As your organization has settled (or is just now settling) into offering remote work as a long-term solution after the pandemic, it’s time to re-evaluate your employee benefits strategy to match the needs of your remote employees.
It’s not surprising that employees working from home have different needs than those working in an office. While it may seem obvious, it will still take time and effort to design a strategy that matches these new needs.
Benefits strategies should be top of mind for employers, and with that in mind, we’ve created a list of employee benefits and perks designed for employees working from home, which can be worked into a variety of different budgets.
Stipends for office needs
Consider offering employees a budget to help them adapt their homes into functional workspaces. Small things like folding partitions, ergonomic keyboard and mouse supports, back pillows, and desk lamps can make a big difference in someone’s experience working from home. The more comfortable and functional their space is, the more attention they will have to get work done.
Health and wellness services
As many employees adjust to working in more isolated environments, and a growing number of people in the United States say they are suffering from mental health issues, offering virtual health and wellness services can make a meaningful impact on your employees' health. There are telehealth services that offer employees virtual access to healthcare and therapy. Giving employees an accessible format for meeting their mental health needs—especially in a work-from-home environment—can help improve their quality of life and their ability to bring their best self to work.
Caretaker support
Some schools have made the permanent switch to virtual learning, with families supporting their children's learning while also working from home. Your employees may also have elderly relatives to care for. Consider offering financial support for your caretaker employees, giving them some much needed relief. If this isn’t an option for your company, offering flex-time can be a significant help to parents who need to be available to support their children during the day.
Meals-at-home subscription services
One way to support employees as they work from home is to offer grocery subscription services. This can provide relief from going to the grocery store and can provide support to working families who are already crunched for time and resources. Home Chef, Instacart, and HelloFresh are some of the many popular meal and grocery delivery services available.
Center benefits around your team
In the end, your employee benefits should reflect the needs of your team. Consider running a company-wide survey to identify the most common needs your employees share and find solutions that can work for both them and you. Your benefits package is a wonderful way to help build strong and long-lasting relationships with your employees. By designing a benefits plan that meets their needs, you’re showing them you care about their wellbeing, which can positively impact not only their quality of life but the quality of your business.
Original article posted here
Photo by pepgrafico
