Fringe benefits

Fringe benefits are everything you receive on top of gross pay: meal and eco vouchers, group insurance, hospitalisation insurance, company car, phone and more. They are taxed more favourably than wages and in Belgium often make hundreds of euros of net difference per month.

The classics in a row

Meal vouchers (up to 8 euros per day worked) and eco vouchers (up to 250 euros a year) are near-standard. A group insurance builds your supplementary pension, hospitalisation insurance covers hospital costs for you and often your family. On top: company car with fuel or charging card, phone with plan, laptop, bike lease, expense allowances and training budget.

Why they weigh so heavily net

On ordinary gross pay you pay social security and income tax; of 100 euros extra often less than half remains. Many benefits are exempt or taxed at flat rates: vouchers are net (within limits), a car is taxed through a benefit in kind below its real value. That is why a package with car and insurances can be worth more net than a higher gross without.

Negotiating benefits

Employers often have more room on benefits than on gross: a training budget, extra leave days or a bike lease cost them less than an equivalent gross raise. So put both on the table in the pay conversation, and always compare offers as a total package with our guide your pay package explained.