small business employee benefits

Small Business Employee Benefits: What You Should Offer

Small business employee benefits can be a great equalizer when competing for talent against larger companies. The big guys have more resources to offer top talent, and small and medium-sized businesses can’t always compete with the salaries offered by larger firms. A more innovative way to approach hiring as a small business is with the help of employee benefits.

A great employee benefits plan helps small businesses attract more talent and reduce employee turnover. However, there are always tax implications to keep in mind. If you are thinking about offering benefits to your employees for the first time or want to change or increase your current benefits package, then this article is for you.

The Landscape of Employee Benefits in Canada

Canadian employee benefits are usually considered standard for all full-time employees. However, each province has different regulations for employee benefits and probationary periods. Some of the more common benefits offered by small businesses in Canada include:

  • Paid time off
  • Flexible working hours
  • Personal leave
  • Medical leave
  • Family violence leave
  • Critical illness and compassionate care leave
  • Extended maternity and paternity leave
  • Holiday pay
  • Health insurance
  • Healthcare spending accounts (HSAs)
  • RRSP contribution matching

Picking the right benefits to attract talent to your company depends on the demographic you want to hire. For example, younger recruits might be more attracted to flexible hours and personal leave benefits. At the same time, older applicants might be more interested in RRSP contribution matching and compassionate care leave.

Key Small Business Employee Benefits and Their Tax Implications

While you can offer your employees a wide range of potential benefits, there are a few that can make a big difference in your recruitment and retention strategy. These are some of the most common benefits, along with their tax implications for business owners.

Health and Dental Insurance

Offering health insurance plans or dental insurance coverage can benefit small businesses. It signals to prospective employees that you care about their well-being and can help keep them healthier, leading to fewer sick days.

For business owners, there are additional benefits to offering health and dental insurance. There is deductibility for the employee and non-taxable benefits for the employer. This helps employers and employees get more out of health and dental insurance coverage.

Retirement Savings Plans (Group RRSPs)

Another benefit small or medium-sized business owners can offer employees is a Registered Retirement Savings Plan, or RRSP, matching program. This type of employer-sponsored retirement plan uses matching contributions from employers and employees with the plan option.

The tax implications from retirement plans and RRSPs involve deductions and deferrals. Typically, the amount of money that the employer contributes is tax-deductible. The employees who contribute can also enjoy tax deferrals until they withdraw the money from the retirement savings account.

Stock Option Plans

Depending on your company structure, stock options are another type of employee benefit that can make you stand out among your competitors. This type of benefit allows you to offer stock options to employees as a benefit, usually after a certain number of years worked for the company. 

This kind of benefit gives employees an ownership stake in the company and a vested interest in its success.

This type of benefit also allows the employee and employer to defer tax implications until later. That can help save money in years when taxes are high. The value of shares is also included in taxes for the employees, so deferring the taxation on stock options can help add more value to the benefit.

Professional Development and Education

Another valuable benefit you can offer to employees is professional development and education courses and training. By helping employees gain more knowledge and learn valuable and applicable skills, you can make a job more appealing and more beneficial to their future careers.

Many professional development and education programs are tax-free or are tax-deductible for the business. So not only are you helping your workforce learn more and grow more robust, but you can also avoid taxes or deduct the expense from your yearly tax report.

Special Considerations for Small Businesses

Small businesses operate differently from large corporations, so there are some special considerations to consider as you work on your employee benefits plan.

Tax Credits and Incentives

There are some specific Canadian tax credits available for small businesses offering certain benefits, including:

  • Apprenticeship job creation tax credit (AJCTC)
  • Film and television tax credits in Ontario
  • R&D tax credit
  • Union dues tax credits in Québec

Navigating the Complexity

Trying to figure out the best types of benefits to offer your employees and track the tax implications of those benefits is challenging. Navigating the complexity on your own can be overwhelming, especially for new small businesses that haven’t offered benefits before. In these cases, it’s best to consult with a professional accountant or tax advisor to remain compliant and maximize your tax advantages.

The Impact on Employee Retention and Recruitment

The benefits you offer can be a game-changer for small businesses in the competitive job market. Small companies like Willful have maintained their competitive edge and thrived during the pandemic thanks to their benefits packages. With only 15 employees, Willful attracted top talent with benefits like medical and dental insurance, stock options, education budgets, summer hours, and a vacation fund. 

By offering benefits that your competition hasn’t even considered, you can attract the best potential recruits to come to your business, no matter what size company you have. Benefits can help level the field for your hiring and employee retention strategies.

Conclusion

Benefits can offer important tax implications and better recruitment practices for small businesses. The benefits you offer and the depth of your coverage can help you attract top talent, keep your current workforce happy, and give you a break during tax season. Reviewing your current benefits strategy and seeking expert advice from tax professionals can help you get the most out of your plans. If you need help with your benefits planning, book a free consultation to discuss your benefits plan with certified professionals.

Disclaimer: Avisar Chartered Professional Accountant’s blog deals with a number of complex issues in a concise manner; it is recommended that accounting, legal or other appropriate professional advice should be sought before acting upon any of the information contained therein. Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this post, no individual or organization involved in either the preparation or distribution of this post accepts any contractual, tortious, or any other form of liability for its contents or for any consequences arising from its use.