Guide to employee savings scheme in Australia for 2024

• Security

The most obvious benefit of employee savings scheme is the safety that employees can get out of savings. Savings schemes help employees save more money by reducing the amount of liquid cash they have at their disposal.

It ensures that money is safely stored for your employees to utilize in the future when they really need it.

• Retirement preparation

A good method to prepare for your later years is to create a retirement fund by consistently contributing money to a long-term savings plan.

You may be rewarded with a sizable sum of money if you start early, especially since this will enable you to live a pleasant and secure life.

• Reduced financial stress

Financial stress and strain can be significantly increased by a lack of funds, either now or in the future. Future emergencies, necessities, etc. may pose a significant challenge for an employee with no savings.

An employee's financial stress can be significantly decreased by implementing a system where money is automatically separated and saved for later use.

• Long-term benefits

Compound interest systems can provide the added benefit of long-term financial planning. These programmes increase your savings each year, producing considerable results when they mature.

• Employee retention

You can boost company reputation by investing in employee benefits. By investing in and providing employment benefits in addition to monthly salaries, a company can send a positive message of care to its employees - that employees are valued.

This can keep your employee morale high which then helps you with retention.

• Tax benefits

Employers investing in employee savings plans frequently receive tax incentives. This may take the form of tax exemptions or deductions. Your savings will vary depending on the tax system you want to use for refunds and exemptions.

Occasionally, employers may also receive percentage returns on investments of a certain size, or exemptions from payment of interest and maturity amounts may be granted to them.

• Competitive talent acquisition

Salary is no longer the only factor that decides which company an employee joins. Additionally important in their decision-making are elements like employee benefits the organization provides.

Along with aiding in employee retention, investing in health savings plans also gives you an advantage over rival recruiters in terms of luring top candidates.

Interesting read: 5 best expense management software in Australia for 2023

The employee superannuation scheme has been set up to help set aside a certain amount of money earned during an employee’s life to be invested in a superannuation fund. The accumulated money is intended to be used by the employee to fund their retirement.

This employee benefits policy makes it legally mandatory for employers to make employee super contributions of at least 10% of the employee’s earnings, up to a particular limit.

While the minimum standards for superannuation contributions are universal, the actual numbers of implementations vary from industry to industry.

The three most important factors to consider when determining your superannuation design are:

• Contributions — what are contribution norms in your field?

• Supplier — ensure you pick the right supplier for your needs with regards to services, costs, and member numbers.

• Insurance included — ensure you pick the right employer plan for your needs. This can help with future scaling plans.

Through an employee share scheme or ESS, the government of Australia has made it possible for employers to give their employees a share in company equity.

The specifics of the scheme can differ from company to company, and the ways in which you can set the scheme up are very flexible. You can offer both shares as well as the possibility of buying shares in the future. 

Employee share scheme benefits are not only restricted to full-time employee entitlements, you can give these benefits to advisors and external consultants as well.

You can use ESS benefits to attract top talent, retain the current workforce, give gifts to employees, reward performance, and a lot more.

• A tested method for maximizing returns is to hire a dedicated human resources (HR) manager to oversee employee benefit programs and welfare in general.

By hiring an HR manager, you will have the power to handle all aspects of savings plans, from determining which employees receive how much pay for overtime to maintaining legal compliance.

• Use standardized contracts and templates whenever possible to prevent overlooking important elements and specifications.

An excellent illustration of this is employee insurance in Australia, where almost all employees are covered by insurance. Having a standard contract prepared in advance can help you avoid a lot of hassle when hiring new employees.

• Use payroll management software to outsource routine administrative chores relating to savings plans, such as managing payroll.

Getting one on board has shown to be a practical strategy, particularly for businesses with sizable workforces.

• Make sure to record the hours you spend working. Employee benefits in Australia have a clear overtime policy, and workers have a right to compensation for each hour worked in excess of the weekly cap.

• Maintain the security of all paperwork linked to reimbursements, such as invoices and medical records. It can be difficult to manage these documents manually, but if your organization has a system that allows you to save them digitally, it is a lot simpler.

• Make sure to withdraw the amount from your savings plans that you are entitled to by your company or the government, depending on the situation, when you change employment or retire.

As is clear by now, there are employee benefits in Australia that benefits both companies as well as its employees.

It has not been simple for businesses to make the most of these savings plans because keeping track of all the savings schemes, associated paperwork, and crucial payroll information has proven to be challenging.

But the payroll and spending management software already on the market has proven to be a blessing in this case. Given that the majority of the banking industry is already reaping its advantages, trying one out for your own business might not be a terrible idea.

Additionally, you can also check out our guide on the top travel and expense management software. Our guide helps you choose the most suitable software to simplify corporate travel expenses, facilitate smooth reimbursements, and enhance employee satisfaction. This not only reduces administrative burdens for employers but also contributes to a more efficient process for employees.