One of the largest costs for your small business is the
cost of having employees. Salaries, medical benefits, payroll taxes, etc. all add
up to a significant percentage of your budget. And, especially in these
difficult economic times, it can be hard for small businesses to stay
competitive by adding extra benefits.
But there are creative ways to add benefits that can increase productivity and significantly improve morale, without
a significant impact to your bottom line.
Flexible
Scheduling
Flexible Start/Stop
Times - Some workers are more productive in the early hours and others
later in the day. Flexible start and end times can offer your employees options
to meet their personalities and personal priorities and can benefit your
company by offering extended coverage throughout a longer day.
Compressed Workweeks
- Compressed workweeks come in different configurations, such as an 80-hour basic work requirement over two weeks completed in less than 10 work days. This can be offered as four 10-hour days
with one day off, or nine 9-hour days with one day off every other week. Compressed
workweeks can be staggered to assure your business always has coverage and
still offer a significant perk to your staff.
Telecommuting
Another great benefit to consider is telecommuting.
Telecommuting offers some of your employees the option to work at least part of
the time from home. This can increase morale by limiting the amount they pay
for their commute, offering them a change in scenery from their normal office
or cubicle, and allowing them to work around challenging family issues such as sick
children home from school. It can benefit your company by offering increased
productivity and morale and is, of course, a benefit to the environment with
reduced fuel and less vehicles on the road.
No matter what your company’s financial situation, there
are always creative ways to offer benefits to your employees that will help ensure
a stable, motivated, and productive staff. Get your staff together to ask them
what types of benefits would help them. Be creative, and you’ll be surprised at
what you may be able to offer without spending a dime.
What creative benefits have you implemented?
___
Kerry Brooks is Co-owner of ProfessionalEdge Associates, offering a wide range of marketing and support services to businesses that want to increase their success, but aren't in a position to add to their staff.
Kerry Brooks is Co-owner of ProfessionalEdge Associates, offering a wide range of marketing and support services to businesses that want to increase their success, but aren't in a position to add to their staff.
