Employee benefits they can’t resist

Employee benefits can be a thorny issue. And working in an HR department can be fascinating. On one hand, you get a front-row seat to the revolutionary ideas that make working life better.

On the other hand, you can find yourself fighting tooth and nail to convince people that workplace benefits—and employee wellbeing—should be your top priority. And it can be frustrating.

Where once it was enough to offer job security and the odd bottle of wine at Christmas, things have changed. Now, if you’re looking to attract committed candidates, happiness is everything. And that’s not something your organisation can afford to ignore.

Obviously, a good salary, generous holiday and pension schemes will always be a big deal, but they’re also expected. Now it’s all about employee benefits. Let’s take a look at the things that might spark a little delight in those sought-after people.

What’s more important than wellbeing?

Some of the most highly-rated workplaces in the world, like Google and Intel, offer staff dining rooms catered with healthy, delicious meals. But if private chefs are a little out of your budget, there are plenty of other workplace benefits that put employee health first.

Mental health days off for the more challenging moments can help employees stay focused when they’re at work. And monthly in-office massages are shown to decrease stress and anxiety – as well as being a treat to look forward to.

Taking care of the body as well as the mind is important too! Providing healthy snacks can prevent those mid-afternoon sugar crashes. And subsidised gym memberships are the perfect way to harness all that ambitious energy!

One of our personal favourite employee benefits that makes us feel great? A different staff member gets to bring their dog in every day. Especially good when it’s Mabel, the miniature dachshund.

Socially conscious. And consciously social.

A lot of your target candidates will be Gen Z – also known as Generation C due to their focus on connection, community and charity. Help your co-workers take care of the world around them by offering sponsored volunteering, where they can take a set number of work hours a month to dedicate to a good cause. You can also contribute directly by giving each employee an annual stipend to donate to charity.

And to take care of the society inside your organisation, regular social occasions like company weekends and seasonal parties are a great idea. Just remember to make them voluntary, low-pressure occasions – you want people to attend because they’re fun, not because they have to!

And it doesn’t just have to be parties: it could be climbing, cooking classes, film club… if you’re not sure what the best employee benefits ideas are – ask the audience! It can be hard to please everyone at once, but a series of small events that people want are better for morale than a big one that nobody wants.

Discounts and gift cards

As much as everyone would love to be able to increase wages, it’s not always possible. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t make it easier for everyone to enjoy a well-earned treat.

There are a number of national discount schemes available that will offer reduced prices on meals and theatre trips. If you’re keen on giving staff the chance to choose their own rewards, gift cards can be the kind of sweetener that pushes your Glassdoor reviews from 4 to 5 stars.

At any value from £1 to £1000, Asda for Business gift cards can be a lot more than a sweetener, too.

Usable at our network of over 600 stores, including Asda Living and online at George.com, your new employees would have the choice of thousands of quality products. Not to mention up to 4% discount for your business.

If you’re looking to build the ultimate employee benefits package, make sure you leave some room for an Asda for Business gift card.