Qantas, PwC, Deloitte, CBA: The best job perks in Australia

THIS is the surprising list of the top 10 best companies to work for in the country and why their staff love with them.

The Commonwealth Bank has emerged a surprising winner in the Most Innovative Companies list.

THIS the surprising list of the best companies to work for in Australia — and it turns out there’s good reason why their employees have fallen in love with them.

From investment in innovation to travel benefits, gym memberships and free time, these little perks have helped these businesses make it to the top of this year’s Most Innovative Companies list.

Released today, the list offers an insight into not only what the companies are about but how they’ve emerged as a leader in their field.

While investment in innovation was an obvious perk employers looked for, the awards revealed some other interesting benefits.

Of the 50 winners which listed employee benefits online common perks which proved a winner included childcare/parental services, counselling, discounts, gym health fund benefits, community and flexible work arrangements.

Amantha Imber, founder of innovation consultancy, Inventium, which compiles the AFR Most Innovative Companies list said perks showed companies were investing in their staff.

But interestingly she found it wasn’t a monetary perk which was the most valuable one.

Hands up if a massage sounds like a good job perk?

The author of The Innovation Formula said while massages and gym memberships were a bonus, what employees valued most was the one thing money couldn’t buy — free time and trust to work on individual projects.

“The results were surprising,” she told news.com.au

“One of the powerful benefits for employees is time and being able to work on their own projects.”

Dr Imber said a secondary perk was if an individual project worked, its creator was often rewarded with more time to keep working on it or other things.

“People want to be able to work on meaningful projects and want time to pursue their own passions,” she said.

This not only made staff feel valued but helped show companies were becoming increasingly innovative in their approach.

“While perks like workplace massages are a great PR tool, nothing beats the opportunity for employees to feel like they’re working on a meaningful project,” she said.

She singled out Commbank, which came third in the awards, for recognising and nurturing digital talent in a massively competitive market.

Among the banking giant’s innovations was creating a virtual reality workplace where potential candidates can experience what it’s like to work there from the comfort of home.

Commonwealth Bank unveiled its new Innovation Lab which has won praise.

But it wasn’t just technology which showed innovation.

Dr Imber said M&C Saatchi, which came in at number six, stood out as a winner for its porn-based testicular cancer campaign.

The agency approached one of the biggest adult entertainment studios in the world and convinced them to include a message in their biggest release of the year. The scene resulted in 5.5 million views.

Evolve Group, which came in at 33, was praised for developing the Flow Hive, a complete redesign of a traditional beehive, which prevents killing bees. The redesign is being used by up to 45,000 new bee keepers in 128 countries.

The awards not only rank innovation on what is taking place externally (to clients) but also internally.

Staff are asked what it’s like to work there, what they value and how innovation is supported.

Pet insurance is a good perk for animal lovers.

SOME OF THE BEST PERKS

* Qantas provide staff with 90 per cent off flights, usually business class

* Deloitte provides pet insurance

* Landgate and PwC provide support for personal development/learning/training/study

* Deloitte offers counselling and referral services for professionals who are considering adoption, and reimbursement of up to $5000 per child for eligible expenses related to an adoption.

* Commbank has four priority long day childcare places in Sydney. It also offers discounts on electricity and insurance

* AbbVie provide 18 weeks paid maternity or paternity leave

* Smartgroup and Infotrack provide monthly in-house massages

* Smartgroup, CSBP Ltd, PwC, Deloitte, Infotrack, UHG, Landgate, TAL, Epic Pharmacy group all offer free or discounted gym memberships

THE TOP 10 INNOVATION WINNERS

1. Planet Innovation

2. Ivy College

3. Commonwealth Bank of Australia

4. Sendle

5. Dyesol

6. M&C Saatchi Group

7. AbbVie Australia

8. Claim Central Consolidated

9. CSIRO

10. CSBP Limited

For the full list click here