All Top 40 Employee Perks To Retain Employees in 2024
All Employee Experience

Top 40 Employee Perks To Retain Employees in 2024

Author: Ravijojla Novakovic Last updated: March 5, 2024 Reading time: 18 minutes

Employee perks are small but meaningful extras you can provide to your employees to enhance their work experience and satisfaction. They differ from employee benefits, which are more substantial and negotiable, such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans. 

Employee perks are more like bonuses that can make your employees feel valued and appreciated.

Employee perks can also improve your company culture, job satisfaction, and employee engagement. They can foster a sense of belonging, teamwork, and fun among your employees. They can also show that you care about your employees’ well-being, development, and happiness. 

Employee or company perks is a term that is often interchangeably used with employee benefits. However, experts say that there is a difference between perks and benefits. Namely, company benefits are offered within a total rewards package and can be negotiated. They are often substantial and include health insurance, paid time off, and 401k.

On the other hand, employee perks are viewed more as smaller add-ons to make employees more attracted to the company.

However, they can still impact employees’ experience working in a company and can improve company culture in many ways.

What Are Great Work Perks?

A great work perk is anything that can enhance your experience within the company you are working for, making it better, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.

A great perk is not a substitute for a paycheck but rather an addition that should boost employee happiness and motivate employees to give their best in the workplace in return. 

Many exceptional companies offer the best employee perks to their employees, aiming to maintain high employee retention and stay attractive to potential new talented candidates.

One such example is Bloomberg. This company takes care of its teams by offering employee wellness programs that aim to ease the stress employees may be feeling and unlimited paid meals, making it one of the top-ranked employers in the United States.  

The type of work perks a company implements depends on the budget and the preferences of its employees. Most employees value perks that can positively contribute to their personal growth in the company and perks that can help them advance their careers and skills.

Nevertheless, offering perks as part of your organizational culture can significantly influence the company’s image and enhance the overall experience employees have with you.

What Perks Do Employees Really Want?

What are the best employee perk ideas to offer to your employees? How do you know what they really want and need? It is tough to answer what perks employees want simply because employees are different!

Some might want better office equipment, while others would want wellbeing perks. The best way to find out is to ask them directly. You can use an employee survey to gather feedback and suggestions from your employees. 

An interesting research published on National Library of Medicine shows that 37% of people have turned down a job because the company didn’t offer a wellness program.

This is interesting data that highlights the significance of the advantages that companies offer.

It also demonstrates that salary may not be the sole determining factor influencing candidates’ decisions about which company to work for. Candidates are willing to turn down a job even when perks are at stake. 

You can also browse some of the most popular employee perk ideas from our list below.

Best wellness perks

wellbeing perks for employees ideas

Wellness Perks are employee recognition ideas that promote your employees’ physical and mental health. They can help your employees stay fit, reduce stress, and improve their quality of life. Some of the best wellness perks are:

Gym memberships or fitness reimbursement

This classic perk allows your employees to get reimbursed for their gym membership or fitness classes. It can encourage your employees to stay active and healthy.

Many of the employees spend more than 8 hours at their jobs, having no time to stay physically active.

This can seriously damage the health of employees, and thus negatively affect the results of their work. Since exercising brings many health benefits, encourage your employees to start exercising by offering them a paid monthly membership to one of the gyms.

Yoga classes 

Yoga is a great way to relax and unwind. You can offer yoga classes at your office or online for your employees. It can help them cope with stress, improve their posture, and increase flexibility.

Encourage employees to engage in activities that can help their minds, bodies, and souls to relax and maintain high employee satisfaction.

Spa day reimbursement 

This is a luxurious perk that can pamper your employees. You can offer them a voucher or a discount for a spa day of their choice. It can help them feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Meal allowances

This perk can help your employees save time and money on cooking. You can offer them a monthly or weekly allowance for ordering healthy food from restaurants or delivery services. It can help them eat well and enjoy their meals.

Free coffee, snacks, or fruit at work 

This is a perk that can keep your employees energized and satisfied. You can provide free coffee, snacks, or fruit at your office for your employees to enjoy. You can also choose healthy options to support their well-being.

