Nothing is more valuable to a company than loyal employees, but many businesses struggle with high turnover rates. There are many possible factors that could lead to a rotating door of employees, including a toxic work culture, an unreasonable workload, lack of opportunities to move up, and much more. If you think your business may have one of these critical issues, address it before looking into extra perks that can help keep employees around. Even if you offer lunches on Fridays and extra vacation, it won’t make an employee stay if there are issues with their job that make working at your company unbearable. However, the truth is, employees also leave when they feel undervalued or just plain bored. One way to show employees you value them and keep them excited about their role is by offering unique perks. Before you put up immigration ads, here are a few perks you may decide to offer your employees.
1. Offering Courses
Sure, putting on a golf tournament for your employees has a wow factor, and it’s sure to be a great bonding experience, but it doesn’t do anything to benefit their role directly. For many employees, the best-possible perk that they can imagine is something that gives them opportunities for professional development. By offering courses or other extensive job training, you’re showing them that you care enough not only to invest in them professionally but that you also count on them as a pivotal member of the company that will help it grow.
2. Free Products
If your company offers services or products, you want to give your employees those products (or a heavy discount)! We understand that if you sell diamond rings, you can’t be giving them out to every employee, but there should be a big discount in place. Not only will giving your employees your products or services be a worthwhile perk, but it will also consolidate your employees’ love for your company’s products or services. If they personally enjoy them, they will work hard to make sure others do as well.
3. Wellness Activities
Investing in your employees’ professional lives is a given, but showing them you also care about their personal wellness is a great way for a company to go the extra mile. Consider offering your employees a membership to a local yoga studio or have a masseuse come into the office a few times a month and set up shop in a meeting room. Happy employees are more inclined to be creative and more collaborative.
4. Fun Treats
Consider getting gourmet donuts for the entire office or setting up a sundae stand. Yes, these things aren’t the healthiest, but there’s nothing wrong with a little treat every now and then. It will also give your employees a boost to get them through the rest of their workday. No matter how old you are, the surprise ice-cream-truck mentality never seems to wear off.
5. No Established Work Hours
This perk is great on many levels. It promotes a good work-life balance, but above all, it shows your employees that you trust them. Too often, businesses are run like small dictatorships. If you clearly define your employees’ workloads and deadlines (and they are readily available for communication), not having rigid hourly requirements shouldn’t be an issue.
Making your employees more autonomous will make them more likely to stay because they will feel more control over their professional lives. If you’re looking for foreign workers to become indispensable members of your team, consider posting permanent labor certification ads.
6. Loads of Time Off
Sadly, it is often the case that employees “live to work.” But a good company supports time away from the office as well as time in the office. If your employees have time to experience traveling and an optimal amount of time with friends and loved ones, it will ultimately benefit their work life because they will be happier and more fulfilled. They are also more likely to be loyal to a company that values their time off.
7. Health Services
Working a full-time job can make it hard to get to the doctor’s office. That’s why many working adults have not been to the doctor in years. Consider having a nurse, doctor, or psychologist come into the office a few times a month for employee appointments. Showing your employees that you value their physical and mental well being as well as their professional well being is a great way to show them you care.
8. Office Parties
These can be great, if they’re done right. Putting employees together in a casual setting is a great way to improve employee bonds. If they have personal relationships and respect for each other, they’re far more likely to collaborate better and just generally look forward to coming into the office. Make sure to make the party worth their while. That means good food and drink! Employees won’t look forward to attending the parties and might even skip them if they aren’t fun to attend.
9. Pet-Friendly
It’s scientifically proven that the presence of pets lowers stress levels and just generally makes people happier. Having pets in the office is also a great way to encourage employees to get up and go outside during the day, which is a great way to reduce stiffness and soreness from sitting for long hours. Plus, a lot of people feel guilty about leaving their pets at home during the day, so allowing their pets to come to work is a great way to reduce those anxieties.
The Takeaway
Perks aren’t everything when it comes to an employee’s decision to stick around at your company, but they definitely don’t hurt. The right perks can show employees not only that you value them professionally but that you also care about their happiness, wellness, and independence. If you’re looking to fill positions with great candidates, consider launching a PERM advertising campaign. Once you have the right people in the right roles, show them you care with these unique perks.
