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 they91裸聊视频檙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.

91裸聊视频淭hat will result in dollars saved,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淎nd essentially, dollars in your pocket when you think about not having to outlay that money yourself.91裸聊视频�

People often forget what91裸聊视频檚 included in their package or don91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e not the most exciting to read but they have a huge value 91裸聊视频� doing that pre-work yourself,91裸聊视频� Climie said. Especially as employees get promoted, she said it91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渘ot realizing that there91裸聊视频檚 actually a fair amount of value that they can extract from their workplace.91裸聊视频�

She said people often don91裸聊视频檛 fully use their paid time off because they can91裸聊视频檛 afford to travel. 91裸聊视频淵ou can still get paid your full wage to just stay at home and relax and give yourself a break,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淏e mindful of the fact that you91裸聊视频檙e not going to be carrying these vacation days forever,91裸聊视频� Marques warned. Usually, leftover vacation days from the previous year expire at the end of the first quarter of the following year, she added.

91裸聊视频淚f you don91裸聊视频檛 use it, you will lose it,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hat is money left on the table.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淥n a quarterly basis, allocate an hour to yourself to say, 91裸聊视频楬ey, have I used all my health and dental benefits that really could have an effect (on) me or my family?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Climie said.

She also suggested talking to co-workers about how they91裸聊视频檙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 they91裸聊视频檙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 don91裸聊视频檛 take advantage of group retirement benefits and pension-matching programs 91裸聊视频� when an employer matches a worker91裸聊视频檚 retirement contribution dollar for dollar 91裸聊视频� at work.

Even those who contribute to an employee pension plan don91裸聊视频檛 always maximize their matching, he said. 91裸聊视频淢any employers have the default rate below the maximum match and people then go to the default rate,91裸聊视频� Copeland said.

91裸聊视频淧eople are hesitant to go too much 91裸聊视频� because of the cost of living and what91裸聊视频檚 relative to their salary.91裸聊视频�

Marques said she crunches the numbers before speaking to clients to reinforce how important retirement matching can be 91裸聊视频� even if her clients in their 20s and 30s don91裸聊视频檛 see the value yet.

91裸聊视频淲hen you have a matching program with your employer, that91裸聊视频檚 a deal that91裸聊视频檚 hard to beat,91裸聊视频� she said.

If a young employee is earning $80,000 a year with an average matching at three per cent, that91裸聊视频檚 $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.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 a five times difference, a five times return on what you91裸聊视频檙e putting in because you allowed your employer to match it for you,91裸聊视频� Marques said.

At the end of the day, she said, 91裸聊视频淚f your employer has any sort of package, then it91裸聊视频檚 good for you.91裸聊视频�

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