The landscape of employee benefits is evolving rapidly, presenting HR and people managers with the opportunity to distinguish their workplaces with innovative and unique employee benefits. This article explores cutting-edge perks that not only attract top talent but also foster a motivated and satisfied workforce. By understanding and implementing these benefits, HR professionals can enhance their company's culture, boost employee retention, and stay ahead in a competitive market.
Traditional Benefits vs Non-Traditional Benefits
Just like employee needs change with time (and with the introduction of new generations to the workforce), the types of benefits employers can offer also change.
Traditional benefits like health insurance and retirement plans have long been staples in employee compensation. However, the modern workforce values a more holistic approach to well-being, leading to the rise of non-traditional benefits such as flexible working hours, wellness programs, and unique employee perks.
Traditional benefits have been the backbone of employee compensation packages for decades. They usually include:
- Healthcare Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering medical, dental, and vision care.
- Retirement Plans: Employer-sponsored retirement savings plans like 401(k)s or pensions.
- Paid Time Off: Standard vacation days, sick leave, and holidays.
- Life Insurance: Policies that provide financial support to an employee’s beneficiaries in the event of death.
- Disability Insurance: Coverage that provides income replacement if an employee is unable to work due to illness or injury.
- Employee of the Month Award: Recognize the effort and success of your best employees! Here's an employee of the month criteria template to choose them properly.
Non-traditional benefits are becoming increasingly popular as companies strive to meet the evolving needs of their employees. These benefits include:
- Flexible Working: Remote work options, flexible hours, and hybrid work models.
- Wellness Programs: Mental health support, gym memberships, wellness apps, and stress management resources.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, such as online courses, conferences, and tuition reimbursement.
- Cool Company Perks: Unique perks like pet-friendly offices, on-site massages, and relaxation spaces.
- Creative Benefits for Employees: Unconventional rewards like sabbatical programs, paid volunteer time, and unique holiday schedules.
- Family-Friendly Policies: Parental leave, childcare support, and family health benefits.
Advantages of Offering Innovative Benefits to Employees
Now that you know the difference between innovative and traditional benefits for employees, which one should you choose? From our perspective, a mix of both where you prioritize innovative benefits would be the best choice.
Offering unusual employee benefits such as pet-friendly offices, on-site massages, cheap wellness gifts for employees, or game rooms can set a company apart from its competitors. These unique employee perks help to create a distinctive employer brand, making the company more attractive to potential employees who value a dynamic and supportive work environment.
These are some of the advantages of choosing innovative benefits for your employees:
- Differentiation as an Employer of Choice: These unique employee perks not only enhance the workplace experience but also build a distinctive employer brand. Companies like Google, with its campus-style offices featuring free meals and recreational facilities, exemplify how innovative perks can create an appealing and supportive work environment.
- Attracting Top Talent: To attract high-caliber candidates, companies need to offer extra benefits for employees that go beyond the standard compensation package. This feature is particularly important for younger generations; mostly because they value working in places where they feel comfortable, free, and proud.
- Fostering a Positive Work Culture: Innovative benefits play a crucial role in fostering a positive and inclusive work culture. It’s about making your team feel like their time and efforts matter beyond a paycheck. By creating an environment where employees feel valued and supported, companies can boost morale, increase job satisfaction, and cultivate a positive and productive workplace.
Non-Traditional Benefits to Offer Employees
Exploring various categories of non-traditional benefits can help HR professionals create an engaging and supportive work environment. Here are innovative benefits related to professional development, remote work, mental health, family support, time off, and work-life balance.
Innovative Professional Development Benefits
Professional development benefits focus on the continuous growth and career advancement of employees. These benefits help employees acquire new skills, advance in their careers, and stay motivated.
1. Personalized Learning Plans
Tailored educational programs that align with an individual employee’s career goals and development needs. You should evaluate each department to determine which learning plans fit them the most.
Example: IBM’s YourLearning platform offers personalized learning paths, providing employees with a curated list of courses and resources based on their career aspirations and skill gaps.
2. Mentorship Programs
Pairing employees with experienced mentors who provide guidance, support, and advice for career development. Identify people within your organization with expertise in certain areas, and give them the resources to train others.
Example: General Electric (GE) has a leadership development program where employees are matched with senior leaders for mentorship, fostering personal and professional growth through one-on-one interactions.
