Small-medium businesses like yours realize that candidates aren’t the only ones competing in the workforce games. In a McKinsey & Company study, we see that about half of those who voluntarily left their jobs had little to no intention of returning to typical work environments. Remote work and hybrid environments are replacing traditional employment.
People looking for work are paying attention to more than just pay. As famously stated in Dude, Where’s My Car? “…and theeennn?” Employers are leaning more heavily on their benefits packages as leverage to convince job seekers to join their teams.
Typical job benefits tend to be:
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans
- Paid vacation and others
But how can your benefits package compete with others to attract the right people? A great place to start is understanding your typical employee profile. From there, brainstorm some predictable desires they have regarding their employment. What you think they want and what they actually want sometimes aren’t in alignment. So, just ask!
Who Are You Hiring?
Wants and needs vary from generation to generation. Consider the age groups that typically apply to work for your company and strategize your benefits by researching what younger generations want from their employers. Balance that with both your current and projected employee makeup without sacrificing the key benefits that are most desirable to older generations.
Obsidian HR did a great job breaking down what each generation tends to look for in their benefits packages.
Advanced Generations
Boomers are generally more concerned with health and retirement, which makes sense given that they’re in an age range where retirement is close if not imminent. Gen X’ers are also seeking retirement options but are also concerned with being able to take more vacation time.
Younger Population
With millennials wrapping up their degrees, it’s not surprising that they find student loan repayment assistance very attractive. The newest generation entering the workforce is Gen Z, many of whom are still in school. Their desires are a little on the political side, including diversity, inclusion, and general equity for the underserved and under-represented population. It seems their focus tends to lean more on workplace culture than employee perks.
The more you look into it, you’ll notice the next generation wants some of the same things as the previous generation, plus something a bit new. Because humans are only getting older, it’s best to prepare for the changes coming in the next five to ten years. As the workforce tides alter, consider some of the following fun and unusual job perks.
Unusual Job Perks
Being remembered after interviewing someone – who’s probably interviewed with 5 other companies that week – can be a challenge. Step way outside of the box with some of these rather unusual yet memorable employee perks.
- Pet insurance isn’t something many folks carry though it seems like every home has at least one pet. This offer probably makes the most sense at companies where veterinary services or products are offered, such as a pet store or maybe an animal hospital. Though, any employer could add pet insurance as a benefit since, as mentioned, practically everyone has a fur baby.
- Nap time is a luxury many of us give up after kindergarten. That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t benefit from taking naps, however. Imagine dedicated quiet time and space at the office where the lights are dim, and pillows are aplenty. Now imagine how productive everyone will be after getting some much needed midday rest.
- Childcare is wildly expensive, not just in money but also in time. Oftentimes, drop off and pick up can add an extra hour or more to one’s overall commute. In-house childcare would minimize the stress of dealing with traffic and help guardians have peace of mind knowing their children are safe and close.
Fun Job Perks
The idea that work should be fun is a relatively new one. People looking to enjoy their jobs might find the following benefit ideas worth joining your team.
- Sponsored entertainment means we can have fun without checking our bank balances. Meeting the team at a comedy club or going to a drive-in are great ways to bond with your coworkers. When we enjoy the people we work with. We enjoy being at work.
- Where’s Waldo is a fun scavenger-hunt book series. Finding some version of Waldo hiding behind the copy paper for a fun prize would break the monotony of the work-lunch-work-home routine. It’s also a very low-effort activity for all involved.
- Self-care stipends allow people to take fun and relaxation into their own hands. This could mean a massage, yoga, or some other form of taking care of one’s body and mind. Giving your team the freedom to decide what works for them shows them you respect their uniqueness and value their well-being.
The idea here is to develop a benefits package that makes sense to the people you want to hire. Cultural changes are redefining what the workplace looks and feels like. Give your benefits a boost by adding some unusual yet fun job perks that’ll not only help you stand out as a stand-up employer but also ensure you’re attracting and retaining the right people for your company.