Innovative Benefits Leading UK Companies Are Offering Their Teams

Today, many companies in the United Kingdom are battling against a labour shortage. As a result, businesses increasingly have to go the extra mile to position themselves as employers of choice. As a means of bolstering recruitment and retention, many companies have started offering innovative benefits to their teams; that way, they can boost job satisfaction, morale, and loyalty.

If you need to position your company as an employer of choice, updating your benefits could be the answer. Here is a look at some innovative benefits leading companies offer their teams, and why you may want to add them to your offerings.

Opportunities to Exercise at Work

Most people know that getting enough exercise – usually 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity and two days of strength training every week – is essential to good health. However, many professionals struggle with fitting that into their schedules.

As a means of supporting their teams, some companies are making exercise options available at work. This can include offering on-site yoga classes, installing fitness equipment in an unused conference room, or giving employees paths to walk during their breaks.

Additionally, many encourage employees to use fitness trackers or smartwatches to monitor their progress, and participate in reward-based wellness programs. While smartwatches aren’t necessarily mandatory, they simplify tracking activity, while helping to keep employees healthy and safe during workouts. Smartwatches are also easy to enhance with new watch bands and screen protectors, which is a nice bonus.

Access to a Variety of Coaches

Many professionals have a variety of personal struggles that make it hard for them to be at their best. Whether it’s concerns about their career path, worries about their finances, or fears that they aren’t managing their life effectively, those sources of anxiety can derail productivity, morale, and more.

Since companies want to ensure their teams are always at their best, some have started giving employees access to corporate wellness programs. Coaches provide workers with critical insights and guidance that can help them thrive personally and professionally, increasing the odds that they’ll be happy, productive, and more.

If you’d like to introduce this kind of benefit to your workplace, here are some of the kinds of coaching that you may want to offer:

● Career

● Family and Relationship

● Financial

● Health and Wellness

● Life

● Purpose

● Transformation

Paid Time Off for Volunteer Work

Many professionals have causes that are near and dear to their hearts, but they don’t always have enough time to offer their support. When that’s the case, an employee may become disheartened or frustrated, something that can impact their lives on a broad scale.

Some companies recognize the power volunteering can have, particularly when it comes to happiness. As a result, they’ve started giving their teams paid time off for volunteer work, ensuring those that want to support a cause have the time and means to do so.

In some cases, these programs simply offer employees hours they can use as they see fit, not unlike vacation time. In others, the company organises volunteer days. With the latter, the entire team may go out to support a cause together, making it a bonding exercise, as well as a day spent helping their community. Regardless of the approach, this benefit has a big impact. Employees tend to view their employer more favourably and, in turn, often have higher job satisfaction. When that occurs, productivity rises, making this benefit a win-win.

Benefits for both the employer and employee

There are many different ways that businesses can help to improve the mental and physical health and wellbeing of their employees, ways that have been shown to not only benefit the employee, but also the employer:

To the employer

Improved staff morale

Reduced staff turnover

Increased productivity

A positive & caring image

Cost savings

To the employee

Improved health and sense of well-being

Enhanced self esteem

Reduced stress

Increased job satisfaction

Find out here how Good Health IQ’s corporate wellness services can assist you in offering a package that your employees will love!