Want to make and keep your company attractive to job seekers? Having benefits in place can help to inspire loyalty and make work more rewarding. Not only will offering employee benefits attract top talent, but it will also help to retain your current employees. While most employers understand the importance of such benefits, many employers fail to offer benefits their employees actually care about.
The traditional carrot-and-stick method of offering a monetary bonus as a reward for meeting a goal is no longer effective in many workplaces. Today’s workers want ongoing benefits that have an impact on their quality of life and not just their finances. Here are just several examples of effective employee benefits that you could try introducing.
Offer more paid leave days
Allowing your employees to take paid time off can be a huge perk. Most companies in the United States offer an average of 10 days of paid leave days per year. However, many companies are now taking a more European approach and offering as much as 20 days of paid leave. This paid time off can be accrued throughout the year by working a certain amount of hours.
Provide health support
Employees also appreciate a company that looks after their health. Many companies offer paid health insurance as a company perk. You can take further steps to improve workplace wellness by outsourcing virtual medical support for those that need it. Offering the ability contact a doctor from work for a check-up or collect prescriptions at work could encourage many employees to get the medical assistance they need. They would no longer put healthcare off due to not being able to fit a doctor’s visit around work hours. By staying proactive, they will miss fewer days of work due to being sick and unhealthy.
Provide educational opportunities
It’s also possible to offer education support as an employee benefit. This could include paying for employees to take courses to improve their knowledge and gain extra credentials. Another option could be to contribute to student loan repayments, taking away some of the financial burdens. You can also offer in-house training programs that aim to improve the work environment and build a stronger team.
Provide family support
Offering support to employees with children could also be a worthy perk. This could include offering paid maternity and paternity leave or offering other forms of child support such as family healthcare. Not only can relieve some of the stress and financial pressure for employees with families, but it can also show that you as an employer understand the importance of family, which can reflect well on your company image.
Allow employees to work from home
For work that is largely computer or phone-based, you could consider allowing employees the opportunity to work remotely from home. This can reduce time spent commuting while also offering employees the chance to spend more time with their family. It can also benefit work productivity. Studies have shown remote employees take less sick time off and are generally more productive due to fewer distractions from colleagues.
Allow pets at work
When it comes to fun perks, one option could be to allow employees the option to bring their pets in one day a week. Studies have found that allowing pets at work reduces stress and conflict in the workplace. It can also give your company a good image by showing that you’re accepting of animals. Obviously, you may want to check that none of your employees have serious allergies first otherwise, this isn’t likely to be much of a perk for them.
Host work parties
Work parties are an employee benefit that has actually seen a reduction in recent years. However, they are important for workplace morale and camaraderie, helping employees to relieve stress and create closer bonds. It can also help to improve team communication. Don’t just settle for a Christmas or holiday party. Consider parties all throughout the year such as a Fourth of July party or a celebration of your company’s anniversary. Work parties don’t have to be a big expensive event. You can host special lunchtime events such as an impromptu pizza party. There’s also no reason why you can’t have a few drinks in the office to celebrate the end of the week. Be sure to offer alternative beverages for those who do not consume alcohol. You want everyone to feel included and welcomed.
Give to charity
Giving to charity may not seem like it has many benefits for your employees, however, it can actually boost workplace morale. Most millennial employees are motivated less by money and more by the knowledge their work is doing social good. By donating proceeds to charity, it can encourage employees to work harder and make them feel as if their work is really making a difference. Giving to a charity can be a way to improve team-building through participating in various charitable events. It can also be beneficial for your public image – many customers trust charitable brands more and buy from them in the hope of doing social good themselves.
If your not sure what your company should offer your employees ask them. This list of employee benefits is a great starting place for you to consider. You may not be able to give them everything they want, but you’ll have a better understanding of what they care about. It’s not always about the finances, you have to consider one’s quality of life and the impact that can be made.
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, personality assessments, and a signature program, the Infinity Coaching Inner Circle. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator Assessment. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
