During ‘The Great Resignation’ we saw employees leave their jobs in droves in search of better work environments, increased salaries, and additional flexibility. Millennials make up the majority of the workforce now, and Generation Z is close behind. These generations have shown employers that they won’t stick around long if they aren’t happy or if a better opportunity presents itself—and so far, the job market has supported them in that ideology. This means employers have to continually evaluate and refine their culture, and make sure their perks and benefits reflect what matters to employees in 2023. Here are 6 perks you can offer that will help you attract and retain a strong team, and stay competitive in the job market:
Remote/Flexible Work
Remote work is a crowd pleaser, and it offers employees a lot of freedom and opportunities they would not have in a traditional in-office environment. If your organization isn’t able to offer remote work, flexible working hours are a great alternative to still give employees some control over their own schedules and help them maintain a strong sense of work/life balance.
Reduced Hours at a Certain Time of the Year
Does your company have a busy season and a slow season? You could consider offering shorter working days during the holidays, half days on Friday during the summer, or letting people leave a few hours early when things are quiet. This can be formally planned, or informal as the business allows.
Dog/Pet Friendly Environments
If it’s safe to have pets around your office, this is usually a quick way to lower stress and improve morale. It’s also fun and comforting for people to have their pet with them, and it can alleviate some of the burden for employees who might feel guilty for leaving a pet home alone all day—particularly if they have a long commute. As an added bonus, pet friendly offices promote stronger friendships at work, higher levels of empathy, and increased collaboration between employees.
Mentorships
Help some of your younger or newer employees gain the benefit of wisdom and guidance from more tenured and experienced employees. This helps bridge the gap between generations in the workplace. It’s also a great way to make people on both sides of that partnership feel valued and supported.
In-Office Services & Resources
There are so many options here. We’ve seen everything from onsite yoga classes, massage therapy, and wellness coaching to financial planning advice, car detailing, and food trucks. You may even be able to negotiate reduced rates from vendors or providers who are looking to build their business.
EE Recognition Programs
If you don’t currently have a way to recognize employees when they go above and beyond to do great work and demonstrate your values, then this is a missed opportunity. Gratitude ranks consistently highly as something that employees across multiple generations care about, and showing your appreciation does not have to be costly. Have employees nominate each other, have managers give shout outs, or use customer feedback as a way to thank top performers for going the extra mile. Additional perks (like bonuses, gift cards, or other incentives) in addition to public praise are nice, but not required.
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