In an industry where specialist retention, team stability, and employee motivation are essential, employee benefits have become a tangible business tool. The Benefit 2026 Study shows that budgets allocated to employee benefits continue to rise: from RON 504 in 2019 to RON 997 in 2025, with an estimated RON 1,170 for 2026—more than double the amount recorded seven years ago. In the industrial sector, the average employee benefits budget reached RON 905 in 2025, confirming their role in attracting and retaining talent.
Edenred Romania supports companies with digital solutions that are easy to manage and relevant to employees. The meal card addresses an essential daily need, the holiday card supports rest and work-life balance, the gift card provides an effective way to reward employees on special occasions, while the cultural card encourages access to education, culture, and recreational experiences.
These benefits are all the more important given that the study shows employees prefer benefits with an immediate impact: gifts and in-kind benefits account for 32% of preferences, tourism for 27%, and gifts for special occasions for 14%, while cultural activities recorded a 44% increase compared to the previous year.
Through the Benefit platform, companies can give employees the freedom to choose the benefits that best suit their needs, within the budget set by the employer. For organizations in the shipbuilding and maritime industry, a flexible benefits package can directly contribute to productivity, loyalty, and employee engagement: 95% of employees say that happiness at work makes them more productive, while 91% say it motivates them to stay in their current jobs.
Find out more at edenred.ro