You've probably heard that to attract and retain the best and brightest employees, you have to offer something extra, something that other companies don't. Here are some of the benefits offered by the top companies in America, followed by some recommendations for what your company can offer.
- The Campbell Soup Company has on-site kindergarten and after-school programs. Employees also enjoy 100 percent healthcare coverage, free flu shots and on-site fitness centers.
- Cisco Systems offers physical therapy and acupuncture at its fitness center.
- All General Mills employees receive three weeks paid vacation and that number increases every year the employees are with the company.
- Hershey Foods Corp. has its own fitness centers for employees, spouses and dependents.
- The J.M. Smucker Company reimburses employees 100 percent for tuition costs with no cap.
- Boeing gives its employees 12 paid holidays and a winter recess between Christmas and New Year's Day.
- Johnson & Johnson offers private concierge services to its employees, so they don't have to worry about returning library books or picking up dry cleaning on time.
- Mattel, Inc. allows its employees to take paid time off for their kids' school field trips, offers a program that defrays the cost of adopting a child and gives discounts on Mattel toys.
- Microsoft Corporation offers very generous paid maternity and paternity leave.
- Oshkosh Corporation offers extensive training and advancement opportunities so that employees can get promoted quickly. They also give tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees.
- Chesapeake Energy has an indoor rock climbing wall in their 72,000-square-foot fitness center, which also boasts an Olympic-sized pool, a sand volleyball court and a quarter-mile walking track. They also offer free SCUBA certification to all their employees.
- Southwest Airlines employees get free flights for themselves, and their family and friends. They also get discounts from partnering hotels and car rental companies.
Most companies can't compete with these perks, but as Google CEO Larry Page explains, "When you treat people [well] ... you get better productivity. Rather than really caring what hours you worked, you care about output. We should continue to innovate in our relationship with our employees and figure out the best things we can do for them." How can you make your employees feel special?
1. Offer Fun
Twenty-something techies and other millennials love games, from pool, darts, and foosball to arcade games. And while games help employees have fun, which raises commitment and creativity levels, they also bring people together.
2. Offer Food
Free food is always appreciated, and is popular at every scale, from Bagel Mondays to Free Lunch Fridays.
3. Offer Healthy Activities
Gym memberships or gym subsidies are a common health perk, or you can bring fitness into the office by sponsoring yoga, Pilates or Crossfit classes.
4. Offer Time Off
Go beyond the traditional two weeks paid vacation by offering unlimited vacation days, summer hours, or try a flexible work week model. Or offer paid leave for community service projects.
Did you know that in addition to payroll and HR services, CPP also offers affordable employee benefits solutions? We focus on your employees’ experience – keeping them happy and engaged.
What extra perks does your company offer? We'd like to know! Please share them with us in the comments section below or on our facebook page and CPP will feature an update on our blog.