Editor’s Note: Here at Dispatches, we are always looking for ways to help our readers do things. For some of our readers, that means helping navigate the working world, for others, it means assisting in the ever challenging question,“what’s for dinner?” For still others, it means figuring out how to balance family life with everything else. In an effort to aid in all of these endeavors, we have collaborated on this article written specifically for our readers.
Are you completely sure your staff is happy? Even though they get on with their work without much fuss doesn’t necessarily mean that they are content. If you don’t think morale levels in your office are that great, try complimenting your employees and recognizing them for their efforts. You can also consider offering a perk, a something extra above and beyond a paycheck and benefits. While many of these tips are for businesses with more than one employee, make sure even if you’re a solopreneur that you are rewarding your hard work. Plus, consider this list future goals for when your business exceed the home office.
Free Drinks And Snacks
This point may be quite obvious, but there are still so many companies out there who still don’t offer free drinks and snacks. If you have an office kitchen, place a fruit bowl full of fresh fruit. Make sure the fridge is full of bottled water, juices, and soft drinks. Your employees will probably appreciate an above average coffee machine like those from Honest Coffees over the traditional drip office coffee makers.
Health Insurance
While you may be legally required to provide an employee health insurance, consider paying more for the plan or offering ways to offset the cost to the employee. While free things are nice, American employees regularly rank health insurance as one of the top benefits an employer can offer.
Sick Days And Maternity Leave
There are other practical benefits that all employees find extremely attractive. Mainly extra paid sick days and maternity leave. When people are job hunting, they will look for perks such as these to help them decide which positions to apply for and may even take a lower paying job if the sick, maternity and vacation policies are better. If as an employer you can offer more than the average sick days and maternity leave, you may find yourself competing for better talent at a lower wage cost.
After Work Drinks
Consider hosting a happy hour in the office after work on a Friday. Or take a field trip and pay for appetizers at a local restaurant and have employees purchase their own drinks. Make these events optional, but encouraged. With enough advanced notice, you may see more people in attendance than you thought.
Breakout Room
Hootsuite’s Vancouver office has a nap room for its employees! You might not want to go to that extreme, but you should consider creating a breakout room, which is slightly more than a simple break room with a drip coffee maker, a few chairs and a refrigerator. If you have the room, consider a ping-pong table or a foosball table. You might add a sofa or a few comfortable chairs. Breakout rooms are wonderful for brainstorming and impromptu colleague meetings.
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