While competitive salaries and standard benefits are fundamental, companies are increasingly recognizing the power of unconventional benefits that transform your workplace culture.
Unconventional benefits go beyond the ordinary, encompassing initiatives that prioritize employee well-being, professional development, and inclusion. These benefits not only enhance employee satisfaction but also contribute to a more productive, engaged, and resilient workforce.
Read on to explore a variety of unconventional benefits that transform your workplace culture into a place where employees thrive and your organization flourishes.
Flexible Work Schedules
Gone are the days of rigid nine-to-five schedules. Offering flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options or flexitime, has become popular and important to most incoming and current employees, especially those in younger generations.
This flexibility empowers employees to better balance their professional and personal lives and fosters a sense of trust and autonomy, leading to higher job satisfaction and productivity. Moreover, it accommodates diverse needs, such as childcare responsibilities or commuting challenges, thereby promoting inclusivity within the workplace.
Support for Work From Home Employees
Just because they aren’t in the office doesn’t mean you can’t provide a positive and supportive work environment. More and more companies are offering work-from-home setup allowances to help cover office supply costs that are normally covered for in-office employees. This allowance can be used to pay for supplies such as a new monitor, mouse, or office chair.
By supporting your WFH employees, you’re showing that you care for their comfort and health and that they are a part of the team, even if they aren’t physically in the office. This can increase job satisfaction, productivity, and employee retention.
Physical Health and Wellness Programs
Prioritizing physical wellness within the workplace involves more than just promoting exercise. It encompasses creating an environment that encourages regular movement and healthy habits.
This could include initiatives such as standing desks, walking meetings, or on-site fitness classes. Additionally, providing access to nutritious snacks, promoting hydration, and encouraging regular breaks can support employees in maintaining their physical health throughout the workday.
And the benefits don’t need to stop there. Consider what you can offer for your employees to use outside of the office such as online fitness classes, allowances for fitness equipment, and access to equipment rentals or trails. These can especially be helpful for your remote workers.
By fostering a workplace culture that values and supports physical wellness, employers not only promote healthier lifestyles but also reduce absenteeism, enhance productivity, and contribute to overall employee well-being.
Mental Health and Wellness Programs
The pandemic highlighted the need for more focus to be placed on mental health, and that includes employee benefits. In fact, 76% of employees in a survey shared that mental health benefits are one of the things they look at when considering a job.
Employers can support mental health by offering resources such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), which provide confidential counseling and support services for employees facing personal or work-related challenges. Implementing stress management workshops, mindfulness training, or meditation sessions can also equip employees with coping mechanisms to navigate stress and maintain mental resilience.
Furthermore, encouraging employees to take regular breaks can help prevent burnout and foster a healthier mindset that aids in building a cohesive team with a positive outlook. By prioritizing mental wellness, employers create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture where employees feel valued, understood, and empowered to thrive both professionally and personally.
Financial Wellness and Literacy Programs
Financial stress can significantly impact employee performance and overall well-being—no matter what their salary may be.
By offering financial wellness programs, employers empower their workforce to make informed decisions about their finances, reduce debt, and plan for the future. These programs can take on a few different forms. You can provide programs that actively help your employees with financial situations such as student loan repayment programs, tuition reimbursement, or even identity theft protection.
However, you can also provide more educational programs to help employees become more financially literate and subsequently more confident in their financial well-being and habits. This may include financial education seminars, retirement planning assistance, or access to financial advisors. By alleviating financial worries, companies demonstrate their commitment to employee welfare and long-term stability.
More Time Off
Encouraging employees to take time off is essential for preventing burnout and promoting work-life balance.
In addition to standard vacation and sick leave policies, companies are introducing innovative time-off initiatives such as unlimited paid time off (PTO), sabbaticals, or volunteer days. But this doesn’t just have to be on an individual basis. You can explore shortening your workweek down a day to provide your employees with a three-day weekend, or you can institute company-wide holidays or days off.
It’s also important that no matter how much PTO you offer your employees, you ensure that your work environment is one where they feel comfortable and even encouraged to take that time off.
Providing ample opportunities for rest not only boosts morale but also enhances creativity and productivity upon employees' return to work.
Caregiver Support
Many employees juggle caregiving responsibilities alongside their careers, whether for children, elderly parents, or family members with special needs. Recognizing these challenges, many progressive companies offer caregiver support programs.
These programs can vary depending on what your staff may need and what you as a company have the space to offer. For example, you could offer subsidies for daycare or you could offer on-site childcare. Likewise, you could also offer specialized time off for those who may have to take care of someone at home, or you can create flexible schedules that allow them to work from home or at times that work best for them.
By easing the burden of caregiving responsibilities, employers demonstrate empathy and strengthen employee loyalty.
Embracing unconventional benefits is a strategic imperative for cultivating a positive and forward-thinking workplace culture. By prioritizing flexibility, wellness, financial security, and more, companies can differentiate themselves as employers of choice and nurture a motivated and loyal workforce poised for success in the long run.
Please let us know if you have any questions. We understand that local companies have unique needs that most national firms don’t consider or struggle to identify. This leaves your people with a less effective, one-size-fits-all benefits plan. However, our ability to cater to the needs of our clients comes from decades of client partnerships. This perspective allows us to fully address unique needs and generate creative benefits plans.
You shouldn’t have to worry about just being a number, offering a generic plan, or getting the unique support you need. Call us today.
This Benefits Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice.