Attractive benefits that truly delight employees—and cost the employer literally nothing.
Many HR managers believe that an attractive benefits package automatically requires a large budget. This assumption is incorrect—and it prevents many companies from attracting and retaining employees, even though they could have been doing so for a long time.
There are a number of ways to create real, measurable value for employees without spending a single euro. Some benefits even actively save the employer money through tax mechanisms. And even where a small budget is required, the return on investment can be clearly calculated: A benefit that saves an employee €500 a year outperforms any salary increase of the same net amount—because the budget is used much more efficiently with the benefit.
💡 The key takeaway: It’s not the amount spent that determines employee satisfaction—it’s the perception that the employer actively cares about their well-being.
This guide shows you exactly which benefits really cost nothing and why they have such a powerful impact—on employee satisfaction, retention, and your employer brand.
You can implement the following benefits right away—without software, without a budget, and without a lengthy approval process.
Since 2023, the home office allowance has been permanently enshrined in German tax law. Employees can claim €6 per day for each day worked from home—up to 210 days per year, for a maximum of €1,260 annually as income-related expenses. This costs the employer nothing.
In 2023, Deutsche Bahn officially incorporated remote work into its collective bargaining agreement and included a reference to tax deductibility in its onboarding materials—at no cost.
According to the IW Cologne, 41% of employees would be willing to forgo part of their salary in exchange for greater flexibility. Flexible work schedules or a fully performance-based approach cost employers nothing other than a modern management culture.
In most German states, employees are entitled to five days of educational leave per year. By proactively communicating this and recommending free platforms (Coursera, edX, YouTube), you can provide a real benefit at no cost.
Communicate the work-from-home allowance, formalize flexible hours, offer educational leave, and set up an internal mentoring program—none of this costs a penny and all of it creates real value.
Employee discount platforms offer exclusive perks from well-known brands—without costing a single euro. The model is funded by the brands, not by the employer.
Platforms like FutureBens are funded by brands that gain access to a qualified target audience. The employer simply provides access—no ongoing licensing fees, no setup costs.
Through FutureBens, employees receive exclusive discounts on over 200 brands —ranging from sustainable fashion and sports to technology and mobility. An average active user can easily save €100–250 net per year.
Exclusive discounts on 200+ brands. Save money every day. No registration fee, no subscription.
No cost, no ongoing expenses. Set up in under 15 minutes. A major advantage for recruiting. GDPR-compliant.
| Employer Costs (FutureBens) | 0,00 € |
| Average savings per employee per year | ~150 € |
| Total value for all 50 employees | ~7.500 € |
| Return on Investment for the Employer | ∞ |
Bike leasing is one of the few employee benefits where the employer actually saves money by offering it—rather than simply breaking even.
The monthly lease payment is deducted from the gross salary. Since the taxable gross income decreases, social security contributions are reduced— for both employees and employers. With a €60 payment, the employer saves approximately €12 per month → €144 per year per employee.
| Monthly lease payment (gross) | 83,00 € |
| Social Security Savings (approx. 20%) | −16,60 € |
| Effective net monthly expense for AG | ≈ 66,40 € |
| Taxable non-monetary benefit for employees (0.25%) | €7.50/month |
| Savings from AN vs. Purchase (Tax & Social Security Benefits) | approx. 30–40% |
For e-bikes with a top speed of up to 45 km/h, the 0.25% rule applies: taxable benefit = 0.25% of the list price. For a standard bicycle provided in addition to wages, no tax is due at all.
In 2022, a Hamburg-based logistics company introduced a bike-leasing program for 120 employees. Thirty-eight employees took advantage of it—the company saved approximately €8,200 in social security contributions, and the application rate increased by 22%.
Thanks to tax efficiency, the actual net cost is significantly lower than with a traditional pay raise.
Up to €50 per month tax-free as a benefit in kind—no income tax, no social security contributions. That’s €600 net per year. The tax efficiency compared to a pay raise: approximately 2:1.
Up to €6.90 per workday tax-exempt—as cafeteria meals, meal vouchers, or digital vouchers. Based on 220 workdays: €1,518 annual value per employee.
Fully tax- and social security-free. At €58 per month: €696 net per year for employees.
Personal internet expenses are taxed at a flat rate of 25% (the employer pays the tax). This is effectively tax-free for employees.
| Non-cash benefit exemption limit (€50 per month) | €600 per year |
| Meal allowance (€6.90 × 220 days) | €1,518 per year |
| Germany Ticket (Job Ticket) | €696 per year |
| Internet subsidy (€50 per month) | €600 per year |
| Potential total value | up to €3,414 per year |
It’s not a complicated project. With this roadmap, you can implement the most important zero-cost benefits in just a few days.
Create a free account, verify your business, and invite employees via CSV or email.
Officially confirm the work-from-home policy. Include a reference to the work-from-home allowance in the onboarding materials.
Contact JobRad, Businessbike, or Eleasa. Define the framework agreement and ordering process.
A structured email about employee benefits for all employees: What’s included? How do you use it?
Contact voucher providers (Edenred, Pluxee, Sodexo) and set up monthly vouchers.
FutureBens is completely free for employers—and can be set up in under an hour. Over 1,600 companies have already signed up.
Get started for free now →