Having a motivated staff is crucial to the success of any small business. Finding unique ideas to improve employee morale can be difficult but the benefits can provide a serious return on investment. Employees that feel appreciated and that they are working for a company that cares tend to be happier and more productive. Traditional benefits have come to be expected by most workers so finding something original that gives a boost to your hard working staff is of the utmost importance. Here we’ve compiled 10 unique incentives to offer at your small business.
1. Airline Miles
Developing a program that rewards employees with airline miles can be a great motivator. Plane tickets can be pricey and many people can’t afford to visit family or attend major events that happen out of state. Set specific standards for your employees to reach with a set amount of airline miles associated with it. Allow them to cash these in at anytime for a ticket of their choice.
2. Vacation Budget
Many employees may be on tight budgets and unable to afford a true vacation. Allotting a vacation budget for each employee will benefit your company two-fold. First, your employees will be thankful for the extra cash to take their family on vacation. Second, your workers will have a chance to unplug and will come back to work with renewed vigor.
3. Free Health Insurance
While most companies do offer to pay for a portion of employee’s health benefits they are still sometimes unattainable for workers who are living week to week. Offering to pay the entirety of their health insurance costs is a major incentive and can help you attract quality employees. It also can help to maintain their health and cut down on sick days.
4. Coffee Allowance
People love coffee and it’s not as unhealthy as some may assume. Giving your employees a monthly coffee allowance will energize your staff and make for a more productive team.
5. Wedding Leave
Getting married is in some cases a once in a lifetime event and it should be treated as such. Allowing your employees the time off to enjoy their wedding and honeymoon will make for a happy work relationship.
6. Outdoor Days
Sometimes workers need a break from the office or storefront and need a chance to get outside and enjoy nature. Consider allotting a few paid days each year for employees to get outside and enjoy themselves.
7. Remote Employees
Many people work from home these days and often times they are forgotten when it comes to employee incentives. Those within your establishment may enjoy the camaraderie of company events while those at home continue to work. Create events aimed specifically at getting your remote employees together for a little fun once in a while.
8. Employee Gift Fund
This is a fund that is established with the premise of employees purchasing something for a colleague. Consider providing a few dollars each month to allow employees to do something nice for one another.
9. Child Care
Having a child care facility within your establishment or offering to fund a portion of your workers child care costs can take a significant weight off of their shoulders. Removing that little bit of stress can do wonders for employee morale.
10. Continued Education
Smart business owners want employees who are motivated to improve themselves. In many cases the cost for continuing education is simply too high for your average employee. Setting up scholarship programs to pay for schooling and certification programs will help your employees continue to grow and spark innovation.
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