It’s no secret that companies with highly engaged employees outperform their competition. If you want to keep your staff motivated and productive, it’s crucial to offer a variety of perks and benefits that appeal to them.
But with budget and time constraints, it can be challenging to design a package that appeals to every staff member. So, it’s best to focus on the ones that will help boost performance, retention, and motivation.
These perks aren’t only about the individual — they’re also suitable for your company. With that in mind, here are some ideal employee perks worth considering.
Paid Time Off
Although the federal minimum for paid time off is a measly ten days, many companies offer far more as part of an employee benefits package. Beyond that, if you want to keep your employees happy and committed to the company, they should be able to take time off without feeling guilty about it.
Sabbaticals, sabbatical-like events, and even shorter breaks like weekends away create the necessary space for employees to recharge. That, in turn, leads to enhanced productivity and better performance when they return.
What’s more, you can boost staff engagement without your company suffering financially by offering paid time off that is not related to illness or emergencies.
Sick Leave
Although most people don’t want to use them, there are times when employees need sick leave. It is a benefit that should be offered even if it’s not unlimited — something fair is better than nothing at all.
However, the more significant issue is what happens after someone uses their allotted time off. A recent study found that people who are forced to use their sick leave lose trust in company leadership. It also makes them less likely to want to stay at the company, which means you could be losing out on high performers if you don’t handle it well.
Health Benefits
When it comes to perks, many companies offer either a higher salary or more comprehensive health insurance to attract new staff and keep current employees on board. While paying people more is excellent, something about healthcare seems to motivate people.
While annual health coverage is a prominent perk, there are also some less obvious benefits, like free visits to the dentist’s office and paid memberships in fitness facilities in your local neighborhood. In doing so, you’ll find that you attract people who are more likely to spend less time out of the office and avoid becoming ill.
Child Care and Eldercare
These two perks might seem like a luxury, but they can also be necessary for new parents who want to get back into the workforce. With so many people juggling child care on their own, companies need to offer assistance. There are several ways you can provide support, including on-site child care facilities and more generous time off.
If your employees have elderly parents who need assistance or care, it might be an excellent plan to partner with local entities that can help provide real-time updates about their loved one’s health if they cannot get there themselves.
Flexible Work Schedules and Telecommuting
Depending on the industry, it might not be easy to allow employees to work from home. If that’s an issue for you, consider flexible work schedules instead.
As long as employees are still getting their work done and meeting deadlines, a slightly flexible work arrangement can help them plan their lives better.
If you’re concerned about security and intellectual property, there are a few things you can do to ensure that nothing is at risk when employees work from home. It’s all about being proactive instead of reactive, which you should do with every employee benefit to ensure compliance better.
Recognition Programs
Employee recognition goes a long way in engagement and performance by giving your team opportunities to advance through the ranks or be recognized for their contributions with gifts, dinners, or other small tokens of appreciation.
Making Adjustments
How do you ensure that you’re getting the most out of these perks? The key is evaluating each program regularly to see what’s working and how you could improve it.
After all, perpetual evaluation ensures sustainable success, which will lead to engaged employees who stay with your company for the long haul.
The thing to remember is that it’s not about offering employees one big perk; it’s about providing a variety of benefits that will help them succeed both in and out of the office. If you can find a way to do that, you’ll be well on your way to a more engaged and productive team. And by following these tips, you can boost staff engagement without your company suffering financially.
