falling behind in the battle for top talent due to limited or outdated staff benefits.
The CMD Wellness Survey 2025 reveals that while certain companies have adopted more modern, people-centred perks like enhanced maternity packages, private health insurance and birthday leave, many are still not keeping pace with evolving workforce expectations.
Among the survey’s findings:
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68% of employees benefit from increasing holiday entitlement over time,
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yet only 32% can buy or sell their leave,
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75% of employers now offer private medical insurance,
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64% provide birthday leave,
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just 51% include enhanced maternity leave,
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and only 40% support sabbatical leave.
Additionally, a worrying number of organisations still only offer the bare minimum in statutory sick pay.
Dan Barfoot, Operations Manager at CMD Recruitment, commented:
“The employment landscape is changing rapidly. Companies that fail to offer meaningful, flexible benefits risk falling behind in an increasingly candidate driven market.
For our clients, these findings underscore the importance of aligning your employee benefits with current market expectations. CMD Recruitment understands that attracting and retaining top talent requires a comprehensive approach to wellbeing.”
The report also flags notable inconsistencies in pension contributions, ranging from the legal minimum of 3% to more generous packages of 12% or more. In terms of bonuses, only 48% of employers currently offer one, with similar inconsistencies evident in provisions like ‘death in service’ cover.
Operating throughout Bath, Calne, Devizes, Melksham, and Swindon, CMD Recruitment encourages businesses to reassess and strengthen their benefits offering. As competition for skilled professionals remains fierce, a strong wellbeing strategy can be the key to standing out.
The CMD Wellness Survey 2025 is a timely reminder for employers to adapt their benefits to match the needs of today’s workforce. Hannah Shell, Principal Consultant at CMD Recruitment, said:
“Offering wellbeing and flexibility perks – such as sabbaticals, private medical insurance and birthday leave – can significantly benefit companies by boosting employee retention, preventing burnout and enhancing overall employee satisfaction.
According to our findings, many local companies already provide these perks, which poses the question, are you competitive in this market? These low-cost, high impact benefits not only improve company morale but also contribute to a healthier, more engaged workforce.”
