SAUSALITO, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 6, 2014) - Just half (54 percent) of U.S. employees say they believe their benefits are better than what competitors offer, according to a Glassdoor survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive¹. To help job seekers understand if the grass really is greener on the other side, Glassdoor, the leading jobs and career community, has announced its newest feature, Benefits Reviews, making it easier for people to compare benefits and perks at companies, as well as better understand which company is the right fit based on their specific needs. Glassdoor now brings transparency to benefits packages, the same way it has to company culture, salaries and the interview process.

"Job seekers are already evaluating and comparing job offers, but with very little information on what a benefits package really entails or whether it meets the needs of employees. We're proud to break down this information barrier, and in turn, help job seekers make more informed career decisions," said Allyson Willoughby, Glassdoor senior vice president of people and general counsel. "Benefits and perks carry both personal and monetary value and can greatly impact an employee's satisfaction with their company. By unlocking information about benefits from those in the know, we believe it will also lead to improved recruitment and employee retention rates."

Through Glassdoor's free online benefits review survey, employees are asked to rate how satisfied they are with their employer's overall benefits package and describe the best and worst facets of the benefits package. Plus, employees are asked to indicate which benefits and perks their employer specifically offers. Categories include:

• Health and wellness (e.g., health and dental insurance)

• Financial and retirement (e.g., 401(k), pension plans)

• Family and parenting (e.g., onsite daycare, adoption assistance)

• Vacation and time off (e.g., holiday pay, sabbaticals)

• Perks and discounts (e.g., free lunches, dog friendly office, company car)

• Professional support (e.g., diversity program, tuition assistance)

In addition, employees are encouraged to rate and review each specific benefit or perk their employer offers, as there are more than 50 benefits and perks employees can review and rate. The survey also asks employees to provide their employment status (e.g., full-time, part-time, contract, seasonal), whether they are a current or former employee and their job title and location.

"An important part of any job search is not only knowing what the job entails and pays, but also what benefits the company has to offer. Most companies provide some benefits to employees, but they can vary greatly from employer to employer," said Natalie (Tampa, FL), a Glassdoor member. "In addition to researching reviews and salaries, it's important for me to know what kind of benefits I can expect from my next employer, which is why I use Glassdoor to make informative career moves."