The Whole Package: Why Benefits are Important and How a Competitive Package Sets You Apart

In the business world, the term ‘benefits’ refers to any form of compensation beyond an employee’s base salary. For most, things like health, dental, and vision insurance come to mind; many others have also come to include options such as retirement benefits and other types of programs and initiatives to enhance the employee experience. Today’s job market is more competitive than ever–not just for employees but for employers as well–which means more and more businesses are going the extra mile and offering generous benefits packages to attract top-tier candidates in their fields. So what does that look like, and why is it a best practice?

At BCU Electric, we like to think we’re leading the way with our benefits. We learned a long time ago that if you take care of your employees that they’ll take care of you, and that concept is at the root of our total compensation package. In this post, we’ll share why we believe benefits are important (from an employer and employee perspective), and we’ll share the secret sauce for our own benefits program.

Why Benefits are Important

BCU operates under an employee-centered philosophy. We care deeply about our clients and work hard to give them our very best each and every day, and that’s not possible without happy, healthy employees. That’s where our benefits come in.

While we pride ourselves on offering competitive wages, we believe our most important compensation feature is our benefits. Benefits allow employees to take care of themselves and their families, both physically and mentally. Health insurance and vision and dental coverage, helps us maintain our health and quality of life while providing a safety net should any unfortunate circumstances arise. It’s also important to note that there are many insurance providers and plans, each with its own pros and cons; not all plans are created equal. Providing insurance is great, but providing employees access to high-caliber insurance is even better.

Insurance is also just a baseline when it comes to benefits. There’s so much more to offer than the bare minimum. Paid time off (PTO), vacation time, family leave, short and long-term disability, wellness programs, 401K, career development, merchandise, paid holidays, employee outings, and even meals fall under the benefits umbrella. By providing your employees with these tools and perks, you’re showing them that you respect them and appreciate what they bring to the table. And when your employees feel respected and taken care of, company culture, morale, and productivity skyrocket. It’s just a fact.

Generous compensation also entices more highly qualified workers to your force. The more value candidates and potential employees see in working for your company, the more attractive your applicant pool will be. Ultimately, BCU believes that generous compensation also sends the message that a company believes in people over profit, and that’s the most attractive trait of all.

BCU’s Competitive Benefits Package

As promised, here are some highlights of BCU Electric’s total compensation package: 

• Healthcare- 100%, includes dental and vision
• HSA- through IBEW
• 401k- Company Contribution Annually
• PTO- 6 days after 1 year, 12 days after 3 years, 15 days after 5 years
• Paid Holidays
• Snacks & Beverages
• Swag & Apparel
• Career Development Program- Apprentices
• Company Sponsored Teams- Golf League
• Company Outings, including Guardians tickets
• State-of-the-Art Facility
• Discounts at Mount Vernon Estate Event Center 
• Coming soon: Childcare

The Bottom Line

BCU Electric has earned a reputation for taking care of our employees. We’ve always been a family business, a value we’ve upheld even through our incredible growth. At BCU, our employees are our family, and family comes first.