Pay perks that your employees will surely like.
As a small business, you might find it harder to compete for the top talent out there because you are up against the larger companies and their offerings. You want to be able to show that you are offering enough to staff when you bring them on board so that means examining your perks and seeing where you can make improvements. If you know that you can improve on this, then you should be asking your staff what they could benefit from the most. You want to be able to make sure that your perks are also individualized so that your people feel cherished like they matter in their roles. You know that perks are a privilege, but everything you do in your business is for the benefit of your team.
Using the right employee recognition software and rewards systems makes people feel like they are doing well. It makes them more motivated in their day-to-day work and it makes them competitive as an employer. We are currently living in a candidate-focused market and that means that you need to work on being the type of employer that is attracting the right candidates in the first place. You should think about whether you are that type of business, and if you’re not then you should be changing the way that you do things to suit. It can be hard to attract the best, but the best is exactly what your business needs to stand out as a competitor in the industry. Perks are a privilege that works on top of salaries and benefits packages. If you’re looking for your business to be more enjoyable then you need to make your employees happy – it’s that simple! So, here are some of the perks that your staff actually wants that you should think about.
1. Flexible working.
One of the perks that everyone wants, regardless of their job, is a flexible work environment. This is particularly attractive for the staff in your business who are parents, as they are the ones that will often need flexibility to work around sick kids and school functions. Flexible working is important if you want to make sure that your workers are happy and even those without family need that flexibility. It’s one of the best things to offer in a market where candidates are looking for hybrid work and better flexibility.
2. Unlimited time off.
Contrary to popular belief, people won’t actually take advantage of this. They will be happy to take time off that will matter to their families but they won’t go overboard. Unlimited time off is one of the newest perks that employers are finding to garner respect. You’re showing your staff that you trust them to take the time they need without going overboard, and you’re offering the flexibility that they seek to do better in their day-to-day. If they get sick, they don’t have to worry about using all of their sick days and not having enough time. If they have a family member die, they can use their time and grieve secure in the knowledge your company will be there for them no matter what.
3. Casual wear.
This may not apply to business meetings but after two years of COVID, people are used to working in comfort. If you have people working remotely then you know that they are already capable of doing their jobs and doing them well no matter what they are wearing. Casual attire is going to help people to be more comfortable and you can then make them much more productive. Casual wear is something small but people are spending hours of their time working for you – make it comfy!
4. Better development opportunities.
No one wants to work for a business that doesn’t care about its future. If you want people to work well for you, then it comes with the perk that they are going to have more responsibility in the future. If you ensure that your people are working toward new goals, they’re going to have more fun and feel better in the role that you have one offer.
5. Healthcare options.
Are you offering a better healthcare option? A new gym membership option will help your staff to be happier and healthier in their day-to-day. This leads to fewer instances of employee absenteeism and better health all around. It doesn’t have to cost much for your company but if you don’t want to go this way, offer vouchers and discounts to local teams. You’ll see the benefit right away!
6. Feed the people!
Free food is such a good perk. We all know that the costs of living are going up so we have to ensure that we spend less on eating out. If you are supplying a catered lunch or breakfast option to your staff, you’re going to show your appreciation and ensure that you say thank you for the hard work of your team, too.
7. Retail discounts.
If you are running a store, offer your staff a huge cut on the things that you sell. This will encourage them to use and wear the products that they are helping you with and that will be free advertising. This is the kind of perk that you want people to enjoy because they will be consistently happier knowing that you are doing what you can to save some cash.
8. Parental leave.
Do you have a family? If you have children, you need to think about how you can offer people the best perk. Time with their children is the best of all of the perks that you can offer and parental PAID leave is one of the ways that you can do that. You can bet that everyone will be happy that you are going to pay them for their leave. People will create and expand families and you are the employer that’s going to support that. If you can ensure that you are offering more to your staff, you’re going to have loyal people by your side as a result.
9. Offer people time to volunteer.
Do your employees have a cause that they are passionate about? If so, you need to give them time to put effort into those causes. If you do this, you can ensure that you are able to commit to your corporate social responsibilities. Make sure that you are putting money into charities as a business, too, because then people in the local community will know that you are doing what you do for the good of someone else.
10. Transparency.
If you are the type of employer that is transparent with their staff, you’re going to give them the biggest perk of all – trust! You need to make sure that you have a well-adjusted workforce and being honest with them is the fastest way to ensure that this happens. If you know that there is something happening to adjust the way that the business runs, then look at telling everyone!
Conclusion
You should always look at perks that you should pay your staff but it’s always smarter to use the perks that people WANT and not what you think is a good idea. If your people are going to want flexible hours, do that rather than offer lunch! You need to think about how your people respond to what you offer and then go from there. You know your people, you hired these people – now use these to your advantage!
