6 Employee Perks That Attract Top Talent

Hiring exceptionally talented individuals and motivating them to perform at their highest levels is critical to the success of any business – but this critical activity is also intensely difficult to do.

Because the best talent is constantly in demand, some companies have begun to offer more than generous pay and benifits packages to attract and retain top employees. But here’s the thing: People spend the majority of their waking hours at work, and they want to enjoy that time as much as possible. Sources suggest 

that these days, many employees are willing to sacrifice status and money in exchange for meaningful work at a company that appreciates them and their efforts.

In light of this, some companies have realized that attracting and retaining great employees takes more than just a nice salary – though, that is often important. These companies are finding more creative ways to make their employees feel valued and appreciated.

Here’s a small sampling of some of the benefits that successful companies are using in the battle to attract and keep their best workers:

1. Additional Time Off

Rather than the traditional two weeks of vacation and a few paid holidays here or there, some companies have begun to offer employees additional downtime. Along with regular vacations, organizations are granting time off for community service and personal development.

2. Onsite Amenities

To create a stimulating work environment, companies are now providing onsite amenities that go well beyond free snacks and coffee in the break room. Google has become legendary for its onsite amenities, which include a community garden, sleep pods and cafeterias that serve free lunch and dinner. The company also gives its employees.

3. Offsite Rewards

While these onsite amenities are great, companies are offering their employees offsite perks as well. Many organizations without onsite fit

ness and daycare centers provide free or subsidized gym memberships and daycare. To bolster team morale, some firms offer employees passes to sporting events and entertainment venues.

In addition to barbecues and other team-building activities, companies are sponsoring football, softball, and various other sports teams. These intramural activities also provide an opportunity for companies to keep their organizations in the public spotlight. Some firms support the outside club activities of employees by providing supplies and transportation. Employees consider these gestures as symbols of an organization’s strong commitment to the lives of its workers outside of the workplace.

4. Bonuses, Profit Sharing, and Discounts

Profit sharing and stock options are time-honored employee rewards. Rather than limiting these benefits to top management, some companies are extending them to employees at all levels.

In addition to bonuses and profit sharing programs, some companies are also taking steps to give employees significant discounts on goods and services. Timberland, for example, gives its employees generous discounts on company apparel, footwear, and accessories.

5. Personal Services

To help keep employees focused on the job instead of worrying about running life’s little errands, some companies have started providing a variety of personal and concierge services. Google offers complimentary cars for employees to run errands, while S.C. Johnson & Son has an onsite concierge service that takes employee cars in for automotive services and picks up their groceries. At Twitter’s San Francisco office, employees can take advantage of laudry and dry cleaning services.

6. Other Benefits

There are plenty of other perks and benefits that companies are using to attract employees as well. Here are just a few examples of these unique initiatives from a variety of organizations: