Not all employee perks are created equal.
Some policies get attention. Others drive employee performance and engagement. If you want employees who will go the extra mile for your organization, read on about remote work perks that actually matter.
Here's the thing:
Ping pong tables and free snacks are so 2018. These days employees crave benefits that improve their daily lives by saving them time and money.
Here's what actually works…
Here's the breakdown:
- Why Employee Perks Matter More Than Ever
- The Perks That Actually Move The Needle
- Remote Work Benefits That Boost Productivity
- Building A Perks Package That Works
Why Employee Perks Matter More Than Ever
Work perks were once a nice bonus. Today they're a necessity for operating a successful business.
Why? Because engagement drives everything.
Gallup found that highly engaged teams see 14% higher productivity and have 78% less absenteeism. That's a massive difference between companies that invest in their employees and those that don't.
But here's where it gets interesting:
Obsolete benefits are being phased out and more intelligent and pragmatic benefits are taking their place. Employees want more than just "tokenism", they want perks that have actual substance. Benefits such as flexible working hours, mental health days and contemporary remote working benefits are skyrocketing on employees' lists. Businesses such as Electric Car Scheme are offering employers perks that can save their employees thousands of pounds a year on commuting costs and are also eco-friendly.
It's a win for everyone involved.
Employees take home more of their earnings. Employers have access to a wider talent pool. And companies wind up with engaged, productive employees.
The Perks That Actually Move The Needle
Alright, here come the benefits. These are perks that research has shown improve productivity. Bonus morale helps too, of course.
Flexible Working Hours
Flexibility is the number one perk employees ask for right now.
And it's easy to see why:
Having control of your schedule means you work when life allows instead of life working around your schedule. Less stress equals fewer sick days and more productivity. Studies have found that 60% prefer benefits over pay, with work-life balance at number one.
Give people control over their day and they will reward you with better work.
Learning & Development Budgets
Want to keep top talent from jumping ship? Invest in their growth.
LinkedIn's Workplace Learning Report reported that 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their careers. Yep, 94%. No wonder.
People want to feel like they're going somewhere.
Learning budgets can be simple:
- Course reimbursements
- Conference tickets
- Mentorship programs
- Book allowances
You don't need to spend millions to do this. Spending $500-$1,000 per employee per year will demonstrate that you care about their future.
Wellness Programs
Wellness perks used to mean a discounted gym membership. Not anymore.
Modern wellness programs are far more focused on the things that actually affect performance:
- Mental health counselling
- Meditation and mindfulness apps
- Ergonomic home office stipends
- Preventative healthcare check-ups
Here's why this matters:
Employee burnout is a huge destroyer of productivity. When people feel supported, they burn out less often, take less sick days and stay engaged longer. That translates to big savings for businesses.
Green Commuting & EV Perks
This is one of the smartest new perks on the block.
Electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes are rocketing in the UK and worldwide. Enjoy your new EV for pennies on the pound of retail price. Your business provides your employees with a benefit that saves them money every month.
It works like this:
The employee buys the car out of their gross paycheque. This lowers their income tax and National Insurance liability. Plus they benefit from the lower company car tax rate for electric vehicles.
Everyone wins… and the environment gets a boost too.
Remote Work Benefits That Boost Productivity
Flexible working from home is now the most desired benefit employees are asking for. Productivity stats agree.
Research indicates remote employees are between 35% and 40% more productive than people working in an office. Additionally, 62% of people working remotely also report feeling more productive when working from home than they do in an office.
So what remote work benefits should be on the table?
Here are the ones that actually make a difference:
Home Office Stipends
One-off payment (or monthly stipend) is provided to employees to furnish an ergonomic workplace. Better desk. Better chair. Better monitor. Better work. Period.
Co-Working Memberships
Some people don't want to work at their kitchen table every day. Renting a co-working membership allows remote employees the option to work out of a professional space when desired.
Async-First Policies
Remote work actually becomes massively productive when you remove the mandate that everyone must be on video calls all day. Async communication allows for uninterrupted deep work by employees. That's when you start to see the benefits of remote work shine.
Wellness Days
Telecommuting employees work in an environment where work and life intertwine. Additional wellness days allow them to mentally recharge — and prevent burnout.
Building A Perks Package That Works
You don't have to provide every benefit listed here. Please don't go overboard.
Start by asking employees what they actually want. The answers might be surprising.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Focus on perks with a measurable impact on productivity
- Prioritise perks that save employees time or money
- Don't ignore remote work benefits — they're now table stakes
- Keep an eye on emerging perks like EV schemes and wellness stipends
The ideal benefits package is the one tailored to your employees' actual needs. Not the one that sounds good on a job listing.
Another important tip?
Sell it to them. Many companies have fantastic benefits but their employees don't realize it. Ensure that benefits are accessible, promoted, and included in day one onboarding.
The Bottom Line
Employee benefits are here to stay. In fact, they are increasing in value as employees compare their options.
Benefits that improve productivity are benefits that offer convenience for your employees:
- Flexible hours
- Remote work benefits
- Learning budgets
- Wellness support
- Practical schemes like EV salary sacrifice
If you get these right, productivity will solve itself. Get them wrong… you'll be pouring dollars into finding replacements for your departing employees.
Yesterday is the day to have started improving your perks package. Today is the second best day to start.