LOOK BEYOND THE MONEY

Jobseekers now must weigh up more than just the salary, Melanie Burgess finds

EMPLOYERS are taking on new responsibilities in their workers’ lives as the line between work and personal time blurs.

They are no longer just the hand with the pay packet, but also the fitness instructor, finan- cial planner and mental wellbeing coach, with many initiatives subsidised by the company and undertaken on work time.

Finder.com.au income protection expert Bessie Hassan says jobseekers should consider that money isn’t everything when looking for work.

“It’s important for jobseekers to look beyond a salary or job description, and ensure the work environment aligns with what they’re looking for,” she says.

Analysis from Finder reveals one in three workers have used leave for their mental health in the past year.

Hassan says it is important for an employer to have mental health structures in place.

“This can include flexible work hours, subsidised counselling and social team-bonding events,” she says.

For blue collar workers, it can mean involvement in groups such as MATES in Construction, which focuses on suicide prevention in the construction industry.

SEEK Laws of Attraction research reveals one in 20 workers consider a strong social program such as sports teams to be a key factor they consider when looking for a new job, while 3.1 per cent highly value a subsidised gym membership.

A survey by money lender Wisr reveals almost half of workers have felt stressed in the workplace because of personal finances, and more than a third say it led to them being unable to participate in work activities.

Flight Centre Travel Group offers financial planning advice through Moneywise Global. Its financial literacy and capability business leader Stacey Beckley says when she first started with the company as a single mother, she was impressed.

“I couldn’t believe that this guy came to my desk to talk to me about my finances and make sure I was OK,” Beckley says.