Unique Benefits You Can Offer to Employees
Running a business is not only about attracting consumers. If you want to reach your goals and grow your business, you also have to ensure employee satisfaction. After all, the members of your team will be the ones in charge of the day-to-day operations of your company. While a salary increase can be an attractive perk, it is not the only way to boost company morale. If you want to retain talented individuals in your team, you may have to be more creative when it comes to the benefits that you offer.
Here are some unique benefits that you can provide to help your company have a competitive edge and achieve a productive workforce:
1. Professional Development and Learning Opportunities – Instead of simply hoping for the best, it will be more productive to actively help improve the skills of your employees. You can offer professional development training. Having such a program can help your employees develop and grow so that they can perform their jobs in the best and most efficient way possible.
Some companies choose to offer subsidies to encourage their team members to acquire certifications. These opportunities need not be expensive. There are courses or seminars available online. Once employees see that the company cares about individual development too, they are more likely to stay and be more motivated to do their jobs.
2. Team Meals and Office Get-Togethers – Providing snacks for your employees is a good start. However, treating them to a healthy meal once a week may be a better choice. Not only does it show that you care for their health and wellness, but it also encourages them to get up from their desks so that they can interact with their colleagues. You can also host office get-togethers once in a while so that your employees can gather and have conversations. Organizing holiday parties can also help. Some companies have game nights, and others allow jam sessions for musically inclined team members.
3. Flexible Working Hours – Gone are the days when all companies have to require employees to report to the office during normal business hours. The 9-5 job may not apply to everyone now. More companies realize that having flexible schedules can help combat a negative productivity spiral. They give employees the freedom to work around the set office hours as needed. Some offer work-from-home opportunities, which involve allowing people to take a few days each month to do their work in a place where they are more comfortable.
4. Vacation Opportunities – Employees may need extra time off to recharge. You can offer paid vacation or leave benefits. Some companies let their employees have their birthdays off. There are also those that increase the number of bonus vacation days for every year that the employee stays with the company. You do not have to offer unlimited paid vacation days because that can affect your operations. Instead, you can offer a generous vacation policy and encourage your employees to use it to take a break from their busy schedules. This way, you can keep company morale high by preventing your team from burning out.
5. Health Support – Aside from offering health insurance benefits, you can help keep your team members healthy. If you can afford it, you can have on-site health services. Offering mental health support will also show your employees that you care about their well-being. You can offer an assistance program providing counseling and informational services.
6. Opportunities to Give Back – Millennials make up a big percentage of today’s workforce. Given that they are said to be more likely to give compared to other generations, they tend to value companies and brands that emphasize doing good. A lot of companies have realized this. That is why they incorporate giving back into the company values. Aside from encouraging monetary contributions to charitable organizations, you can also work on volunteer projects.
Keeping company morale high is important in encouraging productivity in the workplace. Your employees are crucial in attaining the goals of your company. Offering benefits and perks can help make your team members feel that the company values them and their well-being.
The examples above are only a few of the things you can apply to your company. Make sure that whatever benefit you choose to offer aligns with the values of your business entity and addresses the unique needs of your team. It will also help to listen to feedback and suggestions from your employees.