Legal workers demand better benefits to meet rising living costs 

Employees in the legal sector are calling on their firms to boost support with everyday expenses, with three quarters saying they want help covering energy bills or food shopping vouchers. 

Research from employee benefits technology company Zest found legal staff are more likely than those in any other sector to push for financial support as part of their workplace rewards. Across all sectors, 68 per cent of workers want help with essential costs, compared to 75 per cent in law. 

Private medical insurance is the most sought-after benefit, prioritised by 40 per cent of legal employees, followed by higher pension contributions (33 per cent, support with energy bills and childcare (25 per cent each). Other requests include wellbeing allowances and discounts on home working equipment. 

The findings suggest law firms risk losing talent if they fail to act. Six in ten employees say they would move jobs for a better package, and more than half (52 per cent) believe their current benefits are inadequate. Only 61 per cent think what they receive offers value for money. 

Despite this, nearly one in four firms say they cannot raise salaries in line with inflation. One in five admit missing out on recruits as a result, making benefits a cost-effective alternative to retain and attract staff. 

While 76 per cent of legal employees want more investment in their benefits, most say the options on offer are not tailored to their needs. Almost all firms recognise the value of personalised packages, but many struggle to deliver them. 

Matt Russell, chief executive of Zest, said:

“Even lawyers are feeling the pressure of high living costs. They are asking for meaningful support, from energy contributions to supermarket vouchers. If law firms want to retain key people, they need to listen to staff and invest in benefits that feel relevant and valuable.” 

Zest provides benefits platforms to more than 500 employers, including Hargreaves Lansdown, Taylor Wimpey and Yahoo, supporting over 300,000 employees.