3. Continuous Education Stipends
Financial support for employees to pursue additional education, certifications, or professional development courses. You could offer a list of certifications or ask your employees to submit their own interests.
Example: Amazon’s Career Choice program pre-pays 95% of tuition for courses in high-demand fields, helping employees advance their careers both within and outside the company.
4. Hackathon Days
Hackathon Days encourage employees to step away from their usual tasks and work on passion projects, innovative ideas, or solutions outside their daily scope.
Example: Facebook's hackathons have led to the creation of major features like the "Like" button and Timeline." Employees dedicate 24 to 48 hours to brainstorming and building innovative solutions, often leading to features that improve the platform and user experience.
5. Company-Sponsored Passion Projects
Allowing employees to dedicate time and resources to passion projects fosters creativity, innovation, and engagement. Employees feel valued when they can explore personal or social impact projects with the company’s support, leading to higher job satisfaction.
Example: Google’s "20% Time" policy allows employees to dedicate one day a week to projects outside their core responsibilities. This initiative has led to major innovations like Gmail and Google Maps, proving that when employees are given the freedom to create, they can build game-changing products.
Modern Remote Work Benefits
Remote work benefits cater to employees working outside the traditional office environment, providing remote work mental health and flexibility to ensure productivity and work-life balance.
6. Home Office Stipends
Financial assistance to set up a comfortable and productive home office, covering expenses like ergonomic furniture and equipment.
Example: Twitter used to offer a one-time stipend of $1,000 to help employees purchase necessary equipment for their home offices, ensuring a conducive work environment.
7. Remote Work Retreats
These are one of the most popular wellness group activities. Company-sponsored retreats where remote employees gather to collaborate, build relationships, and engage in team-building activities.
Example: Buffer hosts annual company retreats, bringing remote team members together in various locations worldwide to foster a sense of community and collaboration.
8. Flexible Work Hours
Allowing employees to set their own working hours to better fit their personal schedules and peak productivity times. This unique employee benefit also works well with hybrid work models.
Example: Spotify’s Work from Anywhere policy includes flexible work hours, enabling employees to design a schedule that works best for them while maintaining high productivity.
9. Coworking Space Memberships
Coworking Space Memberships are company-sponsored benefits that provide employees with access to shared workspaces outside of the traditional office environment. These memberships offer remote workers a professional setting equipped with essential amenities, fostering productivity and reducing the isolation often associated with working from home.
Example: Remote offers its global workforce a monthly stipend to cover the cost of coworking spaces, enabling employees to choose work environments that best suit their needs.
10. "Work from Anywhere" Weeks
They are designated periods during which employees are permitted to work remotely from any location, whether it's their home, a different city, or even another country. This policy provides employees with the flexibility to travel and work, promoting a healthy work-life balance and potentially enhancing creativity and job satisfaction.
Example: Airbnb has implemented a policy allowing employees to live and work anywhere, including overseas, for up to 90 days per year in each location. This approach offers staff the flexibility to explore different environments while maintaining their professional responsibilities.
11. Job Rotation Programs
A Job Rotation Program allows employees to temporarily switch roles within the company, providing exposure to different functions and departments. This approach fosters cross-functional skills, leadership development, and company-wide collaboration while keeping employees engaged.
Example: At Mastercard, employees participate in the "Grow Your Own Career" program, which allows them to explore different departments for up to a year before choosing a permanent role. This initiative helps employees find the best career fit, increases engagement, and boosts retention rates.
12. Travel Stipends for Personal Growth
Some companies provide travel stipends to encourage employees to explore new cultures, gain inspiration, and disconnect from work. These experiences enhance creativity, personal development, and mental well-being.
Example: You could try offering discounts or paid short-distance travels. Sometimes, when we think about employees traveling and how much it could cost, we think long trips in really fancy places. But this type of benefit could be focused localy, and personalized to locatations near them to avoid financial issues or restrictions.
Creative Mental Health Benefits
Mental health benefits focus on supporting the emotional and psychological well-being of employees, helping them manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
13. On-Demand Therapy Sessions
Providing access to virtual therapy sessions that employees can schedule at their convenience, ensuring timely mental health support.
Example: Meditopia offers on-demand therapy sessions for their clients’ teams and our own staff. With access to licensed therapists for online counseling sessions, we make mental health care easily accessible for everyone.
