Question: What's one perk you were surprised to learn your employees really care about?
Lunch
"I never realized how much our employees loved and appreciated lunch until we skipped it for a week. It was a disaster! When you have lunch in the office people work harder, longer and become better friends with everyone in the company."
@johnrampton
Flexible Business Hours
"All of my team members have times they are more productive. Giving them the opportunity to set their working hours (within reason) has proven to be incredibly effective for productivity and happiness levels."
@sharamfm
A Book Club
"Every month, the team meets for morning lattes and shares their latest reads. You can read anything you want, as long as you provide a little book report, and we reimburse employees for any books they read and report on. It's an enriching gathering that always sparks conversation and camaraderie."
@BamComm
Peer Awards
"Setting up a program for our team to recognize hard work, dedication and cooperation in another employee has been more important to morale and motivation than other perks that I always thought were much more attractive. Knowing that your peers recognize the extra effort you put in can mean a lot more than free gym memberships, flex hours, etc."
@dnevogt
Days Off to Volunteer
"We offer all of our employees two paid days off per year to volunteer for a community organization or charity of their choice. It's a great way to give our team members the opportunity to make a difference in the community. Our employees love this perk, and the fact that we don't vet organizations -- any kind of helping is pre-approved!"
@brittanyhodak
Public Recognition and a Relaxed Environment
"It’s easy to forget to show appreciation for your team members, but recognizing their accomplishments (whether you list their talents on the website or recognize their achievements) will mean a lot to them. Employees also value having a relaxed work environment that encourages sharing. A team that shares personal interests is going to share knowledge and solutions."
@rtslabs
Paid Lunch Breaks
"It might seem silly if you have folks who are paid hourly instead of on a salary basis, but be sure to pay for their lunch break. It makes them feel valued."
@lanec
Summer Fridays
"A couple of years ago we started implementing "Summer Fridays" at our office. Essentially, that means letting staff take advantage of the nice weather and letting them leave the office anytime after 2 p.m. Work is usually slow at this time anyway, so it's not detrimental to the services we provide. Employees loved this way more than I expected, and they now look forward to the tradition every summer."
@cassiepetrey
Knowledge About Money Management
"Earlier this year I created three money management webinars for my employees. The feedback from the team was incredible. People started savings accounts, paid off debts and improved their relationships with money. Sure we provide benefits and hold company retreats, but they were most appreciative of the information that allowed them to be the agents of their own financial wellbeing."
@dhassell
Naps
"Here at Amerisleep, we actually encourage team members to take naps during break times. We care about sleep and good health, and research has shown that when you’re well-rested, your mood, productivity and creativity benefit. Our employees love it, and the practice has truly improved all aspects of employee happiness and performance."
@firaskittaneh
Sharing Our Space
"Many of our team members are involved with or on the boards of local organizations, and we’ve found that they are really excited to be able to use our space to host meetings and events for their organizations. By making the space available to them, we're able to learn about our employees' personal interests and it provides us with a great way to engage with our community."
@zachbrobb
