Employee benefits can be costly for the employer, but they make the employee value the workplace more and provide incentives. Without breaking the bank, there are a few things your company can do to demonstrate your employee appreciation without hurting your bottom line.
- Summer Fridays: In the summer, productivity on Friday afternoons is probably at an all time low with all the activities, vacations, and opportunities to be outside. One way to combat low productivity and win major points with your employees is to offer Summer Fridays. This could be done by giving 1/2 or 1/4 of a department off every other Friday or once a month in the summer, just make sure essential personnel are not in the same group!
- Social Holidays: There are no shortage of social holidays now- everything from National Ice-cream Day to National Fry-Day has a day. Why not take advantage of these holidays and celebrate together. Plus, they boost moral, look great for your company’s social media presence, and are generally inexpensive.
- Pot-luck Lunches: If money is tight at your company, you could encourage a pot-luck lunch. There could be a theme, like Italian food, fall flavors, etc, and the company could provide the main entree and the employees provide drinks, sides, desserts, and paper-ware.
- Ask Your Employees: Do a traditional employee satisfaction survey to see where you’re lacking, but also ask for fun ideas to incorporate into the work environment. They could have simple ideas, and regardless it provides insight into what makes your employees happy.
- Dress Down Days: If you are in a formal space, do a jean Friday. Just make sure you haven’t scheduled any important meetings for this day!!