Hybrid and remote work models have become the new normal for many companies. While working remotely offers many benefits to employees, many of the perks that used to keep staff productive and happy in an office setting are no longer relevant when employees are working from home.
To learn about creative perks to offer your remote employees, members of Young Entrepreneur Council recommend the following 11 ideas.
With many companies opting for hybrid or fully remote environments, what's one way they can change up their traditional "work perk" offerings to align with this new way of working?
1. Mental health days
Nothing beats the power of rest. Give extra leave as a reward (which can be convertible to cash). Whether you're at work or at home, a hardworking, fully present, and consistent worker should have extra leave for them to take a rest and ensure their mental health is their number one priority! —Daisy Jing, Banish
2. Workspace accessories
You should consider allowing them to bring things they need from the workplace to their home office. Or, if they already have their own setup at home, see how you can help them improve it by offering additional workspace accessories like balance boards, standing mats, an adjustable desk, a chair with lumbar support, a power hub, or something else to make their home office more comfortable. —John Hall, Calendar
3. Fun events throughout the year
We've been 100% virtual since 2004 and offer plenty of "work perks"—summer fitness challenges (with swag!), fantasy sports leagues, book clubs, company gear, flexible work days, summer Fridays, and more. There is a virtual version for everything, and often it’s better than the office version. We even have a company-wide pizza party every February where we send pizzas to each employee's home. —Bill Gerber, AccountingDepartment.com
4. Flexible work hours
One perk that all organizations should offer is flexibility for asynchronous work hours. Remote work can pose challenges that might make it difficult for employees to work at certain hours of the day or make it difficult for them to be in constant meetings. Also, allot some funds for home office infrastructure and allow your employees to meet deadlines at their own pace. —Candice Georgiadis, Digital Day
5. Unlimited vacations
Adopting an unlimited vacation benefit is actually easier in a fully remote or hybrid work environment because of the nature of either of the two. Just make sure you institute controls and protocols so the perk isn’t abused. —Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance
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6. Competitive activities
We have been a fully remote company since before the pandemic and initially struggled to cultivate company culture. In the fall of 2020, we started offering regular competitive activities—fantasy sports, March Madness, and a Bach Bracket. This has strengthened bonds between our teams and gives us ways to connect beyond the stress of everyday business. The best part is it's one of the easiest perks to implement! —Nic Weinfeld, Five to Sixty
7. In-person retreats
We noticed that our yearly in-person retreat is a huge morale booster. We organize a company-wide retreat partnering with a resort chain where our employees can bring their families and kids (with child care on-site). This allows them to have face time and brainstorms during the day, and family time and fun activities after. —Daria Gonzalez, Wunderdogs
8. Training and educational resources
Training and educational resources are always good. These can go beyond training someone for a specific job and may be certification courses that have long-term benefits to someone's career. There are so many online educational opportunities now that can be accessed globally, making this an ideal perk for remote employees. —Kalin Kassabov, ProTexting
9. Childcare assistance
One work perk you can offer to remote and hybrid employees is childcare benefits. This could be on-site childcare, tutoring, one-on-one counseling, new parent support, and more. Parents need support, and companies can provide it with these benefits. —Jared Atchison, WPForms
10. An employee referral program
Adding an employee referral program can completely change your remote work environment. The internet has brought us all closer together. There's an excellent chance your existing employees know people who would do well in your open spots. A robust referral program will encourage existing hires to get involved, which leads to a happier, more engaged workforce. —John Brackett, Smash Balloon LLC
11. Gift cards for food delivery
We always had catered lunches for our teams, and we continue to do that now. Instead of having food brought into the office, we give each team member a gift card to a local restaurant or delivery service. This works out great, and we can still meet up on Zoom and chat during lunch. —Peter Boyd, PaperStreet Web Design
