voluntary benefits

Voluntary benefits are benefits the employee opts into and may pay a portion of the cost. Voluntary benefits are best understood in their contrast to employment benefits. An employment benefit is part of an employee’s contractual compensation; they are automatically provided, and the cost is part of an employee’s pay.

On the other hand, employee voluntary benefits are benefits the employer makes available, and the employee may voluntarily participate in. The cost of voluntary benefits can be complimentary or discounted, paid by the employee, or deducted from their paycheck after opt-in. Many voluntary benefits are pitched as workplace perks that employees may choose to access.