Employee Benefits – There’s More Than Just Health Insurance

Your organization provides great benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. So you may think your organization has it all, right? Actually, no. There’s more to benefits than just health insurance. Providing non-compensation based benefits attracts and retains the best employees. An example of a non-compensation employee benefit is having a flexible schedule, shorter work weeks, or three-day weekends, because this is what provides for the work-life balance employees are looking for in a career.

Flexible work schedules is something that most employees really enjoy and will do almost anything to ensure that their schedule remains flexible. Flexible schedules can look like working nine eight-hour, or four ten-hour workdays, to ensure that they receive a three-day weekend. Three-day weekends are a benefit that does not come with a price tag—except that employees truly are able to experience more of a work-life balance. Other employees may want to modify their work schedule, so that they work 7:30 am – 4:30 pm or 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, instead of the normal 8:00 am – 5:00 pm office hours. This way they can avoid traffic congestion during rush hour or can pick up or drop off their kids from school and other activities.

It is fairly easy to keep track of, particularly if your organization needs to be open all five days of the week in order to adequately serve your customers. By situating a set schedule with your employees, your organization will remain completely covered to ensure great customer service is provided. It’s amazing how quickly coworkers will adjust to the new flexible schedule, especially if the schedule is followed each week.

There are many other types of employee benefits" that you can offer your staff, such as a company cafeteria or lunchroom, or organizing a wellness program. A great way to get ideas is to learn about the benefits of other organizations, especially your competitors that may be vying for the same new job applicants, and ask your employees what type of fringe benefits they want. They will usually have great ideas and they’re the ones you’re trying to retain.