Written by: James Ponds
Employees may be initially attracted to your company by the salary offered, but loyal workers are unlikely to stay long without incentives. When you provide additional perks that benefit an employee’s daily life, turnover rates will remain low while productivity increases. Allocating more of the company’s profits to employee benefit plans may seem expensive, but your team is an investment in your company’s future and should be compensated.
Some of the perks you can implement at your business include recreation centers, work flexibility, catered events, vacation time and health insurance programs.
1. Recreation Centers
The health and well-being of your team should be a primary concern. Stressed and tired employees cannot perform their duties effectively and are less likely to become dedicated, long-term workers. By including recreational activities at the workplace, your employees can exercise during downtimes and return to work refreshed. You can contact pool builders near me for a professional pool installation or modify an existing room into a small gym. For the employees who prefer other fitness activities, you can schedule weekly yoga or Pilates classes. Your staff will appreciate the money they’ll save on membership fees and traveling to an off-site gym or pool. If your budget or space restraints prevent you from offering on-site activities, you can include yearly gym memberships in your incentive program.
2. Work Flexibility
Some of the perks that you can offer don’t require a large investment. Allowing flexible work hours can improve worker performance and help employees manage their time efficiently. Although many companies adhere to a strict nine to five workday, you can offer alternating schedules that allow some workers to come in earlier or start later. Everyone at your company may have busy lives outside of work, but you can ease some of their stress by staying flexible. By allowing remote-work options, you can assist employees with long commutes and help your workers catch up on work they missed due to an illness or emergency.
3. Catered Events
The lunch break can become a monotonous affair when your location offers few dining options nearby. An excellent way to bring your team members together at lunch is to provide weekly or monthly catering events. To keep things interesting, use an alternating list of local restaurants to deliver and serve hot meals. Most restaurant owners will be willing to commit to a catering schedule, but it’s best to give owners advance notice for any large orders. If you have food trucks operating in your area, you can start a food truck day to feed your staff and support the local economy. Before you decide on a menu for caterings, question your team about any possible food allergies or aversions to specific ingredients.
4. Vacation Time
Medical experts have repeatedly promoted the benefits of adequate rest in the workplace. Performance levels plummet when employees are overstressed and low on energy. To keep your staff healthy and productive, you can include vacation time in your incentive program. Reward exceptional employees with additional vacation days and provide remote work options for staff members who take extended vacations. Although vacation requests can become challenging around the holidays, it’s simpler to plan several months in advance of the holiday season to determine which employees are available.
5. Health Insurance
The health care system is frequently changing and often difficult to navigate and understand. Health care is the primary incentive that potential candidates look for in a new job, and if your company doesn’t include a health plan, skilled workers may look to your competitors for work. To make the process easier for employees, you can work with a health insurance agent. An agent will address the healthcare needs of your staff and provide several options for cumulative plans. Choosing a marketplace plan can be confusing, but an agent can streamline the process and provide answers to any unclear policies or requirements.
Providing valuable incentives to your workers will help you retain skilled employees, increase morale and maintain productivity.