Your employee benefits program should be unique. If you offer a bare-bones package with few perks, dissatisfaction will likely run high among the staff, and some key contributors may leave for greener pastures.
While there are some standard benefits like group health insurance that you should always include, you should also find unusual ones that other companies don't offer. To that end, the following is a look at some perks that enterprises have used to keep workers happy and boost retention efforts.
Sabbaticals
Time off is a very important perk to workers. The Society for Human Resource Management recently reported 72 percent of survey respondents want holiday/vacation/sick time, making it one of the most popular benefits. Personal time is a fixture in every benefits plan, but sabbaticals are gaining popularity. According to Inc. Magazine, businesses in various industries offer extended leaves of absence to their employees. Patagonia, a clothing retailer, allows workers to take 16-week, unpaid sabbaticals every year. Meanwhile, MAYA Design, a technology consulting firm, gives its staff members six weeks of paid personal time after five years of employment.
Sabbaticals might be most common for college professors, but they work well for other professionals. Workers need to occasionally get away from the office and pursue personal interests. Consider using this perk so employees will stay on board instead of resigning to take new opportunities.
Let the office go to the dogs
Many dog owners hate leaving their furry friends at home every day. Some employers are remedying the situation by allowing contributors to bring their canines into the office. The Nerdery goes above and beyond when it comes to making the workplace a friendly environment for pooches. Forbes reports that the development firm brings in a groomer for any canines that need some pampering, and all pets are allowed off their leashes on Thursdays.
For this perk to work, you should bring in everything that dogs need. Put bowls of water around the office, keep food readily available and leave toys out so the dogs will feel at home in the office.
Let them eat cake
In some cases, the best way to keep employees happy is to feed them. Time Magazine explains that FactSet gives its workers free lunch every day. Additionally, the company also has a pie truck, a Chinese food truck and a cupcake truck on site so employees can enjoy their favorite foods whenever they want.
You don't need to bring three different food trucks, but you should offer some type of snack to the workforce. Consider putting out bagels in the morning or ordering pizzas at lunch. These may seem like small gestures, but they can go a long way toward boosting workplace satisfaction.
Additionally, you should put out healthy snacks for the staff. Apples, bananas and other nutritious items can give workers an energy boost and help them reach their personal wellness goals.