By Kim Thomas
If you’re an employer looking to attract the best talent, you have to offer a compensation package that’s better than the competition. But, this doesn’t always mean a higher salary. Sometimes, employees want more than just a paycheck. Real Vegas Magazine invites you to take a look at a few traditional and innovative perks that will help you land and retain the best candidates.
Direct Deposit
Obviously, you have to pay your employees. But if you’re still writing paper checks each Friday, you are doing yourself and your employees a disservice. Instead, plan for paycheck direct deposit. Forget the pen — all you have to do is enter hours and schedule what day everyone gets paid. Their bank accounts see a deposit on that day, and you won’t have to worry about making last-minute adjustments or rewriting checks that got washed in the laundry. As an added benefit to you, you are fully in control of when everyone gets paid, which is great for workers who are paid on commission per sale.
Education
Encourage your employees to go back to school by offering to reimburse their tuition fees. Not only will this help your employees improve their skills, but it will also show that you are invested in their success. There are many affordable online universities that offer courses and programs on a wide variety of subjects. Who knows? Your employee’s master’s degree could help your business in ways you never thought possible.
Career Coaching
Individuals can always seek career support on their own. However, you will show your employees how much you care by helping them discover their greatest talents and desires. Career coaching will help them understand what they’re best at and how they can use skills to benefit themselves and, hopefully, your company.
Health and Nutrition
Health and nutrition are big business, and helping your employees stay healthy is good for your business. Give your employees benefits, such as free gym memberships and online nutrition counseling, so that they can learn how to make better decisions for their health.
Game Tickets
Chances are, many of your employees are workaholics like yourself. Give them the push they need to get out, let loose, and relax with their families by offering free tickets to local sports games, art exhibits, or concerts. You could pick them up tickets for a Raiders or Golden Knights game, or you could send them on weekend getaway to Los Angeles to take in a Dodgers game. Look for online sellers who offer discounted tickets for the LA Dodgers. Some sites will even feature virtual seating charts so you can preview the seats before buying.
Catered Lunches
Everybody loves a free lunch, and your employees are no exception. Whether you bring in a food truck each Friday or cater a black-tie-worthy lunch once a month, feeding people is one way to show that you care. Keep in mind that no two caterers are alike and you want to put some thoughts to the hiring process. Social Tables suggests asking about food preparation methods and confirming how many staff they will have on-site, no matter what style of dining option (buffet, sit down, etc.) you choose.
Mental Health Services
Mental health services are a great option for employees in high-stress careers, which can be anything from food prep to the C-suite. Let your employees know you care about their emotional and mental well-being by offering time off for counseling appointments or prepaid online therapy services.
Schedule Flexibility
Offering a flexible schedule gives your employees more opportunities to balance their personal and professional lives. HR solutions company Insperity asserts that having a flexible schedule may even reduce employee turnover. If possible, you can also offer your employees the opportunity to work from home when they need to to handle issues, such as sick children or unexpected travel.
Pet Health Insurance
If you’re looking for one of the top five unconventional job benefits that help you keep the best workers, pet insurance makes the list. It’s no wonder that one-third of all Fortune 500 companies offer pet insurance as a benefit for their employees.
In today’s competitive job market, talent is hard to find and harder to keep. And because you can’t always afford a premium salary, you may have to find other ways to keep your staff happy. Flexible schedules, quick payments, and free meals are just a few ideas to help you retain the employees that your competition is trying to steal. Plus, happy employees are better for business. It’s a win/win for everyone.
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