Company Perks: A Remote Approach
2 pm snack time and pizza Fridays may be a thing of the past. While lockdown has continued with no ending in sight, companies are beginning to get creative with their approach to alleviate the stress of remote working and the heavy burden of uncertainty that has brought down company morale.
Organizations have begun to experiment with new perks that offer remote employees things to look forward to and healthy tools to help manage stress. One company, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, has provided its staff with access to mental health support packages including meditation applications.
Remote work has eliminated day to day business hours of operation. 9 to 5 is no longer the beginning and end of the workday. Working from home has ridden many boundaries as many people are now more accessible than ever. As a result, reminding and helping employees to balance the struggles of remote work and prioritizing time to unplug has become a top priority for companies managing remote teams.
In addition, employers are working to compensate for the loss of perks that employees may be feeling. In the office, normal perks such as the occasional free lunch or monthly gym membership are simple to roll out and offer to staff members. Remove the office from the equation, and how do you still provide employees with perks that will translate to the remote office?
Some companies have taken an innovative approach to combat remote perk approaches. Employers that once provided their employees with local gym memberships have adapted to the new virtual gym experience and have provided their staff with access to online fitness classes that include a variety of workout themes via live stream.
Another exemplary company, Meadows Office Interiors, was once praised for its events such as Wine Wednesdays. Now remote, the company has partnered with a company called SnackMagic. The partnership allows employees to purchase up to $45 worth of snacks each week. The snacks are ordered and sent to their homes.
Companies are making a conscious effort to create and maintain a sense of community while working remotely. When there seems to be little shared value in the remote experience, employers have found new and unique ways to introduce an element of hope, excitement, and surprise to the virtual workplace.