There is still confusion among workers as to what exactly constitutes an ’employee benefit’, with two thirds of workers receiving none at all, a survey has found.

Canada Life Group Insurance discovered that company pension schemes into which the firm contributes were the most highly sought after benefit by employees, with holiday allowance over the legal minimum coming a close second.

However, worryingly 3 per cent of respondents believed that statutory sick pay was a benefit, while almost one in 10 said that basic holiday allowance also fitted into this category.

Marion Ware, head of marketing for Canada Life, said that it was a concern that so many employees were offered no benefits at all. “Considering how willing people are to switch jobs that offer better benefits, employers would be well advised to offer as comprehensive a range as possible,” she said.

Over 80 per cent of employees said they would move jobs if they were offered the same salary with better benefits.