Wiltshire, UK. June 17th, 2025 – A new survey from leading Wiltshire-based recruitment firm, CMD recruitment reveals that employers across the UK risk falling behind in the race for talent by offering outdated or limited staff benefits.
The CMD Wellness Survey 2025 found that while some companies have adopted progressive policies, including enhanced maternity leave, birthday leave, and private medical insurance, many still fall short on benefits.
Key findings from the survey include 68% of respondents reported their annual leave increases over time, yet only 32% have the option to buy or sell holidays, 75% of employers now offer private medical insurance, 64% of employees receive their birthday off, while only 51% are eligible for enhanced maternity leave, and just 40% of companies allow sabbaticals, and a significant number still provide only basic statutory sick pay.
Dan Barfoot, Operations Manager at CMD Recruitment, commented on the survey results saying: “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 reveals notable disparities in employer pension contributions, ranging from the minimum 3% to upwards of 12%. Additionally, when it comes to annual bonuses, just under half at 48% of employers offer annual bonuses, with similar disparities noted in support structures such as ‘death in service’ coverage.
CMD Recruitment, which operates across Bath, Melksham, Swindon, Devizes and Calne, advises businesses to proactively benchmark and enhance their employee value propositions. Competition for high quality candidates remains fierce, making investment in staff wellbeing becoming an increasingly critical differentiator.
The CMD Recruitment Wellness Survey 2025 serves as a reminder for employers to realign with modern employee expectations and desired benefits. Hannah Shell, Principle Consultant at CMD Recruitment added:
“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.”
ENDS