Gone are the days when job seekers were happy just to be hired. Today, companies want to set themselves apart from the crowd by offering a smorgasbord of employment benefits and letting workers choose their own selections. Here's a list of unusual benefits that may give your company an advantage when recruiting quality employees.
Of course, no company offers all of these, and only a few may be practical for your company. The idea is to get you thinking about what you can do to stand out:
- Unlimited vacation days.
- Surfing permitted during the workday.
- Bimonthly massages.
- VIP treatment at sporting events.
- A personal assistant.
- Pet insurance.
- Free mechanical bull rides at the bar across the street.
- Free season passes to a local ski resort.
- All the snacks you can carry.
- Discounts on homeowners and auto insurance.
- Free lunch daily.
- Fridge stocked with snacks.
- Housing provided.
- Two hours of free housecleaning services a month.
- Bring your dog to work.
- Free gym membership.
- Table tennis and other games in the office.
Not all benefits are as seemingly frivolous as free granola bars and Foosball. There’s a company that’s offering parents help with autistic children. Suppose your company is located in a rather remote place and so are your employees. Having a way to get help for their autistic children in such a setting is worth a great deal to these parents.
In this vein, just having access to a doctor in the office is a benefit, as are onsite medical centers or telemedicine services that let employees consult long-distance with doctors and nurses. Also becoming popular are onsite fitness centers.
How about a geriatric care manager? Or a free consultation with a geriatric care manager, plus help with coordinating services, support for respite care and flexible time off?
And for a wrap-up of other off-the-beaten-track perks, how about:
- Green rewards (for solar panels, for example).
- On-site kindergarten.
- Dog walking.
- Car incentives or alternative transportation options.
- Concierge and laundry service.
Think about what your employees might like, and consider adding some additional benefits to your list to attract new employees and retain the ones you have.
