Employee benefits are top of mind for employees and employers alike. Top candidates want to work for employers who offer great benefits packages. Employers who offer great benefits are more appealing.
Offering benefits is about more than just offering a package. It’s about offering the types of benefits that people actually want. What are they? Our HR recruiters dug into this topic to give employers an idea of the most in-demand benefits and what other top Canadians companies are offering.
In this blog:
- The future of benefits report findings
- What are the most in-demand employee benefits?
- Employee benefits offered by top Canadian companies
The future of benefits report findings
A recent report found that many companies are already making plans to improve their benefits packages. Care.com developed the Future of Benefits report. Here, they polled human resource leaders and C-suite decision-makers about benefits. They asked them about what they plan to keep, stop offering, and expand. They found:
- 98% plan to expand or offer at least one new benefit
- 89% said they are removing at least one type of benefit as a result of the pandemic
- 57% said they are putting more emphasis on care-related benefits
- 63% said they are increasing their current childcare benefits
- 41% plan to offer new or expand senior care benefits
- 41% plan to expand mental health benefits
What are the most in-demand employee benefits?
Here are some of the most commonly cited benefits Canadians desire:
- Mental health support: Access to mental health resources such as counselling, wellness programs, and mental health days helps employees manage stress and maintain overall wellbeing.
- Flexible working hours: Flexible scheduling allows employees to better balance work and personal responsibilities, improving productivity and job satisfaction.
- Childcare benefits: Employer support for childcare costs or services helps working parents manage family obligations while remaining engaged and focused at work.
- Professional development benefits: Providing access to training, certifications, or career development programs allows employees to build new skills and grow within the organization.
- Tuition assistance and professional development: Financial support for education encourages employees to pursue further learning while strengthening the organization’s talent and expertise.
- Financial wellness: Programs such as financial planning resources, retirement guidance, or savings support help employees reduce financial stress and plan for long-term stability.
Employee benefits offered by top Canadian companies
There are a lot of top Canadian employers who are already offering many of the benefits people are seeking. Some companies are also offering other great perks.
Based on the findings from Canada’s Top Employers 2026, here is a sample of some of the great employee benefits offered by Canadian companies:
- Manulife Financial Corporation: Offers comprehensive family-planning benefits, including unlimited coverage for fertility drugs and treatments, adoption support, and financial assistance of up to $20,000 per year.
- Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd.: Encourages employee recognition through a culture of appreciation that includes e-cards, public shout-outs, and redeemable reward points distributed by leaders.
- Mars Canada: Provides a generous starting vacation policy with four weeks of vacation for new employees and the option to carry forward one unused week into the following year.
- Bank of Canada: Supports long-term financial security with retirement planning seminars, a defined benefit pension plan, and extended health coverage that continues into retirement with no age limit.
- Canada Energy Regulator: Promotes continuous learning through internal training programs, tuition subsidies, and the option for educational leave of up to 52 weeks.
- Dash Social: Provides employees with a quarterly $450 wellness allowance that can be used for activities or services such as fitness, learning, travel, or additional benefit coverage.
A final word about employee benefits
Employee benefits are no longer a secondary consideration for job seekers. They are a defining factor in where people choose to work and how long they stay. Employers that regularly review and evolve their benefits offerings are better positioned to attract high-quality candidates, improve engagement, and strengthen retention.
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