Authors: Linda Liddicoat and Sue Malthus
Abstract: This paper examines the employee benefits Chartered Accountant firms in New Zealand provide to attract, retain and motivate staff. A questionnaire was distributed to over 500 Chartered Accountant firms throughout New Zealand in July 2003. The results of this study found that the most common employee benefit provided by CA firms was the payment of professional development costs. In addition, most firms surveyed offered their employees assistance with tertiary study either in the form of time off or a financial contribution. CA firms were generous in the provision of benefits that could potentially assist employees to balance their work and non-work responsibilities, with most firms offering some type of flexibility in the form of flexible leave, flexible hours or the opportunity to work from home (flexible work place). Most firms also offered additional leave to employees in the form of extra annual leave and special or sick leave. Time off to study for or attend professional exams and workshops was reported as the most popular employee benefit used to attract employees to the firm and flexible working hours the most popular benefit to retain and motivate valued employees.
