Would a corporation let you keep your dog in your cubicle? Or do your job while housesitting in Hawaii?
Hard to picture. But those are some of the benefits offered by creative small firms.
Entrepreneurs often can’t afford to dangle big raises or other monetary rewards to keep employees happy. But they can come up with imaginative benefits that would be too expensive or impractical for a sprawling corporation to offer to all of its workers.
Here’s a look at some of the diverse perks that business owners are using to keep employees motivated.
DRINKS FOR EVERYBODY: “Free Beer Fridays” have been a great morale booster for Universal Information Services, a news-media analysis company in Omaha, Neb. It’s a nice way to reward people for working hard all week, says Vice President Todd Murphy. There’s also soda for those who don’t want alcohol. “The spirit of the office is lifted for the 1.5 hours of the week that are often the hardest,” he says.
YOUR OFFICE IS ANYWHERE: Telecommuting takes on new meaning at 15Five. The San Francisco software maker has eight full-time employees and another eight consultants, all of whom also work remotely—as far afield as Canada and Poland. Workers can do their jobs from wherever they wish and set their own schedule. One recently took an opportunity to work while housesitting in Hawaii, while another who lives in New York logged in while visiting family in Ukraine, says Chief Executive David Hassell.
DOGS ALLOWED: VoIP Supply, a seller of voice over Internet protocol equipment, allows employees to bring pets into the office from time to time—as long as they don’t litter in the office or make excessive noise. “I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback from both the dog owners and the others in the building,” says Benjamin Sayers, owner and CEO of the Amherst, N.Y., company. “No one has abused the privilege, nor have any of the dogs broken the two rules.”
There have also been fish on occasion, and one warehouse associate had two talking birds, Mr. Sayers says.
DO SOME GOOD: At NextStepU.com, employees are offered a paid week off to volunteer. “I saw that my younger employees really had a passion for doing something meaningful in the world,” says David Mammano, founder and CEO of the Rochester, N.Y., company that counsels teens on college and career. Likewise, ShopVisible, an Atlanta company that provides an e-commerce platform, gives employees four paid days off each year to participate in causes. “It contributes to a much more cohesive team and a place where people are proud to come to work,” says CEO Sean Cook.
KEEP UP WITH TECH: Employees at AnswerLab get $400 a year to spend on technology, from iPads to mobile apps to Internet-enabled thermostats. “It helps us attract and retain employees who are technology early adopters,” says Dan Clifford, co-founder of the San Francisco-based research and consulting company.
COVERING MOM AND DAD…: Of the 2,300 employees of GeBBS Healthcare Solutions, the majority work in India, and their average age is 24—so the company offers the Indian employees coverage for themselves and their parents. “This helps us retain employees, since their parents love us and want to keep their coverage,” says Nitin Thakor, president and CEO of the Englewood, N.J., company, which helps providers maximize their reimbursements from health plans and insurance companies. (The company can’t offer the same benefit to the U.S. workforce because regulations aren’t as flexible as in India, Mr. Thakor says.)
…AND HELPING OUT THE KIDS: Employees’ sons and daughters are offered summer internships and jobs over spring break at ExecutivePerils Inc., an insurance-brokerage firm in Los Angeles. Peter Taffae, managing director, says it’s fun to have the energy and new ideas the interns bring, and it lets them see their parents’ work ethic.
LENDING AN EAR:Econohomes, an Austin, Texas, company that assists with the purchase, sale and financing of homes, hired a pastor/life coach in February. “We know we can’t achieve our company goals without a solid team, so investing in their happiness communicates that we genuinely value them as part of the team,” says Jeff Ball, president and CEO.
A FLEXIBLE WORKPLACE: When Friday rolls around, employees at Clicks & Clients Inc. move their desks out of the way and do an hour of yoga. For many employees, “being healthy has become part of their lives, where it may not have been otherwise,” says Paul Rakovich, founder and CEO of the Denver-based digital advertising agency.
He thinks perks that offer real-world experiences can trump small financial incentives, like a slight increase in matching contributions for a 401(k). “I think the experiences are more valued and cherished, plus the return on investment is bigger,” he says. As for monetary perks, “we still do our best to take care of our staff in those regards, but the experiences go a long way.”
From: The Wall Street Journal