As businesses across the country prepare to go back to the office, there may be some adjustments you need to make to ensure that your hybrid teams are happy no matter where they\u2019re based. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you considered the impact your employee benefits packages could have on employee retention, particularly if your business is now operating on a hybrid model? Here\u2019s everything you need to know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hybrid working is a model that combines both home working and time in the office. Different companies have different hybrid working models, with some opting for set days for all of their staff to come into the office, whilst others will draw up a rota, so there\u2019s never more than a set number of people in the office<\/a> at any one time. Other businesses leave it up to their staff to decide their working<\/a> patterns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many companies switched to working from home<\/a> during the pandemic, which proved to be loved by some and hated by others. Many people have found themselves more productive when working from home, with one study finding that remote working increases motivation by 63%<\/a>, work engagement by 75% and organisational commitment by 68%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, many office workers are looking forward to the return of the social aspect of office life, with 45% of US staff<\/a> stating that they missed in-person meetings with their colleagues. A further 46% confirmed that they missed all those conversations you have with colleagues about non-work related matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Missing out on those in-person chats has also left a lot of employees feeling like they\u2019re missing out on opportunities to learn from colleagues \u2013 something that\u2019s hit Gen Z employees particularly hard. A study by Accenture found that 74% of this demographic<\/a> are looking for more opportunities for face-to-face collaboration with colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On balance, it seems that hybrid working is the solution. You can\u2019t please everyone, but a hybrid model caters to staff who prefer home working and those who are desperate to get back into the office. And it seems that a large majority of workers agree, with the study by Accenture<\/a> finding that 83% prefer a hybrid working model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hybrid working is a great model for most businesses. You can save on the cost of office space<\/a> if you won\u2019t have all of your workforce in the office at the same time, whilst catering to your employees\u2019 various wants and needs about where and when they work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But when some people are working from home, and others are in the office more often, a one-size-fits-all employee benefits<\/a> package will not cut it anymore. After navigating the pandemic, there\u2019s one more challenge for your company: planning a benefits package that suits all of your staff, no matter where they work, what role they\u2019re in, or what stage of their career they\u2019re in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A wide variety of factors contribute to your company\u2019s employee retention<\/a> rates. From job satisfaction to an open, trusting relationship between employees of all levels and senior management, each employee is motivated by different things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing is for sure, though \u2013 the benefits you offer can make or break a staff member\u2019s decision on whether to stay in their current role or leave your company for another position. A survey by Work Human<\/a> found that 66% of employees were waiting to review their company\u2019s new benefits package before deciding whether to change roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no doubt, then, that a good benefits package can help to retain your staff \u2013 as well as find new ones. But what benefits are best when you offer a hybrid working model?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst hybrid working, by its nature, ensures that employees can come into the office<\/a> when they like, you may want to consider extending this flexibility from where employees work to when they can work. A standard 9-5<\/a> doesn\u2019t work for every employee, and everyone is productive at different times of the day. What\u2019s more, some staff might prefer to start their day later to accommodate the school drop-off in the morning or finish earlier to fit in a hobby after work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many businesses offer complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits for their staff and often treat the team to lunch or pizzas after work on a Friday evening. But what about staff who work from home or aren\u2019t in the office when you\u2019re providing<\/a> a staff lunch? It\u2019s crucial not to alienate those staff members by ensuring you offer the same benefits to all staff regardless of their location<\/a>. You could switch in-office food and coffee for gift cards that allow your staff to treat themselves on the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporting your employees holistically means that they can bring their best selves to work. Traditionally, many offices have offered subsidised gym membership as a perk for employees \u2013 but if the membership is for the gym closest to the office, and most of your staff don\u2019t come into the office every day, is this still a good benefit? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you might want to consider digital health offerings, like a subscription to an online yoga platform, a meditation app, or online counselling \u2013 a service that 35% of employees<\/a> have rated as highly or extremely valuable. Alternatively, if your employees prefer in-person fitness classes, you could offer a contribution to a gym of their choice in the location of their choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pre-pandemic, you may have offered a season ticket to employees who commuted by train, bus or tube, or a discounted parking space for those who drove to work. You may also have offered the Cycle to Work scheme, a salary sacrifice scheme that allows employees to buy a new bike and equipment for cycling to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, these benefits may not be relevant or necessary for staff who work from home or only come into the office<\/a> for part of the week. Is there another benefit that might better suit your staff instead? You could put out a staff survey to find out what they\u2019d prefer, or set aside a pot for each employee to spend as they please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to reshape your employee benefits to offer a package that fits your new hybrid working model? Here are the key things to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And of course, as well as the other benefits<\/a> you\u2019re offering your staff, you\u2019ll want a great office space that makes all of your staff feel at home. Remember to make it clear to all of your employees that they\u2019re welcome to come into the office whenever they like. With high-speed internet, breakout areas, photocopying and admin support, a serviced office space<\/a> from Easy Offices offers everything your staff need for a productive day in the office.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As businesses across the country prepare to go back to the office, there may be some adjustments you need to make to ensure that your hybrid teams are happy no matter where they\u2019re based. Have you considered the impact your employee benefits packages could have on employee retention, particularly if …<\/p>\nDo you need to reconsider your employee benefits for a hybrid working model?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is the importance of benefits for employee retention?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are the best employee benefits for hybrid workers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Flexibility beyond locations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Food and drink perks for home workers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Health and wellness support<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reconsider season tickets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to put together your employee benefits package?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n