Offering a hefty paycheck is an excellent strategy for companies looking to lure in talent. Unfortunately, entrepreneurs and small business owners don’t always have the funds to pay high enough salaries to attract the employees they’re looking for. So they have to get creative.
When higher pay isn’t an option, companies can offer certain perks that cost little and still make employees happy. Here are some of the most attractive benefits employers can offer in the working sphere.
Pets Allowed at Work
Inviting Fido to work does more than save you money on pet care. Turns out, bringing pets to work reduces employees’ stress levels and boosts job satisfaction. Companies like Amazon and Ben & Jerry’s have implemented pet welcoming policies, reaping the many benefits.
A weeklong study was conducted at Replacements Ltd, a dog-friendly company consisting of about 550 employees. According to head researcher Randolph T. Barker, dogs can be helpful in the workplace: “The differences in perceived stress between days the dog was present and absent were significant. The employees as a whole had higher job satisfaction than industry norms.”
While there are numerous positives of inviting dogs into the office, there are certain setbacks as well. For example, some people fear dogs, others have allergies and you might have to deal with dog waste. Consider your workplace environment before moving forward with a pet policy for your office.
Flexible Hours
A rigid 8 a.m. start time, while somewhat standard in the working world, can seem a bit rigid in today’s landscape. Offering employees a flexible start time, but demanding a full eight hours, leaves individuals feeling more relaxed. According to a discussion paper published by IZA Press, studies show that flexibility in one’s schedule correlated with greater positivity and higher job satisfaction.
A more relaxed approach to scheduling allows employees to feel more in charge of their work time, as if it’s more personalized. The individuals who aren’t fond of mornings will also benefit because they have more time for their brains to warm up for the day ahead.
Finally, offering flexibility allows employees to more easily balance their personal lives with their work. According to an employee at Qualcomm, a company offering flexible hours, “My work hours are flexible, which allows me to work remotely when I get good ideas at odd times of the day.”
Opportunity to Work from Home
Working from home, just like having a lenient start time, allows employees to feel in control; it personalizes the work experience. The same analysis conducted by IZA Press demonstrating the benefits of work flexibility also shows that working from home increases job satisfaction. A survey conducted by Brown University says the same thing: people are happier when they have the option to work from home. Not only are they more content with their jobs, but workers are more productive from home, too.
Companies like Greenrope and Pixelkeet are two of many companies now offering remote working options. According to their employees, working from home limits distractions and allows for necessary midday breaks.
Fun Work Events
Holiday parties, organized 5k races, volunteering sessions – events that allow employees to interact in a setting beyond the conference room increase camaraderie and office morale in general.
Friendships form and co-workers begin to really foster the feeling of being a team, or family, and can increase loyalty to the company. Consider such teambuilding exercises in order to boost job satisfaction within your company.
Fitness Opportunities
A free gym membership, organized in-office exercises or an on-site gym allow employees to better balance physical fitness with their full-time employment. An on-site locker room – equipped with a shower – is another great feature as it gives individuals the chance to exercise during lunch or run or bike to work.
Many companies have added to their comprehensive benefits packages, adding sponsored yoga or Pilates classes during work hours – on the company’s dime. Ryan Pirkle of Gravity Payments takes part in an organized weekly running club; employers can leave work for an hour to run around together. ”We find this helps clear people’s minds, provides a mental break, and increases camaraderie among employees,” Pirkle says.
Free Food
This trick has been used to lure people to parties, lectures and otherwise unappealing gatherings for years. As it turns out, using food as bait can actually lead people into your company, too (or at least make them happier once they are there).
According to a survey conducted by WorkSphere, feeding employees or having free edibles in the office made 30% of respondents happier at work. Google, Twitter and Facebook are among the many companies keeping employees happy with free snacks.
Comfortable Work Space
When employees are forced to work in the office, it better be cozy. Everything from the office temperature to the desk layouts can impact job satisfaction. A study from Princeton University Neuroscience Institute found that clutter negatively impacts work flow, and that physical space is important when it comes to productivity. Individuals should have greater control over the work environment because it also boosts job satisfaction.
Another thing for managers and business owners to remember: when it comes to the office setting, the little things matter. Functioning machines, enough light, even good-smelling hand soap in the bathroom – these seemingly tiny factors can make or break an employee’s experience.
You don’t need to be the richest company on the block to attract the best employees; you simply have to understand what people want. Sometimes, the best things in a worker’s life really are free.