Health trackers

This perk can motivate your employees to monitor and improve their health. You can give them health trackers, such as smartwatches or fitness bands, to track their steps, heart rate, calories, and sleep. You can also create friendly competitions and rewards for the most active employees.

Nutritionist services 

This perk can help your employees improve their eating habits and nutrition. You can offer them access to a professional nutritionist who can give them personalized advice and guidance on their diet and health goals.

Psychological therapy 

This perk can support your employees’ mental health and emotional well-being. You can offer them access to a licensed therapist who can provide them with counseling and therapy sessions. You can also create a safe and supportive work environment where your employees can talk about their feelings and challenges.

Hiking trips 

This is a perk that can combine physical activity and social interaction. You can organize hiking trips for your employees to explore nature and bond with each other. Adding some challenges and prizes can make it a fun and adventurous experience.

Massage therapist

A massage appointment is also a cool perk that a company can offer its employees to use in their personal time. This shows employees that you care about their mental and physical health and that you support self-care.

Office perks

popular office perks ideas

Office Perks Office perks improve your employees’ work environment and comfort. They can help your employees work more efficiently, comfortably, and creatively. Some of the best office perks are:

Ergonomic chairs

This is a perk that can enhance your employees’ posture and comfort. You can provide ergonomic chairs for your employees to use at their desks. They can help them prevent back pain, neck strain, and other health issues.

Standing desks 

This is a perk that can boost your employees’ energy and productivity. You can provide standing desks for your employees to use at their workstations. They can help them avoid sitting too long, improve their blood circulation, and burn more calories.

Casual fridays 

Try incorporating a casual dress code. This perk can create a more relaxed and casual office culture. You can allow your employees to dress casually once a week, such as on Fridays. They can help them express their personality, feel more comfortable, and have more fun at work.

Game rooms 

This perk can add some fun and entertainment to your office to help employees unwind, socialize, and have a good time. You can create a game room for your staff members to use during their coffee breaks or after work. You can equip it with games such as table tennis, foosball, billiards, or video games. 

Team building 

This perk can strengthen your employees’ teamwork and team spirit. You can organize team-building activities for your employees to participate in, such as escape rooms, scavenger hunts, trivia nights, or karaoke nights. 

Bring your pet to work days 

This is a perk that can make your employees and their pets happy. You can allow your employees to bring their pets to work on certain days, such as once a month or once a quarter. 

Employee of the month program 

Offer prizes to employees who went over the board to achieve results this month.

Birthday cake 

Celebrate your employees’ special days with this token of appreciation.

Team lunches 

Offer healthy food options and allow teams to socialize.

Happy hours 

Let your employees hang out with their colleagues on Friday afternoons in a relaxed atmosphere. Happy hours can increase team morale and make your employees happy and relaxed.

Movie nights 

Book your biggest conference room, bring popcorn and drinks, and create your own movie theater for the night. 

Company swag

Stress balls, hoodies, notebooks, and backpacks, are some of the best perks a company can offer. These are practical gifts that employees can use to improve and ease their work every day.

Unlimited vacation days

Unlimited vacation days have become a popular perk among companies and startups. Employers have recognized that burnout is a real concern that can affect anyone at any time. Allowing employees to take vacation days even when they have used up all their allotted days shows that companies value their productive workforce and are willing to support them when they need it most.

Remote work perks

Remote work perks are employee perk ideas that support your employees’ work-from-home needs and preferences. They can help your remote workers work more comfortably, efficiently, and effectively. Some of the best remote work perks are:

Flexible schedules 

Flexibility is undoubtedly one of the most popular employee perks at the moment. It allows employees to choose their working hours and adjust them according to their personal and professional obligations. It can help them balance work and life, avoid burnout, and increase productivity.

Online learning 

This perk enables your remote team to access online courses, webinars, podcasts, or books to learn new skills or improve their existing ones. It can help them grow their career, stay updated, and boost their confidence.

Vacation reimbursement 

This perk encourages eligible employees to take some time off and travel to their desired destinations. Younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials want to travel more. Show them that you will chip in to help them travel more!

