You need to know that employees are the backbone of your company. There will be no operations without them, making it necessary to take care of them as much as possible. Unfortunately, it can be challenging for small businesses.
Small businesses have low employee retention rates compared to more established companies. It is mainly due to small companies not having enough resources to offer competitive benefits.
Small businesses often cannot afford to offer competitive benefits, which can be a significant draw for employees. Benefits packages can include health insurance, 401k plans, and paid time off. Established companies can offer more comprehensive packages and lure employees away from smaller businesses.
Fortunately, small businesses can still encourage employees to stay through a few initiatives. Here are the small business perks you can invest in that won’t drain most of your finances.
Medical and Dental Insurance
Medical and dental insurance are essential for employees because they help protect them from costly medical and dental procedures. Employees who have medical and dental insurance are more likely to visit the doctor or dentist when needed, preventing them from developing more serious health or dental problems.
Medical and dental insurance can also help employees save money on their healthcare and dental expenses. Additionally, employees may receive reimbursements for the costs of their medical and dental procedures.
Small businesses might not be able to afford the same insurance packages as more established organizations. However, insurance packages today are tailored to the company size, making the pricing more affordable. It might not be the same package as your rivals, but it can be enough to persuade employees to stay. If you want to add more incentives on the medical aspect, you can partner with a dental office for discounted pricing.
Monetary Incentives
Small businesses should provide monetary incentives to convince employees to stay because it is an affordable way to make them feel valued. Financial incentives can include bonuses, pay raises, and gift cards.
Bonuses show employees that they are valued. Employers can give a bonus in addition to the employee’s regular salary or a one-time payment. Employees will appreciate the extra money and be more likely to stay with the company.
A pay raise is an increase in the employee’s salary. Your workforce can see it as a sign that their careers are progressing. However, that incentive will rely on the company’s success. If your small business enjoyed a profitable year, you might not have any worries about
Gift cards are another way to show appreciation to employees. Employers can give gift cards for different occasions, such as holidays or birthdays. Those monetary incentives might seem insignificant, but they can go a long way to convincing employees that they are with the right company.
Employee Engagement Activities
Creating employee engagement activities is a great way to improve employee retention rates for small businesses. By engaging employees in a fun and meaningful activities, small businesses can show their workers that they are valued and appreciated.
Some activities that small businesses can do to engage their employees to include:
- Hosting team lunches or dinners
- Having happy hours
- Organizing company picnics
- Participating in charity events
- Playing team sports
These are just a few examples of small businesses’ activities to engage their employees. Employee engagement activities help create a positive work environment essential for small businesses. They only happen once in a while, so employers can find enough time to dedicate planning and resources for those events. More established companies also have these engagement activities in place, so you have to step up your game to let your employees feel like you value their presence in your company.
Flexible Work Hours
Small businesses should remember that life is not all about work for their employees. Although it is essential to provide incentives to keep employees, small companies should also encourage employees to enjoy their lives outside of work. As a result, providing flexible work hours can become a perk that larger companies cannot offer.
Flexible work hours can benefit small businesses by:
- Reducing stress levels for employees
- Improving work-life balance
- Increasing productivity
- Allowing employees to take care of personal errands
- Giving employees more time to enjoy their hobbies
Many benefits come with allowing flexible work hours for employees. If you can offer these opportunities, incredibly remote work setups, you should grab the chance. Of course, the flexible work setup will depend heavily on your company’s performance. If you notice a drop in output from your employees, flexible work hours might not be an ideal option.
We live in a world where many small businesses are competing for talent. To compete with more established organizations, you must offer incentives and benefits to keep your employees on board. If you can’t afford the same perks as more prominent companies, the incentives mentioned above might be enough to give you a fighting chance.
