AFTER SALARY and bonuses, the amount of annual leave a company offers is the most interesting aspect of an employee’s remuneration package, a survey has found.

The HRM Recruitment Group survey, which was completed by more than 10,000 middle-managers and senior staff around Ireland, found that a company car is currently the least attractive part of an employee’s package.

Executives are looking for a stable organisation with calm managers who treat staff and customers with respect.

They do not want to travel long distances to the office, and when they get there they want the environment to be pleasant and constructive, with high standards across the board, according to the survey.

Good management practice suggests that to attract and keep happy and loyal staff companies have to think about the unwritten deal they have with their employees – the hidden advantages they offer in return for productivity and discretionary effort, according to the firm.

An employee or potential employee’s impression of the firm in terms of how socially acceptable it is to work there; what the physical environment provided is like; and how much career development is on offer all contribute to this issue.

The survey found that women rate the location of the workplace and associated travel time higher than their male counterparts, and also attach greater importance to the provision of sick pay.

Women also rate career development more highly than men.