There exists a constant power struggle between employers (wanting the best bang for their employee-related expenditures) and employees (wanting the best remuneration possible for their blood, sweat and tears). And in lean economic times as these, the gravity of this push-pull battle between employees and employers is multiplied.

If this trend continues, we will have more jaded employees and less loyal employers. But all is not lost. There are many benefits employers can provide to rekindle employee morale, ensure loyalty, and increase productivity. And do it without increasing the employee's tax burden like a straight salary increase would.

Most employee-related expenditures are tax-deductible to the employer anyway, so where the tax-efficiency of these perks comes in is more on the employee side. Often for a relatively small expenditure on the employer’s part, the employee can receive something that is far more valuable given the tax-efficiency and sometimes even the status increase.

from Wisebread.com