5 Amazing Job Benefits That Keep Employees Happy

As the engine that keeps business moving forward, employees represent a company’s most important asset. So keeping those people that an organization depends on happy and productive should be the main concern of every management team.

Now that companies are beginning to up the ante when it comes to employee perks, it’s important not to fall behind the competition’s benefit offerings to prevent talent from slipping away. Here are a few examples of amazing perks companies large and small should consider implementing.

1. Flexible Time

Many companies are starting to drop the standard two weeks of vacation per year in favor of more fluid vacation policies. Some are even offering unlimited time off for their employees, but many are simply increasing the allotment of yearly vacation as well as bonus days off for birthdays or Fridays off in the summer when it’s nice outside. Companies are also doing away with regular 9-to-5 schedules in favor of a model based on performance where as long as the jobs get done it doesn’t matter when or how long people are in the office. This increased freedom tends to improve morale and productivity as employees feel greater responsibility to produce results in order to maintain these enjoyable working arrangements.

2. Continued Learning

Education is important to employees who want to continue to develop and advance their careers, and it also benefits the company by providing a more skilled workforce. Though many companies can’t foot full tuition bills similar to the full reimbursement that Starbucks offers for eligible employees, they can offer a measure of financial assistance for continuing education.  This benefits represents a smart investment in talent development that can pay dividends down the road.

3. Wellness Packages

Though most companies don’t go as far as Google does in keeping doctors on staff, many are starting to realize the benefits of enhanced physical and mental wellness packages to keep their employees happy, healthy and productive. Whether it’s paid gym memberships, providing Fitbits to track training progress, organized team yoga classes or bringing in a masseuse a few times each month, many companies are making additional efforts to help their employees deal with stress and unwind. Even something as easy as a weekly running club can help strengthen team bonding and improve employee loyalty.

4. Healthy Food

To enhance wellness efforts, companies are helping their employees eat healthier too. By providing meals free of charge, employees get extra value that they’ll appreciate along with access to a diet that will help them achieve their fitness goals. Whether it’s bringing in a chef to prepare lunch or providing healthy snack options on-site, there are ways for companies of all sizes to provide some type of food benefit while scaling costs to fit their budget. These kinds of benefits help companies recruit new talent while also building goodwill that can help them retain top performers.

5. Family Time

As millennials age they’re increasingly beginning to consider starting families, which means they’re starting to incorporate parental perks into their job hunting strategies.  These workers aren’t just looking for standard maternity leave these days. Facebook famously implemented an impressive maternity and paternity package for its employees, including four paid months off after the child arrives, reimbursement for some adoption costs and $4,000 once the baby is born. They also provide compensation to help with childcare costs, a practice that’s becoming much more common overall and can help improve productivity as well as reduce absences. Furthermore, meeting these new evolving standards helps keep your employees happy and focused on work, rather than worrying about searching to secure a job that does have the perks that they value.