As a manager, you’re always looking for the perfect mix of policies, incentives, and benefits to improve productivity from your team. But when it comes to benefits, in particular, it can be hard to know which ones are truly helpful.
It’s important to get a handle on this, as companies have limited time and money to allocate to benefits packages, and you want to focus on the items that will really move the needle when it comes to productivity.
“According to the Better Benefits Survey from Care.com, 62 percent of employees would leave their current job for one with better benefits,” notes an article from Recruiter.com. “If you’re not offering great benefits to your employees, then chances are your team members aren’t working to their full capacity.”
To keep those star employees working and improve productivity, here are seven benefits your company should offer:
1. Flexible Hours
Everyone’s body clock is a bit different. Some people are most efficient at night. Others work effectively early in the morning. If you want to enhance productivity, why not play to these different strengths?
By allowing people to shift their hours earlier or later, you can give them the opportunity to work when they’ll be most productive. At the same time, you may allow them to avoid a nasty commute or attend family activities. The result is a happier employee who has more control over her schedule and does her best work at her optimal working time.
Discover a better way to recruit remote talent
Founded in 2007, FlexJobs is the most experienced remote & hybrid hiring platform.
- Unlimited job posts
- Low, flat membership fee
- Access top-level remote advice
- Unlimited resume searches
- Reach the right candidates
- And so much more!
2. Remote Work
Just like flexibility in working hours, the opportunity to work from home, a coffee shop, a library, or wherever can give a worker a greater sense of control of her schedule and let her find the spot from which she can be most effective and productive.
This doesn’t mean you need to let every employee work from home every day, although that might be the right way to go for some people. But consider allowing at least occasional telecommuting as a work benefit. Again, this kind of flexibility tends to make people happier and more loyal. Anecdotal and scientific evidence also suggests that many people are more productive at home than they are when working in an office, so this could have a positive impact on your bottom line.
3. Assistance with Family Care
An article from Business News Daily says that helping employees manage their personal and professional lives can bring big benefits to your company through improved morale and productivity. By reducing the stress they feel outside of work, you’re helping them focus more while they’re on the job.
“And it’s not just about child care, either,” the article says. “Think about how you can help them take care of their aging parents, their pets, and their households, too.”
4. Fun, Team-Building Activities
It may seem odd to suggest that activities that pull people away from their tasks can help productivity. However, workers need to take a step back from the daily grind now and then and connect with their colleagues on a more personal level. Those bonds help them better understand each other when they’re tackling a project together, which should improve efficiency and productivity.
These activities don’t have to be too expensive or time-consuming. Try a team lunch away from the office, a daily walk around the block with the boss, a holiday-themed party, or cake in the breakroom once a month to celebrate employees’ birthdays. Be creative, have fun, and bring people together.
5. Regular Breaks
Beyond formal team-building activities, it’s also a good idea to make sure workers are taking short breaks during the day. As a manager, you should demonstrate that this is expected by setting an example.
“Many workplaces have adopted a culture that frowns on breaks throughout the day,” says an article from AllBusiness. “Workers who remain at their desks for long periods of time and work through lunch are seen as ‘go-getters’ who are working harder than the others. Unfortunately, this mentality is flawed; working yourself into the ground can actually lead you to burnout rather than getting more work done. Instead, encouraging short breaks throughout the day can—and will—lead to overall more productive and motivated workers.”
6. Educational Opportunities
The AllBusiness article notes that this can boost productivity by showing your employees you care about their development, which will boost their morale. It will also give them a break from regular daily tasks and help them develop new skills that will make them more productive in the future.
“Of course, the type of learning opportunities you choose is up to you—bigger companies may be able to afford to sponsor workers to pursue new advanced degrees, while smaller companies may only be able to afford occasional networking outings,” the article says. “As long as you’re offering something, your workers will appreciate it.”
7. Real-Time Recognition
It’s important to let people know you’ve noticed when they successfully complete a project, help a colleague, or go out of their way to do the right thing. Make sure your company offers this kind of recognition immediately after the positive action in order to reinforce the good behavior. This will not only improve that worker’s motivation and productivity, but will also serve as a good example to others, encouraging them to do the same.
These kinds of rewards do not have to be expensive. Frankly, public acknowledgement in a team meeting is often enough. But adding a gift card or other inexpensive item can make the gesture even more meaningful.
By offering these seven benefits, your company should be able to keep its workers happy, loyal, motivated, and productive. They need not cost much, but they can have a positive impact on your corporate culture and on your ability to effectively and efficiently complete projects. And that’s a victory for everyone involved.
Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com
Don't forget to share this article with colleagues!
