Give one employee benefit that does not actually work?
To help you identify employee benefits that don’t work, we asked HR managers and business leaders this question for their best insights. From Employee of the Month Awards to Company-Sponsored Gyms to Employee Discount Programs, there are several employee benefits that are highlighted as not enticing enough to match what employees really want as benefits.
Here are six employee benefits these leaders realize don’t actually work:
- The Employee of the Month Awards Doesn’t Work
- Holiday Gifts Don’t Make Employees Feel Valued
- Free Lunches and Free Coffee or Tea Are Not Considered as Benefits
- Employees Don’t Make Use of Company-Sponsored Gyms
- Ping-Pong Tables and Snack Bars or the Likes Don’t Actually Work
- Employee Discount Programs Are Not Enticing
The Employee of the Month Benefit Doesn’t Work
Employee of the Month doesn’t work. While this may have been effective a decade ago, it’s no longer the case. Team members aren’t striving for this title anymore. They appreciate real benefits, such as a flexible work schedule or extra vacation time as a reward. They need to feel appreciated instead of receiving a handshake and their picture hanging on the wall.
Chris Vaughn, CEO, Emjay
Holiday Gifts Don’t Make Employees Feel Valued
A holiday gift doesn’t really help employees feel valued and appreciated at the company. What will help is a holiday bonus. I’ve seen some leaders give their employees a pen for the holidays, and that doesn’t cut it. It’s important to show appreciation with a monetary value instead of something materialistic. That’s what they want and will be beneficial at the end of the day.
Natália Sadowski, Director of Aesthetics, Nourishing Biologicals
Free Lunches and Free Coffee or Tea Are Not Considered as Benefits
I often see this listed under company benefits and wish companies wouldn’t bother listing this. It’s not a benefit! Of course, it’s nice to go into an office and not have to pay for coffee and tea and have the occasional nice lunch, but it shouldn’t be listed as a benefit and certainly doesn’t make a candidate choose one company over another in my opinion. It also falls into the same bracket as pool tables and play stations!
Louise Ogilvy, Recruitment Director, Propeller-Tech
Employees Don’t Make Use of Company-Sponsored Gyms
One employee benefit that does not actually work is the company-sponsored gym. I think it’s a great idea for companies to offer this kind of benefit, but I’ve seen it fail because people just don’t use it. There are many reasons for this: maybe the gym is too far away from where people work, or maybe it’s not open late enough for some employees’ schedules. Maybe you have to pay a fee to use the gym, and employees don’t want to see their paychecks cut by that amount each month. Or maybe they just don’t feel like going at all!
Whatever the reason, companies need to realize that they can’t just assume their employees will use this benefit. They need to make sure the gym is convenient and affordable—and if they do those things successfully, then I guarantee your employees will go!
Amer Hasovic, Content Writer, Love & Lavender
Ping-Pong Tables and Snack Bars or the Likes Don’t Actually Work
Having a good working environment is essential, especially in making sure your employees are happy. However, do quirky benefits actually help? Ping-pong tables, massage chairs, and snack bars are ultimately superficial, window-dressing items. Realistically your employees want to be paid well, given adequate time off, and trained.
The most important thing to note with employee benefits is it’s best to just ask your employees what they are most interested in. If you spend time finding out what your employee’s needs and wants are, you should be able to find benefits to match. It’s also useful to ask candidates during an interview what’s important to them, just because you don’t offer it right now, doesn’t mean you can’t be open to it. If anything it will show candidates you’re listening to your employees.
Ashlea Harwood, HR & Office Manager, Darwen Electrical Services Ltd
Employee Discount Programs Are Not Enticing
Many companies are offering this type of benefit to employees. You see them in most newsletters and online portals. It ranges from the free spa, health, and wellness package discounts, coupons, and others. It is a well-known fact that they do not work. For some reason, employees are not enticed by these offers. They are not effective because they are not employee centric. These gear towards generating income for the company. It is coming from their partnership with vendors. These offers are not based on what the employee needs and wants. Thus, they are most of the time being set aside. The value is not driven by the target user. If the company aims to get proper engagement, it must first request reviews and do surveys. That way, it can establish its worth for the employees.
Laura Martinez, Consultant, PersonalityMax