14. Mindfulness and Meditation Programs
Offering guided mindfulness and meditation sessions to help employees manage stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. In Meditopia’s case, each employee gets a personalized program based on their unique needs.
Example: Logo’s workforce gets access to a tailored mindfulness program for each employee, helping them to increase productivity, employee loyalty, and build healthier sleep habits.
15. Mental Health Days
Designated days off specifically for mental health, allowing employees to take time to rest and recharge without using their standard PTO. These days can also be offered in a small business benefits package.
Example: Dropbox offers mental health days, encouraging employees to take time off when they need to focus on their mental well-being, promoting a healthier work environment.
16. Pet-Friendly Policies
Allowing employees to bring their pets to work or providing pet-related benefits can significantly reduce stress, improve morale, and create a more relaxed office atmosphere. Pet-friendly policies help employees balance their work and personal lives while promoting a more collaborative and friendly environment.
Example: Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle is one of the most pet-friendly workplaces in the world, with over 7,000 registered dogs allowed in their offices.
17. Personalized Workspaces
Employees spend a significant amount of time at their desks, so allowing them to personalize their workspaces can boost comfort, creativity, and productivity. Companies that provide a budget for ergonomic setups, decorations, or special tools show employees that their well-being matters.
Example: A design agency could provide each new hire with a $500 workspace stipend. Employees can buy ergonomic chairs, standing desks, artwork, or even plants to make their workspaces feel more comfortable and inspiring.
Family-Friendly Benefits
Family-friendly benefits support employees with family responsibilities, helping them balance work and family life more effectively.
18. On-Site Childcare
Providing on-site childcare facilities to help working parents manage their childcare needs while remaining close to their children during work hours.
Example: Patagonia offers on-site childcare at their headquarters, allowing parents to have their children nearby, reducing stress and improving work-life balance.
19. Parental Leave Policies
Offering generous parental leave for both mothers and fathers to bond with their new children, beyond the standard legal requirements.
Example: Netflix provides up to a year of paid parental leave, allowing parents to return to work at their own pace and supporting family bonding.
20. Family Health and Wellness Programs
Providing comprehensive health and wellness programs that extend to employees' families, ensuring the well-being of their loved ones.
Example: Meditopia’s mindfulness program also offers accessibility to dependants of our partners employees. Meaning, if a person in your company needs access to our platform, we open a sit for them.
21. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Offering mental health support for children and teens can significantly ease the stress of working parents. It is important to understand that childhood and adolescence are also confusing stages for the parents, and it could elevate their stress and burnout levels. Offering this kind of benefit for work demonstrates that your company cares for their family as a whole.
Example: You could consider offering 1:1 therapy sessions for children and adolescents, resources on childhood anxiety, ADHD, autism, or social development challenges, parent-child therapy options to strengthen family relationships.
22. Mental Health Days That Include Family Time
Encouraging employees to take time off for mental health, including spending quality time with family, supports work-life balance. It's also a nice way to let them enjoy a different day or afternoon with their loved ones and friends from work.
Example: Signal Advisors offers 10 paid health days annually, allowing employees to take time off for their well-being, which they can spend with family.
23. "Bring Your Child to Work" Days
This initiative not only strengthens the bond between employees and their families but also enhances workplace engagement by demonstrating that the company values employees’ personal lives. It helps children understand what their parents do and encourages a family-friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
Example: KLA, a technology company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, hosts an annual "Bring Your Child to Work" day. The initiative is part of KLA's broader commitment to family-friendly policies, which also include flexible work arrangements and comprehensive family care benefits.
Unique Time-Off Benefits
Time-off benefits give employees the flexibility to take time away from work for personal reasons, rest, and rejuvenation, without compromising their monthly payments.
24. Unlimited PTO
Allowing employees to take as much time off as they need, as long as they meet their work commitments and performance goals.
Example: HubSpot offers unlimited vacation, trusting employees to manage their time responsibly while maintaining productivity and meeting deadlines.
25. Short-Term Sabbaticals for Personal Projects
Offering short-term sabbaticals for employees to pursue personal projects, creative endeavors, or learning experiences outside of work responsibilities.
Example: Adobe offers a sabbatical program where employees can take four weeks of paid leave after five years of service. This allows them to engage in personal projects, travel, or volunteer, helping them return to work refreshed and with new perspectives.
26. Birthday Leave
Granting employees an extra paid day off on their birthdays to celebrate and enjoy personal time without the need to use their regular PTO.
