You’ve invested a lot of time and money into growing your small business and it’s starting to pay off. If you have a successful small business and you want to attract and keep valuable employees there are several perks you could offer.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is at the top of the list of must-have items for most qualified candidates. Going to a doctor for even a minor issue like a sore throat, and buying any antibiotics the doctor prescribes, can be almost cost prohibitive without it. If you have a larger staff, offering health insurance to your employees lets you attract and keep hard-working, dedicated people. Even with the exchanges and subsidies enacted in the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a Obamacare), health insurance is not exactly cheap and offering employer-paid coverage might just mean getting that A+ candidate rather than a competitor.
Snacks and Beverages
You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company to keep your staff happy. Giving your employees access to an office water cooler, coffee, tea and snacks makes the environment friendlier. It also allows your employees to bypass the coffee shops on the way to work and the convenience stores during their breaks and lunchtime. This can save them five dollars or more in a single day and, truth be told, even a well-compensated employee appreciates saving a few bucks.
Flexible hours
Many small business owners benefit from having a relaxed work environment. This can include things like a flexible work schedule with several different shifts available, a dress code that doesn’t require a suit and a tie and comfortable furnishings such as a couch in the lounge and updated workspaces.
Training/ Opportunity for Advancement
As a small business owner that’s approaching the next level of success, you know all too well how hard it is to fill every position, especially ones that are unique to your business. Hiring from within is a step in the right direction. It gives current employees with other abilities a way to advance through the company and earn more. For the business owner, it lets you train employees and mold them into the next position, making the transition easy for both.
Bonus incentives
A small business owner may not have tens of thousands of dollars to reward good employees for goals they reach, but they can offer bonuses at a scale that fits their budget. Small monetary incentives and even contests can inspire a staff to go the extra mile. This keeps good employees loyal to you and happy.
Exercise rooms/gym memberships
Exercise can have several benefits for employees. It helps them stay more fit and healthy and it can help clear the mind and relieve stress. If possible, dedicating a room in your office suite with some ellipticals or treadmills can be a way to allow your people to rejuvenate during their lunch hour. If it’s not feasible, offering gym memberships, or partial payment of their own dues, can still be a boon for the both of you. If you’re in an urban area or a suburban office-park see if there is a small gym tucked away nearby for use during breaks or just prior to or just after office hours.
Running a successful small business is a dream realized for many owners. It’s important that you don’t lose sight of the vital role your staff plays in your continued success. If you want to attract and keep excellent employees you need to offer things they would expect like health care and things they appreciate such as access to in-house coffee, tea and water, snacks, advancement opportunities, bonuses and a flexible schedule. By implementing all or even some of these you’ll have less of a turnover and higher profits created by having happy employees.
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