With the current Covid-19 pandemic and drastic changes to the way employees are working and organisations are operating, summer and the summer break may look vastly different to years gone by. There may be little distinction between working from home and some kind of summer break, where often there is a lot more time off and flexibility in the way we work. Despite this, as schools close, children are at home and the temperature rises, it's common for productivity levels to dip and minds to wander to BBQs, fun activities and time away from the grind. With this in mind, it's no surprise why management need to think of innovative and fun ways to engage the team, ensuring motivation and morale are high and efficiency levels don't dip too much.
Employee benefits need to add value to employees' lifestyles and offer a tangible benefit, such as money and time savers. There are so many easily-implemented benefits which employers could offer, especially in the run up to the summer months, and during a global crisis, where the normal, well-received benefits may not be as viable as of yet. Below are 5 ideas which you could start implementing in order to engage your team:
1. Discounted e-vouchersPlanning to do some DIY over the summer months? Or a socially distanced BBQ with the family and friends? The list of things to do is endless and so are the opportunities with discounted e-vouchers and shopping cards from the likes of Tesco, B&Q, Morrison's, Sainsbury's, Deliveroo, Just Eat and so on. Give your team the gift of choice with a tailored employee benefits portal which houses over 100+ e-vouchers and 3000+ offers. Let your team save some £££s and reap the rewards as this truly shows you care above and beyond the role, but extending into their personal realm.
2. Healthy body, healthy mindAs we head into the summer months, it's time to boost both our bodies and minds. Remember a healthy employee = a happy employee. It's a win-win! After working from home for the past few months, there may be a comfort slump many have fallen into. Maintaining a healthy body and mind can have multiplying positive effects on all employees, including increasing team morale and a desire to come together, boosting productivity levels as well as decreasing sick days and employee absenteeism. Employers can get creative with this employee benefit, as lifestyle benefits are a hot topic currently. This could include everything from discounted gym memberships, online exercise and yoga classes, free access to a meditation app or a team boot camp in a park.
3. Flexibility and flexitimeThis free employee benefit can have the biggest impact on your employees, especially those with children at home for an extended period of time. This flexibility can be presented in so many different formats, by changing your team's working hours, be it starting earlier and finishing earlier or starting later to accommodate personal schedules. It could even extend to working shorter hours over the summer period, or having a half day off per week. This is all very dependent on the company, the role and the busyness of the period. Whichever arrangement works best for the organisation will no doubt benefit and be meaningful for each and every employee, guaranteed. According to a workplace flexibility study by Workplace Trends, 75% of employees rated flexibility as their most important workplace benefit.
4. Discounted things to do and days outAs a lot more places start to re-open after lock down for so many months, why not treat the family to a day out or a trip to the cinema? Or fancy a visit to theme parks and local attractions? With so many variants and offers to hand, give them access to a discounts portal with something for everyone. These savings will go along way and help bring many smiles during these summer months.
5. Travel savingsAs lock down restrictions start to ease and summer is around the corner, people are starting to think about and plan their next holiday or weekend getaway, be it a family vacation or a romantic break. By offering your workforce access to discounted exclusive travel packages, savings on hotels, flights and airport parking, your employees will truly feel the effects of this helping hand benefit. Shopping around for the best deals and packages can often be a faff, so why not give them access to a dedicated travel concierge service who can take all the pressure off and book the best possible deal? The concierge team will also be able to get extra perks including early check-ins, late check-outs, spa vouchers... to name a few.
There are so many ways in which employee benefits can be used to engage your employees. Companies need to think outside the box and tailor the employee benefits offering to its team to ensure its relevant and effective. There's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to employee engagement. There's so much to take into account, from demographics to geographical location, from varying generations to specific likes and needs. With the current, volatile circumstances we find ourselves in, employers need to ensure there are as many touch points for engagement as possible, especially with a diverse workforce potentially working in multiple locations.
Xexec is a leading employee discounts provider offering access to a portal with over 1,000 discounts and benefits from major brands. Find out more about how it works by watching our walk-through.
