Your Business March 2020 - 217

Employee benefits

F

inding the right employees for your
business is not an easy task - as well as
having the skills and talent you need,
they've also got to be a good fit with the
rest of the workforce. So once you've got
your dream team, it's important to retain
it - and for that you need to make your workplace
an environment that people like being part of.
Attracting the best talent means creating a space
that's enjoyable to be in. Aside from a decent salary,
giving your staff perks is something that can make
them feel valued, keep them motivated and increase
productivity - and it doesn't have to cost the earth.
Lizzie Benton, culture consultant and founder
of Liberty Mind, believes that relevant and valued
employee benefits helps set a business apart from
competitors. "When benefits are strong and relevant
to individuals, it supports them in their work and
life, and can keep them loyal to the organisation,"
she explains. "It has been proven time and time
again that valued benefits increase engagement
in teams and support employee wellbeing."

WORDS TRACEY LATTIMORE

Feel the benefits

There are plenty of things you can do to keep your
employees contented, satisfied and productive (see
box, right). It can be as simple as a recreation area in
the office or a regular delivery of healthy snacks that
everyone can eat. Encourage them to get involved in
charity or local community events, so they feel like
they're giving back and making a difference, or provide
training so they feel they're progressing in their career.
Looking after people's wellbeing is also helpful.
Establish a partnership with a local gym to help
your employees get exercise without paying over
the odds. Mental health is key too: Tabono is a
company that provides business support, which
includes showing people how to prioritise their
mental wellbeing. "It's so common to see people
ignoring that side of things," says co-owner Chloe
Leibowitz. "It comes at the bottom of the pile and
keeps getting left, and that can be detrimental."
Let people know that it's OK to take time to
recharge. "Taking time out boosts your ability
to focus and do what you need to do," says
Leibowitz. Make sure you talk openly to your
employees about mental health. Enable regular
one-to-ones with line managers, and offer
support such as helping staff prioritise their
workloads, encouraging regular rest breaks
and making people feel appreciated.
And while doing all this, it's vital to
remember not to neglect your own mental
health. Make use of some of those perks
you've put in place for your employees,
and create a happy workplace all round.

Perks of the job
There are many small benefits that you
can easily offer to your staff
1 Flexible working
Many companies offer flexible working,
as employers are seeing the benefits of
flexi-time or working at home. It's especially
useful for attracting and retaining those with
young children. Plus, some people naturally
work better at the start of the day, while
others prefer to start late and finish late.
2 Games room
For small businesses, creating a games room
or chill-out area is an easy way to make staff
feel at home, while playing games together
helps employees bond. A table football
game, Xbox or some simple board or card
games around a coffee table and a couple
of sofas can create the right environment.
3 Fresh fruit
A twice-weekly delivery of fresh fruit
from a local company not only staves
off hunger during the day and helps
employees concentrate, but it also
encourages healthy eating, potentially
reducing days missed through illness.
4 Community service
Giving back to the local community is
more than just good PR, according
to Luke Bullen, UK and Ireland head
of corporate wellness at Gympass.
"It gets employees out of the office,
working together in a completely
different way, and gives another
element of purpose to their job," he
says. You could allow staff one paid
day off to help a cause of their choice,
or organise a company-wide day of giving.
5 Local discounts
Arranging small discounts at local shops
or restaurants is a simple way to give
something back to your employees
at no or little cost, while encouraging
them to shop local at the same time.

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Your Business March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Your Business March 2020