You can offer them a partial or full reimbursement for their travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, or tours. It can help them relax, recharge, and explore new cultures.

Work equipment reimbursement 

It is important for employees who work remotely to have equipment they would have in the office.

This perk helps your employees set up their home office with equipment like laptops, monitors, keyboards, mice, headphones, or webcams. You can offer them a monthly or yearly allowance for purchasing or renting the necessary equipment to help them work more comfortably and professionally.

Learning perks 

Learning perks are employee perk ideas that promote your employees’ professional development and career advancement.

They can help your employees acquire new knowledge, skills, and credentials to benefit them and your company. 

Not only do training programs help remote employees develop their skills, but they also create a well-educated team for you.

Tuition reimbursement

This perk covers the cost of your employees’ education, such as college degrees, certificates, or diplomas. You can offer them a full or partial reimbursement for their tuition fees, books, or materials. It can help them achieve their academic goals, enhance their qualifications, and increase their value.

Mentorship program 

This perk pairs your employees with experienced mentors who can guide, coach, and support them in their career journey. You can match your employees with internal or external mentors with relevant expertise, skills, or backgrounds. 

Conference tickets 

This perk allows your employees to attend industry-related conferences, seminars, or workshops. You can offer them free or discounted tickets for the events they are interested in. It can help them gain new insights, discover new trends, and meet new people.

Online subscriptions

This perk gives employees access to online platforms, tools, or resources to enhance their work performance and productivity. You can offer them free or discounted subscriptions for the platforms, tools, or resources they use or want to use. 

Charity perks

Charity perks are employee perk ideas that encourage your employees to give back to their community and support a good cause. Donating to charity can also boost employee morale and sense of purpose, as they feel they are making a difference and contributing to society.

Some of the best charity perks are:

Company fun runs 

Besides making it a fun day and promoting healthy behavior, you can have fun runs with a charitable cause.  You can organize fun runs for your employees to participate in and raise money for a charity of your choice. Adding some challenges and prizes can make it a fun and competitive event.

Matching the employees’ donations 

This perk matches your employees’ generosity and doubles their impact. You can offer to match all or a portion of the donations that your employees make to charities of their choice. You can also set a limit or a cap for the matching amount.

Volunteering time off

Help your employees give back by offering time off when volunteering. This perk allows your employees to take some time off from work and volunteer for a cause they care about. You can offer them a certain number of hours or days per year that they can use for volunteering. 

Other charity events 

Have fundraisers for causes dear to your employees’ hearts and support your employees’ giving nature. You can organize other charity events for your employees to join, such as bake sales, auctions, raffles, or clothing drives. You can also let your employees suggest or vote for the events they want to have.

Family-oriented employee perks

perk ideas for employees with families

One of the types of employee perk ideas that you can offer to your employees is family-oriented perks. They can help your employees balance their work and family life, support their loved ones, and enjoy quality time together. Some of the best family-oriented perks are:

  • On-site daycare. Allow parents in your organization to cut their commute and have more control over their children while working.
  • Day off for kids’ first day of school. This employee perk allows parents to be there for their children’s big days.
  • Day off for your birthday. Let employees spend their birthdays with friends and family!
  • Elder care. Taking care of aging parents can be extremely stressful, so why not support your colleagues with this useful employee perk?
  • Discounts. As an organization, you should have access to group discounts for different kinds of stores.
  • Pet insurance. Pet owners only want the best for their pets! 
  • Paid paternity leave. As it is not yet standard in the US, paid paternity leave can prove to be a competitive advantage regarding employee perks programs.
  • Nursing rooms. Help women in your company who are still nursing do it in a peaceful and safe environment.
  • College scholarship program. Allow parents in your organization to plan their children’s future with your help.
  • Tickets to family parks. This unusual employee perk can be something that entire families will remember!
  • Bring your child to work days. Let your employees’ children learn what their parents do and where they spend their days.
  • Theater tickets. Offering movie or theater tickets is a great way to assist employees in planning quality time with their families.
  • Paid parental leave. Paid parental leave provides financial support to employees who take time off work to care for a child, or to support their partner in doing so.
  • Sick days. Sick days are paid leave for employees due to illness or health, with continued pay.

