Today if a Biz wants to snag top talent (and keep the staff they already have) they’re having to get savvier with the benefits they offer. Here are some to cast your eyes over.
1. No set hours
With work emails on our phones and deadlines keeping many of us working at all hours both inside and outside the office, the concept of a nine-to five workday is outdated. Entertainment company Netflix decided to do away with set hours and give their employees “Freedom and Responsibility”. Their argument is that if you do the work, you don’t need to clock standard hours.
2. Unlimited annual leave (gotta say I’m a fan of this) within reason though
Now although I think Richard Branson is (we call him Ricardo in our family, but in a derogatory tone😊) a douche (I’m allowed to have my opinions people) he introduced an unlimited annual leave for all Virgin Employees. His thought was if work hours aren’t being logged, why should our holidays? So, he allows salaried staff to take time off whenever they want for as long as they want, and they don’t have to get approval or keep track of their days away. The only condition is that employees must only take leave when their team is up to date on projects and when their absence won’t damage the business.
3. Chef-prepared breakfast and lunch, plus free fitness memberships
Design and publishing company Canva, offer fully catered meals each day. Canva’s focus on happy and healthy people doesn’t end there, staff also get access to free memberships at a range of fitness studios as well as “vibe and thrive” allowance to spend on their wellbeing however they wish.
4. $2,000 referral bonus
Companies are only as valuable as their people, so it makes sense that any help finding their new excellent employee is rewarded. It is not uncommon for companies to offer rewards for successful referrals, but software development company Atlassian goes a step further and offers an incredible $2,000 bonus for anyone who refers someone for a permanent, full-time position.
5. A support network
SEEK has a great SEEKer Support service to look after its peoples mental and physical wellbeing. It is a confidential service that offers SEEK employees up to three complimentary sessions with an external professional of their choice. Whether they need support to manage or cope with a personal or work-related issue and is available 24/7.
6. Annual travel credit
Online marketplace Airbnb gives all its employees an annual travel credit to use anywhere in the world. It’s a smart way of making sure their workers actively engage in the product and it also encourages their employees to take time off and travel.
7. 100-seat theatre and games room
Many companies say they “work hard and play hard”, but how many can live up to that claim? A company called “Interactive” does, the IT company provides its employees with purpose-built entertainment facilities including a games room where table tennis showdowns are a regular feature, lots of social spaces for staff to hang out, and even a 100-seat theatre where sporting events are televised.
Now not all companies have the budgets to provide some of the benefits the big boys are offering but it does open your eyes to what could be but also that not all benefits are monetary in form. In fact, the potential to offer something of value aside from money is only limited by the individual employer’s imagination it seems.