Perks Your Returning Employees Want to See
Many businesses struggle to retain their employees after the initial honeymoon period of a new job passes. Some employees feel undervalued, overworked, or trapped in a dead-end role. If they can’t see where their job is going or if they aren’t getting the support and recognition they need, they start to look for other opportunities. Plus, in today’s market, employers are offering up higher pay for people who can truly fit the bill that they need. So, an employee who is only partially happy could get pulled to another job when they were never really looking in the first place.
With employee turnover being so high in the modern workplace, it can be difficult to keep your team motivated and happy enough to stay with you long-term. Luckily, by implementing a few different perks, benefits and incentives, you can make it more appealing for your employees to stay with your organization. Here are some ways that you can give your team members more reasons to stay put rather than search for something new.
Employees Are Just Starting to Come Back to the Workforce
It has been a bumpy ride for the last few years, and employees are just starting to return to the office in larger numbers. In order to ensure your employees will want to stay at the office, you need to cater to their needs. These needs are different than they were in the past. While employees want flexibility, they also want interaction. They need to know, hear and feel that they matter. These are considerations that employers need to make now more than ever. The ability to go out and hire someone is there, but it is a costly venture for nearly all companies. Instead, invest that money in the people you have. Keep them happy, and they will stay. Plus, they will also talk about the company they love to work for, bringing new employees to your business instead of you having to go out looking for them.
Provide Them with Opportunities to Network
Many workers will choose a job based on the people they get to work with. If they feel like they’re part of a strong and supportive community, they’ll be more likely to stay with you long-term. You can facilitate this by creating opportunities for your employees to network together. Perhaps they can host regular happy hours or meet-ups or have guest speakers come to the office to give talks. You can also reach out and pick a day during the week and bring in corporate catering so the office can have lunch together and talk. That simple act could go a long way towards connecting your employees together, ensuring they know how much you value them.
Giving your employees the chance to work together on collaborative projects and share experiences will help them build strong relationships, which will make it more likely for them to stay with your team. It’s also important to consider how choosy you are about which employees you let onto the team. While having a high hiring bar will help to maintain the quality of your employees, it can also make some people feel less valued. Be mindful of this, and make sure that you’re bringing in new team members in a way that makes them feel welcome and appreciated.
Communicate with Your Employees Regularly
This might seem like a no-brainer, but many managers struggle to stay in touch with the team members they oversee. If you aren’t communicating with your employees regularly, they may feel that you don’t care about them or their goals. This can be especially problematic in bigger companies, where employees may not have direct supervisors.
If you have managers who don’t communicate with their team members, it can make it difficult for employees to get the help, support, or recognition they deserve. Try to find time to sit down for one-on-one meetings with your employees. Ask them about their progress and their goals, and let them know what’s expected of them. This will also give you a chance to get to know your employees better and to see if there are any red flags that you need to address.
You can also set up a way for employees to communicate issues with you indirectly. For example, setting up an in-office mailbox where someone can drop a note when there is a problem can help people bring issues to light without them feeling as though they are being confrontational. These boxes can also be great places for employees to get recognized for going above and beyond for the company. If one employee is doing something amazing, another could drop a note about these acts to help bring the person, or their cause, some much-deserved recognition.
Provide Flexible Working Hours and Remote Job Opportunities
Since employees are just beginning to return to the office, providing remote opportunities may seem backward, but they are really not. Many people became accustomed to working from home. Giving them the chance to continue this comfortable activity from time to time allows them to take the time they need to adjust to the new normal.
This can be a great perk for employees who want the freedom to manage their time and who have families to take care of. By offering flexible hours and remote job opportunities, you can make your company more appealing to both new employees and brand new hires. This can be a great perk for parents, students, and people who need to manage other demanding situations in their lives.
While remote working and flexible hours are often touted as benefits that can make employees happier, you may have to be careful not to become too dependent on them. Your company may start to see productivity or work quality decline if too many people choose these options.
Celebrate Milestones with Your Employees
If you’re a large company, your employees may rarely feel acknowledged for their work. Some companies have a culture of fear or paranoia that keeps people from stepping out of line, but this can make employees feel unvalued and underappreciated. As a manager, it’s your job to make sure that employees feel appreciated and rewarded for their efforts. This can be especially important if you have employees who are subject to high levels of stress and pressure.
Acknowledging milestones and achievements will help to keep your team motivated and on-track. This doesn’t have to be a monetary reward. Some employers will give out medals, pins, or gift cards to show that an achievement has been recognized. Milestones can include things like an employee’s five-year anniversary with the company, the completion of a major project, or the completion of an education program.
Provide a Learning and Development Program
For employees who want to advance in their careers and feel trapped in a dead-end job, there may be nothing more appealing than a learning and development program. This can be a great way for managers to support their employees and help them feel like they’re progressing in their roles. By offering a learning and development program, you can help your employees to climb the career ladder. Some companies will offer tuition reimbursement or online classes.
Others may offer mentorship programs or coaching sessions that can help employees to better understand their roles. It’s important to make sure that your L&D program is available to all employees. You may have managers who want to build their skills but whose budgets don’t allow them to do so. A company-wide L&D program can be a great way to level the playing field and help to support your team members as they look to grow and develop.
Provide Physical and Mental Well-being Benefits
Some employees may need mental health benefits, but it can be difficult to determine who needs them and who doesn’t. By offering physical and mental well-being benefits, you can help to provide more support for your employees and make it clear that they can come to you with any issues they’re having. Some common well-being benefits that you can offer include meditation classes, yoga sessions, and massage therapy sessions. You may also want to provide your team members with access to therapy services. You can do this by partnering with a local mental health organization or by creating a program that allows team members to receive professional help at work. Other physical well-being benefits that you can offer include gym memberships and healthy food options. These benefits may not seem like much, but they can make a big difference in the lives of your team members.
Final Thoughts
Retaining your employees is a challenge, but it’s also one that pays off in the long run. By providing perks and benefits to your employees, you can help to make it more appealing for them to stay with your team. It’s important to note that perks and benefits don’t just make employees happy. They also make employees more productive. Happy and engaged employees tend to complete their work more quickly and with better results than their unhappy peers. By investing in your team members, you can help to retain your best employees and ensure that your company continues to grow and thrive for years to come.