What Are the Benefits of Employee Perks?

Employee perks are benefits employers offer their employees in addition to their regular salary. 

Some of the best employee perk ideas are flexible work arrangements, wellness programs, learning and development opportunities, recognition and rewards, and employee discounts

When offering perks to your employees you are making sure that your employees feel supported and taken care of.

Simple gestures like team lunches, cakes for their birthdays, and meal discounts in nearby restaurants can contribute to the feeling of value and respect.

In addition, perks make employees feel included and they help employers foster a sense of belonging. As a result, employees who feel like they are part of a unit and have a sense of security will be more productive and happy in the workplace.

Additionally, these perks can help employees achieve a better work-life balance, improve their health and well-being, enhance their skills and knowledge, feel valued and appreciated, and save money on various products and services.

Employee perks are useful tools to make employees feel valued. However, employers must remember that perks must stay just that – perks! For them to have any effect on employees’ engagement and satisfaction, perks must be offered as an addition to a fair compensation and benefits bundle.

Employee perks can have many benefits for both the employees and the employers, such as:

Increased employee engagement

stats about employee engagement

According to Gallup, disengaged employees cost companies $3,400 for every $10,000 they pay them. Since employee engagement is directly correlated to employee performance – and the company’s success – employers are doing everything to keep their employees invested in their work.

Employee perks can significantly add to those efforts. For example, well-being perks can help employees relieve stress and be more productive. Moreover, better chairs might help employees concentrate on their tasks better. 

Employee engagement is crucial to the company’s success, as workers who are enthusiastic and passionate about their jobs are also more productive and efficient.

Perks are not only a way to attract top talent, but it’s also a form of mechanism to nurture your employees’ mental health by providing a conducive working environment.  

Improved company culture

The company culture is a reflection of your values, beliefs, and goals.

That’s why employee perks and the ways you show appreciation to your employees are crucial parts of how the company culture will be perceived by your employees.

Employee perks that can be enjoyed jointly, like free coffee or lunch area, can create appropriate occasions for employees to talk, hang out, and get to know each other better.

After all, research suggests that half of the positive changes in communication patterns between colleagues happen due to social interaction. 

In sum, this can improve company culture and make employees feel like they belong to the organization. Moreover, it can improve work relationships between employees, helping them to more easily collaborate in the future.

Optimized employer branding

why is employer branding important

Happy employees themselves make the best employer branding. By offering competitive perks, you can stand out and attract more talent to your organization. Since 75% of candidates are researching a company’s reputation when applying for a job, make sure to display the perks you offer clearly on your company website.

Additionally, satisfied employees will talk and share their experience with your company on their LinkedIn profiles contributing to the positive branding. Word of mouth is another way your company can achieve a good reputation amongst talented candidates. When employees feel content and satisfied they will gladly spread the word about their positive experience with the company. 

Higher employee retention

The ultimate goal of a rich employee perks portfolio is to increase employee retention. Besides being costly, high employee turnover slows down companies in achieving their success and creates a poor workplace culture.

However, workforce retention cannot be achieved by offering competitive employee perks only. Nowadays, employees are looking for much more in a workplace: they want to be in a position where they can achieve good work-life balance, where their work is recognized and meaningful, and where they can develop their careers.

Offering the best employee experience in enterprise organizations can be a challenging task; therefore, get in touch with our experts and find out how our employee experience products can help you tackle the challenges in your workplace.

Conclusion

Employee perks are not just nice-to-have extras, but essential elements of a positive employee experience.

They can help you attract and retain the best talent, boost your employee engagement and productivity, and improve your company culture and reputation. 

By offering some of the best employee perk ideas from our list, you can show your employees that you care about their well-being, happiness, and development.

You can also create a more diverse, inclusive, and fun workplace that fosters collaboration and innovation. Employee perks are a win-win for both you and your employees. 

Recognize and reward employees with JobPts

Reward With Meaningful Gifts. Every Employee. On any Location.

Start today
dei initiatives