Attract and retain better talent with a more comprehensive benefits package

The labor market is big news right now. Unemployment is under 4%, and local companies are on the lookout for new, innovative ways to not just attract the best talent to their team – but retain the people they’ve already invested in.
One way to make your company stand out is to strengthen the connection between your corporate culture and the entirety of your employee benefits package. The emotional connection – and therefore, loyalty – employees feel towards your company starts and ends with whether they enjoy their job and the people they work with, along with how your company promotes a strong work-life balance. And by nature, you can deepen what your company has to offer in these channels through a more well-rounded benefits package.

Grow your wellness program
Today’s best employees want jobs that work for their lives – not the other way around. One way you can build this mentality into the way your company operates is through an innovative wellness program. Not only will this help reduce stress, build stronger relationships among your staff and promote a healthy lifestyle for the people who work for you, it will help drive stronger productivity and employee engagement. There are many ways to do this – but here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Set up voluntary accountability opportunities for your staff to hit the gym together, or powerwalk on their lunch hour.
2. Build a partnership with a local gym, so that it’s easier for your staff to grab a quick workout on their own terms without needing to pay for an additional membership.
3. Bring in a massage therapist once a month. Employees can pay for their session, or part of their session, depending on how much of the cost you want to cover.
4. Offer comprehensive tele-health options. Most health plans come with some form of tele-health, but they’re not always easy to access or cost-free. By offering an add-on like Fresh Benies, you give your staff the best access to virtual healthcare. This builds convenience across the board, while also saving them time, money and scheduling headaches.

 
Offer more expansive food and beverage options
Today’s modern employee naturally expects more from their employer, down to the snacks they offer in the breakroom. Gone are the days of a pot of coffee and a water cooler – your coffee bar and vending machines speak to the type of experience potential employees anticipate at your business across the board.

To start, offer a variety of coffee, tea and water options in your break room and at interviews. Stock your kitchen with simple, healthy snacks like fruit and nut bars. And if you offer vending, consider adding a healthy vending machine that stocks fruits and vegetables.
You could also consider a partnership with a local healthy restaurant, like Panera, to offer convenient group delivery options for lunch meetings. By making healthier options more accessible within your office, you’ll show both existing and potential employees that you value them, and that you’re adapting to their generational culture, not just expecting them to adapt to your company culture.

Make sure your parental leave policies are up-to-date
There’s a huge focus on family leave as a whole, and it can be a deal breaker for your staff. From traditional maternity leave to caring for sick family to taking care of family when a spouse or parent is called to active duty in the military, companies that offer broad, inclusive leave options are thriving.

To make sure your employee leave policies match your staff expectations, consider hosting a small employee group review of existing policies and ask for feedback on what they’d like to see added in the future. Then work with your HR team and your employment attorney to choose what will be included in your new leave standards, and craft an updated policy for your handbook.
 
Offer workplace flexibility – but be clear on what that means
Today’s employee is looking for a more flexible workplace. That said, you need to be up front about what that means and includes at your business, as “flexibility” often means different things for different people.

For example, you could offer a 4 day in-office work week, with the option of working from home on Fridays. You could create extreme flexibility with a completely virtual work environment. You could look at adding additional PTO or flex-time as a retention or hiring incentive. You may even offer different versions of flexibility for different staff levels.

No matter the format, you need be clear about your expectations for when and how employees work, along with what you expect them to accomplish if you want your flexible workplace to truly benefit your company.
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A changing employee means a changing workplace
Just as digital media has changed how our business operates, it’s changed the expectations of today’s best workers. As the way we work continues to evolve, our health and benefits offerings will change as well. If you’re looking build a more comprehensive offering that attracts the right talent, builds employee loyalty and sparks employee engagement for your business, we’d love to chat. Reach out and let’s get some time on the calendar.