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ARTICLE · 25 SEPTEMBER 2008

Flexible Solutions - Not Another IT Headache But A Complete HR System And More

Smith & Williamson
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Flexible benefits packages were slow to take off in the UK. Ian Luck takes a look at why things have changed.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Peter Maher
Peter Maher

Flexible benefits packages were slow to take off in the UK. Ian Luck takes a look at why things have changed.

Flexible benefits were first introduced in the US in the 1960s. You could have guessed their origin as they were previously called 'cafeteria benefits'. The reason for this was that staff were able, for the first time, to choose the benefits best suited to their needs from a range being offered by the employer.

By more closely meeting the requirements of individuals, employers with this type of arrangement are generally more attractive to current and prospective employees.

The trend towards flexible benefits did not hit these shores until the 1980s. So, in the last 20 years or so, surely we have seen an explosion in the number of flexible benefits arrangements? Well actually, no.

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