Example: Virgin Management offers employees a paid day off on their birthdays, allowing them to celebrate their special day. This benefit is part of their broader commitment to work-life balance and employee satisfaction.
27. Work Anniversary Leave
Work Anniversary Leave is a special paid day off granted to employees to celebrate their tenure at a company. This benefit recognizes employee loyalty and contributions while reinforcing a culture of appreciation and long-term commitment.
Example: There aren't many organizations publicly applying this benefit, but some companies have included avariation in their policies. Pangea Money Transfer, a remittance company, grants full-time employees a two-week paid sabbatical after four years of service; and Close, a customer relationship management platform, Close offers its team members a one-month paid sabbatical every five years. This allows them to recharge and pursue personal interests.
28. Pet Leave ("Pawternity Leave")
Pet Leave, also known as Pawternity Leave, provides employees with time off to care for a new pet, attend veterinary appointments, or grieve the loss of a beloved companion. Companies that offer this benefit recognize the deep emotional bond between employees and their pets and the need for flexibility during major pet-related life events.
Example: Mars Petcare, a company specializing in pet products, offers 10 hours of paid leave for employees to settle in a new pet and flexible work arrangements for pet care.
29. Climate Impact Benefits
Companies committed to sustainability can offer climate-focused benefits, such as carbon offset programs, subsidized public transportation, or donations to environmental causes. This aligns with the values of environmentally conscious employees and demonstrates corporate social responsibility.
Example: You could try surveying your team's views regarding climate change and ask which initiatives interest them the most. It is important to consider their opinions, and if possible, vote for the climate-focused benefit they care the most each month.
Cool Work-Life Balance Benefits
Work-life balance benefits help employees maintain a healthy balance between their professional responsibilities and personal lives, promoting overall well-being and job satisfaction.
30. Fitness Subsidies
Offering subsidies or reimbursements for gym memberships, fitness classes, or sports activities to encourage physical health.
Example: Google provides on-site fitness centers and classes, as well as reimbursements for off-site fitness activities, supporting employees' physical wellness.
31. Concierge Services
Providing personal concierge services to help employees manage everyday tasks like dry cleaning, grocery shopping, and booking travel, freeing up their time for more important activities.
Example: Accenture offers concierge services to assist employees with personal errands, enhancing work-life balance by reducing time spent on routine tasks.
32. Summer Fridays
Allowing employees to leave early on Fridays during the summer months, providing them with additional personal time to enjoy the warm weather and recharge for the week ahead.
Example: Grant Thornton offers Summer Fridays, where employees can finish work early on Fridays during the summer months. This benefit helps employees maintain a better work-life balance, offering them more time for personal activities and relaxation.
33. Free Subscription Services
These are company-sponsored access to various digital platforms, such as mindfulness apps, online learning courses, or entertainment streaming services. These benefits aim to enhance employees' personal development, well-being, and work-life balance by providing them with valuable resources at no personal cost.
Example: 100+ companies offer free subscriptions to Meditopia, helping employees incorporate wellness practices into their daily routines and alleviating the emotional burden of stress.
34. Quarterly Team Retreats
Quarterly Team Retreats are off-site gatherings held every three months, designed to foster team cohesion, strategic planning, and employee engagement. These retreats provide an opportunity for team members to step away from their usual work environment, collaborate on long-term goals, and build stronger interpersonal relationships through various activities and workshops.
Example: Swift Kick conducts quarterly strategy retreats to align their team on goals and projects. These retreats combine strategic planning sessions with engaging activities, such as attending Broadway shows or visiting unique local attractions, fostering both productivity and team bonding.
35. Sleep Pods or Nap Rooms
Companies that value employee mental and physical well-being are increasingly introducing nap rooms or sleep pods to help employees recharge during the day. Research shows that a 20-minute nap can significantly boost productivity, memory, and focus.
Example: At Google, employees have access to nap pods, which allow them to take quick, restorative naps during the day.
36. No-Meeting Days
Excessive meetings can lead to burnout, reduced productivity, and mental fatigue. Some companies implement "No-Meeting Days", giving employees uninterrupted time to focus on deep work.
Example: At Meditopia, we schedule no-meetings days and no-notifications hours to avoid mental fatigue. The idea is to add these days to your AFK calendar, so everyone is always informed.
