How much money do you make?

Many people zero in on their paycheques when considering their compensation. Yet experts say workers should regularly check that they香蕉视频直播檙e taking advantage of vacation time and other benefits, lest they leave money on the table.

Employees often receive other considerations such as benefits and health insurance, said Cindy Marques, a certified financial planner and co-founder of MakeCents.

香蕉视频直播淭hat will result in dollars saved,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd essentially, dollars in your pocket when you think about not having to outlay that money yourself.香蕉视频直播�

People often forget what香蕉视频直播檚 included in their package or don香蕉视频直播檛 keep up with changes to group plans, Marques said.

Jillian Climie, a compensation expert and co-founder of Vancouver-based consulting company The Thoughtful Co., said employees should take time to research and read up on what the company has to offer in perks and benefits before seeing a human resources representative.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e not the most exciting to read but they have a huge value 香蕉视频直播� doing that pre-work yourself,香蕉视频直播� Climie said. Especially as employees get promoted, she said it香蕉视频直播檚 important to take stock of benefits as new ones roll in, such as funding for professional development and coaching allowances.

Fitness allowances such as gym memberships or coverage for at-home workout gear like yoga mats or even treadmills could be included in benefits. Other underutilized unofficial perks could include at-home ergonomic setups, monthly phone bill payments, paid parking spots and travel expenses, Climie said.

Marques said even the most common benefits such as vacation and health care go underutilized, with workers 香蕉视频直播渘ot realizing that there香蕉视频直播檚 actually a fair amount of value that they can extract from their workplace.香蕉视频直播�

She said people often don香蕉视频直播檛 fully use their paid time off because they can香蕉视频直播檛 afford to travel. 香蕉视频直播淵ou can still get paid your full wage to just stay at home and relax and give yourself a break,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淏e mindful of the fact that you香蕉视频直播檙e not going to be carrying these vacation days forever,香蕉视频直播� Marques warned. Usually, leftover vacation days from the previous year expire at the end of the first quarter of the following year, she added.

香蕉视频直播淚f you don香蕉视频直播檛 use it, you will lose it,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat is money left on the table.香蕉视频直播�

But it can be hard to keep track of all the benefits and perks of the job amid deadlines and time constraints. Climie suggests making time for yourself.

香蕉视频直播淥n a quarterly basis, allocate an hour to yourself to say, 香蕉视频直播楬ey, have I used all my health and dental benefits that really could have an effect (on) me or my family?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Climie said.

She also suggested talking to co-workers about how they香蕉视频直播檙e making time to use their benefits.

Many employers have grown more flexible, letting their workers go for a medical appointment during work hours, especially since the pandemic, she said, which can be helpful for making the most of health benefits. Smart workplaces realize their employees are more likely to be productive when they feel like they香蕉视频直播檙e being valued and compensated at work, Climie added.

Craig Copeland, director of wealth benefits research at the Employee Benefits Research Institute, said a large number of people don香蕉视频直播檛 take advantage of group retirement benefits and pension-matching programs 香蕉视频直播� when an employer matches a worker香蕉视频直播檚 retirement contribution dollar for dollar 香蕉视频直播� at work.

Even those who contribute to an employee pension plan don香蕉视频直播檛 always maximize their matching, he said. 香蕉视频直播淢any employers have the default rate below the maximum match and people then go to the default rate,香蕉视频直播� Copeland said.

香蕉视频直播淧eople are hesitant to go too much 香蕉视频直播� because of the cost of living and what香蕉视频直播檚 relative to their salary.香蕉视频直播�

Marques said she crunches the numbers before speaking to clients to reinforce how important retirement matching can be 香蕉视频直播� even if her clients in their 20s and 30s don香蕉视频直播檛 see the value yet.

香蕉视频直播淲hen you have a matching program with your employer, that香蕉视频直播檚 a deal that香蕉视频直播檚 hard to beat,香蕉视频直播� she said.

If a young employee is earning $80,000 a year with an average matching at three per cent, that香蕉视频直播檚 $2,400 a year or $200 a month in retirement contributions from the company, she said. Over 30 years, that can turn into $1,000 a month in extra income in retirement.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a five times difference, a five times return on what you香蕉视频直播檙e putting in because you allowed your employer to match it for you,香蕉视频直播� Marques said.

At the end of the day, she said, 香蕉视频直播淚f your employer has any sort of package, then it香蕉视频直播檚 good for you.香蕉视频直播�

READ ALSO: