Some companies will begin to offer non-monetary incentives to their employees this year as others continue with already established benefit programs to retain top performers and attract new ones, www.accountingweb.com reported.

A recent survey of more than 1,400 chief financial officers from a random sample of companies with more than 20 employees found that subsidized training and education was the preferred perk for 29 percent of those business leaders.

The survey, which was developed by Menlo Park, Calif.-based Accountemps Inc., showed that flexible work hours and mentoring programs were the second- and third-most popular incentives, respectively, followed by matching gift programs, free or subsidized lunches or snacks, and on-site amenities such as a child-care centers, fitness centers and dry cleaning.

“On the heels of the recession, perks are a cost-effective way employers can reward and retain staff and attract new employees,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. “The most popular incentives are those that aid in career development and give employees some control over their work schedules.”

Fewer than 10 percent of respondents said they offer, or plan to offer, subsidized gym memberships, sabbaticals or relocation assistance.

On Feb. 1, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) announced that it has partnered with the Family and Works Institute to form “Moving Work Forward,” a new program intended to transform the way organizations view and adopt workplace flexibility and to help them become more competitive.

“The global marketplace is creating new demands on business to recruit top talent from around the world, to understand and navigate competing cultures, and to be flexible enough to respond to challenges and opportunities on a 24/7 schedule,” said Henry Jackson, CEO of SHRM. “That means creating more flexible work environments that give people greater autonomy to decide how, where and when they do their best work.”