In this new blog series, I’ll cover all the common, interesting, innovative, and unique incentives that employers are offering their employees to either attract new people or retain existing ones. Companies recognize that it’s an employee’s market, and the successful ones go out of their way to take care of their most valuable assets: their employees.
The first blog in this series covers the many places a person might work. Once constrained to the walls of an office, those limitations almost don’t matter. Besides jobs that physically require your presence, knowledge workers can do their work from almost anywhere. Let’s explore a few of the places you might want to work from:
Home
Home sweet home. Working from home is not new, but it’s now more of an expectation than an option for employers. There are many reasons people choose to work from home – whether it’s convenience, better work/life balance, or more time with their pets, it’s something a lot of people now want. So this little “perk” is on the top of the list when it comes to finding a new job or keeping an existing one. Employers who say “no” to people who want to continue working from home post-pandemic are going to have a rude awakening, not to mention an empty office building.
Office
While some people prefer working from home, others thrive in an office environment. I like hanging with my peeps in person sometimes, but other people would rather avoid being social. I’m [actually] an introvert, but most people probably wouldn’t guess it. I am still human, though, and although I would usually rather be alone, I also need human interaction. Because of the pandemic, I have come to appreciate getting together face-to-face with others. If you like being in the office, that’s great, but get ready for a few changes (if they haven’t happened already). You may find that:
- A lot of people won’t show up to work in person anymore
- Your in-office perks might be reduced (like free coffee or snacks)
- The footprint of your office space may shrink
- You might have to provide an attestation of your COVID status
- If you used to have a personal desk or office, you might not have it anymore
- You may need to reserve a space before you show up
- Everything will have to be adapted for hybrid work
Hybrid
Some people want a mix of in-office and work-from-home. If I lived closer to one of my office locations, I could see this being advantageous. However, there’s no office closer than an hour’s drive from me, so I wouldn’t choose this option. However, this may be the perfect blend for people who want to interact with their co-workers and need flexibility in their personal lives. If you have a hybrid option, make sure you’re communicating where you will be when so people know what to expect about where you will be.
Anywhere
Who says you have to be in a building to work? With the workforce being what it is today, you can w0rk almost anywhere with a stable internet connection. You could be on a beach, on a boat, or in an RV traveling the country. I have one former colleague who just decided to do the latter, and I have to say I’m kind of jealous. I always thought it would be amazing to take my kids out of school for a year and travel the country, giving them a real-life education about things like geology, geography, history, biology, etc. That kind of technology didn’t exist back then, but it does now, so who’s to say you can’t choose your ideal workplace?
Casual dress code (or no dress code)
The stuffy dress code is almost a thing of the past. In my early IT career, I worked at a bank. Although I had no direct access to customers, I was still beholden to a restrictive dress code. If you asked someone from Gen Z to abide by such restrictions, no company on earth would be in business anymore. Pantyhose for women? Hell no! Tattoos must be covered up? Forget that! Suit and tie? Are you freaking kidding me? No way! I had a client a couple of years ago that recognized the expectations of the younger generation of workers, and they had no dress code, or if they did, it was that “you need to be wearing clothes” – no specification of what kind, color, how long, etc. One employee didn’t like to wear shoes, so she didn’t; I don’t know if this violates any health codes, but the company didn’t care – she was a programmer and had skills, so, you know… no more dress code.
On-site Benefits
Pet-friendly
Bringing your pets to the office isn’t new, either; I’ve personally only seen it in practice once in my career (in California, where all progressive ideas seem to happen first). Because of the pandemic, people who had to work from home got to spend a lot more time with their pets, and for their (and their pets’) mental health, people wanted to bring them along when their offices reopened. Having pets around can present a few problems, especially for people with allergies, but it’s doable if the organization sets aside space for pets. I love having my dogs by my feet or my cats on my lap while I’m working, so I can see why people would want to bring their pets with them to work.
Cafeteria
Again, this isn’t a new concept, but it’s a nice thing to have. Quite a few of the companies I have worked for had on-campus cafeterias; this was convenient and cost-effective for employees and the employer. I have also had clients with subsidized cafeterias, so they provided more healthy options at really reasonable prices. Healthier choices are not only better for employees, but they also help employers keep their healthcare costs down, so I call that a win/win. When organizations don’t have on-site food options, people tend to go out to expensive and unhealthy restaurants; it’s a nice incentive to provide one.
Nursing Rooms
I have three daughters, and I nursed all of them. For my last child, I was fortunate to live only five minutes away from my office, so I could drive home and feed her a couple of times a day. But most working moms don’t have the luxury of living so close to the office. Fortunately, my company was flexible about it (even though it was 13 years ago!). Companies that want to attract and retain female employees of child-bearing age are wise to set aside office space for women to pump. I have worked at a couple of companies that offered this. It’s better for the women than doing this very personal and private activity in a bathroom or other uncomfortable place.
Gym and shower
Larger companies can often afford on-site gyms. If I had this option, I guarantee I would take advantage of it. One of my clients had an on-site gym that was twice the size of my local Planet Fitness. Some organizations even have health classes taught by professional trainers. I did a yoga class at one of my employers, and I had never done it before. I never realized how difficult it is! Talk about taking care of your employees and helping them take care of themselves and their health!
Childcare
If you want to make your employees happy and keep them coming into the office, on-site childcare is a big plus. Only larger organizations tend to offer this, but it’s so convenient. Especially for working mothers who may feel guilty about going back to work; having a place where you can visit your child or spend time with them throughout the day is truly a blessing. And since COVID, I bet many moms want to go back to the office; I can’t even imagine trying to juggle childcare and work at the same time.
Free coffee, drinks, and other snacks
I mentioned this above, so I guess I’ll circle back to it. If you want to keep your employees in the office, give them free (but usually inexpensive) stuff: water, coffee, tea, soda, fresh fruit, granola bars, popcorn, wine, beer… you get the picture. People love goodies and rather than having vending machines or an honor system, why not just treat your employees? It’s not like it’s a huge expense, and it keeps people productive when they’re in the office.
Final Thoughts
People want the flexibility to work from wherever they want, whether it’s the office, home, or anywhere else. By giving your employees the ability to choose where they work, you’re more likely to retain them. If your employees do want to go back to the office, make it worth their while by providing extra incentives like cafeterias, childcare, and pet-friendly policies.
Next up in this series on innovative employee incentives in the age of COVID, I’ll cover your specific workspace – not just where you physically work, but the immediate space around you and the tools you’ll need to do your job effectively – no matter where you are.
In the meantime, I’m curious to know what options your employers offer when it comes to where you work. Is there anything I missed, or other arrangements I haven’t considered? And, I’d also like to hear where you choose to work today – home, office, or anywhere else? Let me know in the comments below!