1. What do you think of Mazda Motors UK’s efforts to benchmark its benefits package on an annual basis?

2. As a prospective employee, would you have more interest in working for a company that conducts such benchmarking?

3. What are the benefits and costs associated with giving employees a free car to drive? In what way does it give Mazda a competitive edge in terms of recruiting and retaining employees?

Mazda Motors UK (United Kingdom) is only too aware of the importance of staying up to date with competitor developments and so its HR department conducts a benchmarking analysis every two years. This involves comparing its pay and benefits packages against twenty-two blue-chip companies, including other automotive firms, and against a more general service industry database. The fact that Mazda Motors UK gives every employee a car was found to be a major differentiating factor from some competitors, which provide a car only for employees at certain levels. Its benefits package, which is the same for all of its ninety employees, was also found to be much flatter than usual.