Running a business is never easy, but it would be impossible for your company to grow and thrive without the help of your employees. It is through their hard work and loyalty that your business meets its goals and exceeds expectations, and this is why it is essential to make sure that your staff knows how much you appreciate them. While paying them a good salary for their work is key, money is not the only thing that employees look for when they are job-seeking. Nowadays, workers want to see what other benefits employers offer them to create a positive working environment and to reward their employees for their efforts. Below are a few examples of ways you can reward your staff if you’re looking to boost morale and reduce staff turnover.
1. Organize a Staff Day Out to a Theme Park
While some colleagues might get together for after-work drinks on a Friday to blow off steam, those who have other commitments that prevent them from doing this can miss out on opportunities to bond with their other team members. If you want to encourage bonding with your staff and allow them to let their hair down, why not organize a staff day out? They could even bring along their families or a friend, and you could arrange to take them to a theme park. Enjoying these attractions will be fun for both adults and children alike, and as these trips can often be expensive, parents will appreciate the company footing the bill. Many theme parks offer deals for businesses who are bringing large groups, so enquire about discount opportunities or find deals online similar to these Busch Gardens tickets coupons.
2. Treat Them to Breakfast Once a Month
If your budget can’t cover a grand day out for all of your employees, there are more affordable ways to say thank you to your teams instead. Free food is always a welcome treat, and breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day! Once a month, on a Friday or Monday morning, order some delicious breakfast sandwiches, pastries, yogurts, and fruit bowls for your staff to enjoy in the office while they sip on their morning coffees. It will give them something to look forward to each month and give them a positive boost for the day ahead.
3. Flexible Working Hours
While this isn’t necessarily a reward, it is still a good way to show your staff that you care about their well-being and want to make them comfortable while they are working for you. Flexible working hours are becoming more apparent within businesses in the modern era, with a new generation of workers preferring to have a less rigid approach to schedules than the traditional 9-5. While you might still want your employees to be working within certain hours during the day, consider if it is possible to allow them staggered start and finish times. As long as the tasks that need doing are completed by their deadlines, when the work is done shouldn’t matter, provided it is still of high quality.
4. Discounts for Subscription Services
Subscription services have only increased in popularity over the last couple of decades, and there is one for everything, it seems. From food boxes to movies, flowers, and even beauty products, there is at least one subscription service out there that someone will love. Offering your employees discounts for these services, or paying for their first 6 months or year, could be a great way for people to try something new and get a treat each month to enjoy.
5. Offer Paid Self-care/Personal Days
The pandemic has started a more open discussion about burnout from work, but this has been an issue for a long time. With people having limited annual leave to take throughout the year and a reluctance to call in sick when they aren’t physically sick but perhaps need a mental break, it can be easy for people to keep pushing themselves when truly they need a day or two to reset. If you want to show employees that you care about their well-being and want to support them in this, consider offering paid self-care days as part of their employee benefits. Similar to annual leave, adding even 5 days that they can use as self-care days throughout the year without worrying about losing money could be greatly beneficial for them and your company. The more refreshed and happier your staff are, the more likely their performance will improve at work.
6. Pay for Eye Test or Other Medical Expenses that Could be Work-Related
Staring at a screen all day can put a strain on your eyes, and after a while, this could lead to you needing prescription lenses to help you read and stay comfortable throughout the day. Offering to pay in part or foot the entire bill for your employees’ eye tests if they need them would be greatly appreciated and would help with any other expenses such as physical therapy or counseling if they are struggling with their mental health.
7. Host an Annual Staff Awards Ceremony
This can be a great way to show your employees that their efforts don’t go unnoticed and also can help to encourage them to use their initiative. Having an annual staff award ceremony, whether that’s at your office Christmas party or at another time of year, can be a great opportunity for your teams to celebrate the year’s hard work and feel appreciated. Hire a venue and caterers for the event to make it extra special, and perhaps some live music for people to enjoy the festivities even more once the awards have been handed out.
8. Tickets for Sporting Events, Festivals, and the Theatre
Finally, if you want to offer smaller rewards for your staff that they can use individually, getting them tickets to a sporting event, festival, or theatre production could be a lovely way to say thank you for their hard work. All of these will be fun experiences for them to enjoy with a friend over the weekend.
If you want to make sure that you’re employees know how much you appreciate what they do for your company, think about these reward suggestions and see how much of a difference it can make to morale in your offices.
