Hiring and retaining the best employees often requires offering them perks that make them feel special and appreciated.
This can be anything as simple as a better parking space to a free birthday luncheon.
Finding perks the company can afford, however, and that truly motivate an employee in the process can be a challenge.
Here are some perks that won't cost much money, but that say "Thanks for being a part of our team.
" 1.
Ask for discount cards from area businesses.
Many companies will offer your employees a 10 to 25 percent discount on all purchases simply because they work for you.
But you have to ask for it.
Assign an employee who's workload is light to search for companies that would be willing to give your employees across the board discounts when they show a company ID at the register.
2.
Give employees a list of restaurants that offer free things for their birthdays.
Free birthday desserts, dinners, appetizers and more are common practice for dozens of national chain restaurants.
Search "free birthday meal" online and compile a list that you can share with employees.
Update your list periodically as policies change.
3.
Hold a monthly or quarterly carry-in dinner.
Asking everyone to bring a dish to share is a great way to get together without having to cater a meal or pay for it all yourself.
And inviting everyone to take part lets them share their culinary skills (or their spouses') while creating a fun, informal time to get to know each other better.
Plus, there's all that good food you get to eat! 4.
Give them small gift awards.
You don't have to spend a lot, but a candle, a gift card, a keychain and other items make fun gifts to reward an employee for a job well done or a benchmark they met.
For instance, every time a sales rep gets a reorder from a client, or every time he gains a new client, you can give him an appreciation gift.
You could fill a basket with inexpensive items and let the employee choose one to make it more fun.
5.
Allow employees to give back to the community.
Providing the opportunity for employees to work together to feed the homeless, pick up trash along the highway, sell aluminum cans and donate the money to charity, along with any number of other ways to do something good for others is a tremendous way to build team spirit and unity.
Many employees would relish the idea to do something worthwhile with their co-workers.
There are other ways to build a more productive team and more satisfied employees by offering inexpensive perks and benefits.
Start with these ideas and let them broaden your thinking to find others.
You'll be amazed at the positive results such simple ideas can bring.
This can be anything as simple as a better parking space to a free birthday luncheon.
Finding perks the company can afford, however, and that truly motivate an employee in the process can be a challenge.
Here are some perks that won't cost much money, but that say "Thanks for being a part of our team.
" 1.
Ask for discount cards from area businesses.
Many companies will offer your employees a 10 to 25 percent discount on all purchases simply because they work for you.
But you have to ask for it.
Assign an employee who's workload is light to search for companies that would be willing to give your employees across the board discounts when they show a company ID at the register.
2.
Give employees a list of restaurants that offer free things for their birthdays.
Free birthday desserts, dinners, appetizers and more are common practice for dozens of national chain restaurants.
Search "free birthday meal" online and compile a list that you can share with employees.
Update your list periodically as policies change.
3.
Hold a monthly or quarterly carry-in dinner.
Asking everyone to bring a dish to share is a great way to get together without having to cater a meal or pay for it all yourself.
And inviting everyone to take part lets them share their culinary skills (or their spouses') while creating a fun, informal time to get to know each other better.
Plus, there's all that good food you get to eat! 4.
Give them small gift awards.
You don't have to spend a lot, but a candle, a gift card, a keychain and other items make fun gifts to reward an employee for a job well done or a benchmark they met.
For instance, every time a sales rep gets a reorder from a client, or every time he gains a new client, you can give him an appreciation gift.
You could fill a basket with inexpensive items and let the employee choose one to make it more fun.
5.
Allow employees to give back to the community.
Providing the opportunity for employees to work together to feed the homeless, pick up trash along the highway, sell aluminum cans and donate the money to charity, along with any number of other ways to do something good for others is a tremendous way to build team spirit and unity.
Many employees would relish the idea to do something worthwhile with their co-workers.
There are other ways to build a more productive team and more satisfied employees by offering inexpensive perks and benefits.
Start with these ideas and let them broaden your thinking to find others.
You'll be amazed at the positive results such simple ideas can bring.
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