Neighborhood Level Employee Benefits

As HR pros start to think about workforce reentry, the consideration of the employer’s role in expanding benefits is at the forefront.   

Physical and mental safety are at the top. HR pros will need to update the physical workspace to conform to COVID-19 regulations and needs of employees. As well as provide a more robust mental health and wellness support system to staff.

Once those, and any other immediate needs are taken care of, then attention shift back to employee experience differentiation. How is your organization and culture better and different than your competitors, so that talented professionals want to be on your team?

We started to think about this at 360HRE, what we realized is a need to embrace the evolution of employee stakeholders as it relates to perks and benefits.

For a while, HR has only had to think about employee experience as it relates to the boundaries of work and the workplace. This is no longer the case. The workplace and home are now one, for better or worse. Employees will spend more time at home than in a corporate workspace. How does that change the perception of perks and benefits?

Well, the corporate workspace isn’t going away. It may reduce in footprint, but it is not going away altogether. So, all the effort placed in a corporate employee experience is still relevant. It may even be something employees are looking forward to. The barista, quiet space, free food, interpersonal communication is all still important.

But what about the home-work space? We’ll see more and more companies providing stipends or reimbursing for home office supplies, as well as sending more company swag and care packages.

Then, companies are going to think about the individual employee stakeholders and how stakeholders can benefit from a staff that works from home. Stakeholders for all of us include: us, our family, friends, neighborhood, local community, work, and others. Look for perks and benefits that support all levels in an employee stakeholder relationship. Such as the company offering:

• A coffee truck sent to the home of an employee to provide coffee for them and their neighbors.
• Virtual team meetings that include items (food, clothing, speakers, etc.) suggested by an employee that showcase the employee’s local community.
• Perks to keep kids entertained at home such as a bounce house, streaming entertainment subscriptions, or educational toys.
• Lawn service so an employee has more time to use on important items, such as their partner, family, friends, and self.

Time and interpersonal connection are the ultimate luxury items. Now, HR pros need to think of these luxury items as it relates to an employee’s personal stakeholder relationships.

Go create amazing employee experiences!

-Team 360HRE