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  • What would you say if a prospective employer offered you perks like free catered meals, free fitness classes, tuition reimbursement, unlimited vacation days, and– for the expectant parents out there– four months of paid parental leave? 

    You might be tempted to rip the contract out of his or her hand and sign it on the spot—right?

    Well, we didn’t make those up. Practical benefits like these are real, and some are being implemented at companies that constantly rank at the top of employee satisfaction lists.

     

    Pet friendly workplaces have lower stress, encouage longer hours, and build office camraderie. Photo of dog in office. “Office dog” by seanhagen is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    So what does this mean for you as an employer? 

    In order to attract and retain the best employees, you should offer competitive compensation, medical benefits, and 401K options that are consistent with your industry and location. Prospective employees will take these more practical benefits into consideration.  

    We know most companies won’t be able to afford perks like the big tech giants in California, but here are four ways you could make life a little easier and more enjoyable for your employees. 

    Four Affordable Perks for your Small Business to Attract & Maintain the Best Employees

    1. Flexible work schedules

    More and more, work and life seem to be connected outside of the working environment. Establish guidelines that allow employees to work from home or in the evening if they have something to go to, like a parent teacher conference. 

    Or, consider flexible work hours. If getting to work earlier and leaving earlier makes sense for the family schedule, commuting, or other reasons and doesn’t conflict with business operations, then maybe this is something for you to consider. 

    Showing flexibility and empathy for employees by allowing flexible schedule will help build a stronger bond, making your company more attractive as a potential employer. It also helps promote a healthy work-life balance, and help make employees’ lives a little easier knowing they have this flexibility. Who wouldn’t want to work for a company that is trying to make life a little easier? 

    2. Pet-Friendly Workspace

    This one is not for everyone. But if it fits with your company, try allowing pets on specific days (maybe once a month, or once a year to start) to make employees feel more comfortable. Take Your Dog to Work Day is a national event and they talk about building codes, liability issues, and employees’ allergies or phobias to consider before adopting this perk. 

    There are many other articles about how to make a workplace pet friendly and tips on creating a dog-friendly workplace.

    Boss need convincing? Share these three benefits of pets in the workplace from PetMD: 

    Pets in the workspace:

    1. Help reduce stress
    2. Encourage longer work hours
    3. Increase camaraderie

    3. Free snacks

    While most companies won’t be able to cater every meal like some of the big tech giants, providing coffee & tea, healthy snacks to share, and maybe breakfast every once in a while will help boost morale and keep your employees focused. 

    4. Lunch-time yoga & Running groups

     
    Investing in employee preventative health efforts could help lower healthcare premiums down the road. Depending on your workspace, you could look into hiring in a lunch-time yoga instructor, or massage therapist to help reduce employee stress levels. Or, for the more active employee, look into hosting a running group, training for a charity race, or getting your company involved in a sports league. These activities get people active and also encourage team building outside the workplace. 
     
    Practical benefits like these can help give you the edge when a prospective employee compares job offers in a similar market, and they show you care about the well-being of your employees. 
     
    What other affordable perks would attract new employees? Let us know what you think in the comments below. 

    Photo Credit: “Office Dog” by seanhagen is licensed under CC BY 2.0

  • Let’s face it; employees don’t always want to be indoors during the summer. Having unmotivated, daydreaming employees can lead to unproductive work days, but some summer perks can help motivate your workers. Here are three ways that you can help boost team morale during the summer.

    Image of a employee working from home. GMS assists businesses with services like employee performance management.

    Work Flexibility

    Air conditioning is great on scorching days, but it’s not hard to think of laying on the beach or strolling through the park when it’s a picture perfect summer afternoon. You can’t let your employees run off at every chance for great weather, but you can offer some work flexibility.

    Employees can get a morale boost by working from home or any other different location. Even something like one or more work-from-home days can help. That could mean they can work from their backyard patio or their favorite coffee shop. All it takes is Wi-Fi and technology like Skype or conference calls to easily connect with co-workers. Plus, this is a nice option for employees who have to pick up kids from summer activities.

    Outdoor Work Events

    If employees really want to go outside, it might be time to take business outdoors for a day. Company parties, team-building exercises, and other outdoor activities are great ways to appease your employees’ desire to enjoy the nice weather while building company chemistry and team morale.

    Relaxed Dress Code

    Suits and ties don’t mesh well with summer. Hot days can make for uncomfortable employees. Even if your business pumps the AC all summer, employees will have to go outside at some point, and full business attire can make them sweaty and tired before they even make it to their desk.

    Depending on your business, a relaxed summer dress code could make employees a little more comfortable. This could mean casual Fridays or an option to dress down on days when an employee won’t be directly interacting with clients or customers. If someone has a business meeting, they can switch back to the full dress code for the day.

    Taking Care of Employees

    Good employees are a major asset for your business. A motivated team can lead to great returns, but employee management can be a test for many businesses. Group Management Services can help you through employee performance management tools, offering a variety of services to tackle this challenge. Contact GMS today to talk to one of our experts about how we can help you manage your employees.