How Employee Benefits May Change in a Hybrid Workplace
Companies in the UAE and around the world have been shifting to a hybrid working format. To remain effective, employee benefits can’t stay the same when the context around working has changed dramatically.
After all, in a hybrid workplace where employees do not primarily work on-site, offering employee benefits like on-site gyms would be impractical. In this Pacific Prime Dubai article, we’ll explore how employee benefits may change in the face of new working practices.
The Prevalence of the Hybrid Workplace
Employees and companies around the globe have been compelled to shift to remote working ever since the pandemic. The practice was well-received by employees, as they have more flexibility regarding when and how they work; therefore, many started expecting companies to fully adopt the model.
As of 2025, approximately 74% of UK employees express preferences for hybrid working, and over 50% of companies, particularly in the tech and finance sectors, have started fully adopting the approach.
In the UAE, which has been consistently leading the way when it comes to workplace innovation, the federal sectors were among the first to implement a hybrid working method, and since then, many private companies have followed suit.
Hybrid workplaces have become a key factor in attracting and retaining the most talented staff, as employees today prioritize jobs that can offer them work-life balance. Meanwhile, employers also benefit from cost reduction, talent acquisition, and lower turnover rates.
6 Employee Benefits Tailored for a Hybrid Workplace
Unlike traditional benefits such as in-office catering, on-site gyms, and other similar perks, benefits in a hybrid context should be tailored around helping employees work comfortably from home and be flexible in terms of leave.
1. Home Office Stipends
For employees who are working from home, the costs of office supplies and ongoing utility bills can add up, making home office stipends a popular and practical benefit.
Policies can vary from company to company. Generally, employees are given a fixed monthly amount for appliances like ergonomic chairs, standing desks, or even tools to improve health and well-being, like workout equipment or monthly subscriptions to a fitness and meditation program.
2. Employee Discounts
Many companies partner with third-party vendors to offer exclusive deals on a wide range of products and services, making employee discounts a continuously popular and valued benefit in today’s hybrid workplace.
These perks can include discounted rates on pet insurance, home and auto insurance, electronic devices and computers, as well as travel, hospitality, dining, and more.
3. Work-from-Anywhere Periods
Work-from-anywhere periods are becoming a competitive employee benefit, as people always imagine working from home, typing away on a laptop from a beach or some other picturesque destination.
This perk gives employees—from 4 to 8 weeks a year—the flexibility to work remotely from any location, allowing them to live their dream lifestyle while still staying productive.
4. Home Leave to Replace Sick Days
Home leave becomes a valuable benefit when employees sometimes feel slightly under the weather, capable of working but not fully capable of giving their full effort. It allows employees to rest and recover at home while still contributing to their work at a manageable pace.
By offering home leave, companies may see a reduction in the number of full sick days taken. It’s a more cost-effective approach compared to traditional sick leave, which results in 0% productivity, even when employees may be well enough to handle light tasks.
5. Flexible Leave
Employees like to have more control of their time, which is why flexible leave is such a popular employee benefit. Unlike traditional vacation policies, flexible leave is a much more fluid policy that is based on trust.
With flexible leave, employees can take time off simply when they need it without the constraints of formal limits. However, managers will still need to approve time-off requests, and employees will still be held accountable for poor performance due to extended leave periods.
6. Health and Well-being Benefits
Health and well-being benefits, including group health insurance and access to telehealth and other health and wellness apps, will remain one of the most coveted benefits of all time.
On top of that, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are becoming a more highly valued benefit, especially as health is now viewed holistically, encompassing mental health as well as physical health. EAPs offer employees counseling sessions, crisis support, and more.
The Rise of Flexible Benefits
Flexible benefits are becoming a key global trend in employee benefits strategies, which allows multi-generational employees to tailor benefit plans to suit their unique lifestyles, needs, and priorities.
Why Flexible Benefits Matter for Employees
- Personalized support: Flexible benefits empower employees to choose what actually helps them instead of receiving a generic package that might go unused.
- Inclusivity: A customizable plan supports a diverse workforce, from Gen Z to baby boomers who are in different stages of life and may have different kinds of needs.
- Increased satisfaction: Allowing employees to choose their own benefits increases engagement and satisfaction within the company.
- Adaptability over time: As employees’ circumstances change, they can adjust their benefits accordingly, making the support continuous and relevant.
Why Flexible Benefits Matter for Employers
- Talent attraction: Offering flexible benefits signals that the company understands and supports employee needs. This makes the company appear more competitive in the job market and attract high-quality candidates.
- Reduced costs: When employees can select the benefits they truly need, it reduces spending on the unused benefits, potentially reducing the overall costs of the benefit program.
- Increased retention: Employees are more likely to stay when they feel their needs are met. Flexible benefits help reduce turnover rate and the high costs that come with recruiting and training replacements.
For more details, take a look at our Complete Guide to Flexible Benefits.
Looking for an Employee Benefits Specialist?
As a global health insurance brokerage and employee benefits specialist, Pacific Prime Dubai has over two decades of experience helping companies of all sizes and industries design, implement, manage, and optimize their employee benefits offerings.
We use a tailored, technology-first approach to ensure companies get the best possible value out of their employee benefits offerings and can manage the plan administration in a smooth and intuitive manner.
Would you like to learn more about employee benefits? We recommend checking out our Global Employee Benefits Trends Report 2024 to stay updated with the current trends. Or reach out to us for more personalized advice.
Arrange a free consultation today!
With over 5 years of experience in the field, Suphanida spends the majority of her day synthesizing complex pieces of insurance-related information and translating this into easy-to-understand, engaging, and effective content across a variety of media such as articles, infographics, whitepapers, videos, and more.
Suphanida is also responsible for planning and publishing three whitepapers released annually by Pacific Prime: The State of Health Insurance Report, The Cost of Health Insurance Report, and The Global Employee Benefits Trends Report. Additionally, she handles the LinkedIn profiles of Pacific Prime’s Founder and CEO, as well as Global HR Lead.
Suphanida’s strengths lie in her strong research and analytical skills, which she has gained from her BA in Politics from the University of Warwick and Erasmus Mundus Joint MA in Journalism from Aarhus University and City, University of London.
Being of Thai-Indian origin and having lived, studied, and worked in Thailand, the UK, and Denmark, Suphanida also has a unique, multicultural perspective that helps her understand the struggles of expats and globetrotters.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to new places and immersing herself in different cultures.
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