What really attracts potential employees to a business? Employee perks can make a big difference in how happy staff are in their role, how hard they work and how your business is seen as a potential place to work. If you’re wanting to overhaul your employee package, or simply add a few things to make your current staff happier, think about what you can offer besides monetary incentives. There are many perks and practises you can introduce to enhance happiness and wellbeing at your workplace – here are four of the best that really make a difference.
Flexible working
Flexibility on when and where your staff can work makes a big difference to their job satisfaction, productivity as well as an increase in morale & motivation. There are different types of flexible working arrangements you can consider, from working from home to starting earlier or later to avoid traffic or fit in with childcare and other external commitments.
According to research from the Institute of Leadership and Management, 94% of UK organisations now offer their staff some form of flexible working. By giving people the option to work without impacting their busy lives you shift the focus to getting the work done, rather than being in the office at certain times. Flexible working can really strengthen employee loyalty and retention and consequently reduce the cost of recruiting and training new employees.
Commuter services and alternative transport
One of the biggest contributors to work-related stress are long commutes and being stuck in traffic. Although people are more likely to travel for a longer time to get to work for the right job, it can have a negative impact on their work and be a major factor when it comes to employee burnout.
By providing an alternative transport solution as an employee perk you encourage your staff to leave their cars at home and enjoy an easier and less stressful commute to work. Commuter bus services, like those offered by Zeelo, allow a business to choose personalised pick-up and drop-off locations based on their employees’ needs. It is a great perk to offer to reduce commuting stress and costs for your staff, as well as ensuring employees arrive on time for a business. It also creates a pleasant atmosphere where colleagues can interact and even catch up with each other or emails before they even get to the office.
Wellbeing and lifestyle perks
Offering benefits that improve wellbeing and promote a healthy lifestyle will help employee productivity. It is about investing in your team to make sure they come to work willing and able to do their job each day.
This type of employee perk has morphed throughout the years and what was once a free or discounted gym membership has turned into so much more. It is about the physical and mental health of the individual and overall wellbeing. If you do offer a discounted or free gym access, make sure you offer a range of services so each and every staff member can get access to a nearby and convenient location to them. There are also other perks that can be added to such as stress management classes, mindfulness courses and financial budgeting help. All these factors will help to create a happier work environment, a place where your staff want to work and feel valued.
Paid time off
Giving your employees generous paid time off is an important and sought-after employee perk. Annual leave should be offered for all permanent employees, but there are disparities across different sectors and employers. Payment for sick leave varies hugely as well. Productivity will lower if you have employees coming into work even though they are sick, and when your staff are paid, they are more likely to take the time they need to recover and be on top form when they return.
Offering great benefits for paid maternity and paternity leave are also a great bonus to add to your employee benefits package. Staff are more likely to be loyal if they know you care about them and their family, and they are also more likely to return to work for you after their leave too. By offering additional types of paid leave, including compassionate leave, you show to your staff you are understanding of their needs and concerned for their work-life balance.
What perks will you offer your employees to make a difference?
Top employers show they care about their staff and want to ensure they retain the best people. Job seekers are increasingly looking for more than just a good salary when searching for a career, they are choosing a brand, a lifestyle and a chance to work hard and play hard too. By offering these top perks you are likely to attract the right people to your business, and they are in turn more likely to stay.
Each business will be catering for staff with different needs so your benefits package will be unique to you, but the top 4 perks listed above can be valuable to most employees across many different sectors. So, whether it is creating a holistic wellbeing package to promote a healthy and happy work-life balance or providing commuter transport services to reduce the stress of the daily commute, these benefits will improve the quality your workplace environment and the overall productivity of your business.
