Employee Benefits Programs example essay topic

Research suggests that almost half of all employees are looking for new jobs, and more than three quarters of them would jump ship at the right opportunity for a better job. The question is what are employers doing to keep their employees happy? Now more than ever, companies are in competition to attract and retain employees any way possible. To accomplish this, the company must have a constant, dependable showing of loyalty. In the job market today you want to keep good employees in your company and you also want to keep them as productive as possible. Showing loyalty begins with the company's commitment to common values, development opportunities and quality work relationships.

Corporations are beginning to turn to the use of creative benefits to help them retain their valued employees and having these benefits will keep the employees focused on their jobs. While there are no magic formulas to retain your employees and keep them productive, there are some specific approaches, cost effective resources, and very simple things you can do to improve things in your company, such as Concierge Services, Back-up Child Care Services, College Admission Support, Assisted Care for Pets, Make it Fun, Wellness Programs, and Flexibility. One of the hottest benefits for employers with active professionals is membership in an Internet-based Concierge service. These services give the employee's time to focus more on their business.

For a small fee, each member of the team can enjoy unlimited arrangements for personal use of dining, entertainment, recreation, accommodations, gifts and convenience services. Your employee will appreciate the extra time that they get to spend with their family and friends. Two of the largest national concierge services are City Access Providers and Circles. A lot of companies now offer daycare solutions for parents with short term child care concerns. Employer sponsored back up childcare gives parents a private, convenient resource if their regular daycare provider is sick, if school is closed unexpectedly, or if your employee is suddenly called out of town for a last minute meeting. Backup daycare can actually reduce the amount of time that an employee spends out of work to stay home to be with a sick child.

Having this benefit will also cut down on the number of parent's who choose not to return to work after giving birth or adopting. Staff participants are usually charged a fee or co-payment for use of the backup care program. Examples of back-up childcare service are Children First and Bright Horizons Family Solutions. As a complimentary service for companies that offer child care and elder care programs, some companies might also offer a college advising service. This service is used where those employees with teenagers who are planning to go to college can receive help with selecting, applying for and learning how to finance their education. There have been many studies taken that show that more high school students are applying to college than ever before.

Richard M. Wald, a national practice leader for Work-Life Consulting says that such services may be a key to improving an employee's loyalty to a company. It also helps the employers, since they will be helping to reduce the stress and time that a parent has to spend with their child making plans for college. They will also have the employee show up for work and be productive and not have to spend so much time away from work because of college planning. While many companies pay 100% of the cost for this service, the cost is assessed only for employees who use it. Some companies offer assisted care for pets. When we think about pet care, it does not always seem like a good idea or a service that may get used, but this is one service that we can take a second look at.

For employees who have pets and have to travel frequently or they may work long hours, this type of service will definitely be beneficial. What better relief will an employee have if they know that their pet is being fed, exercised, and cared for while they are away on business and they had to work long hours? They can focus more on their work instead of wondering if they have to return home to a mess that the pet has made in their house because they had to work late again. This service for pets provides a home away from home and provides play and socialization in a supervised environment. Some services even pick up and drop off pets at your office and homes. You can locate a dog daycare center near you by going to the internet at Day Care 4 Dogs.

Org. Just bringing a little fun to the workplace can also bring tremendous benefits to the company and your employees. A planning board can be selected and they can bring in activities such as summer picnics in the park or at the beach, mini golf contest, outings to comedy clubs and sports activities, and many other activities which will bring everyone together in one place, at one time to enjoy each others company and mainly to get to know each other. The company can pay for such activities through a budget set aside for such activities. The selected committee can also put on bake sales and yard sales to raise the money and also involve the company employees to participate in these events.

Any group outings can be funded by the participants. A good way to keep track of how these events are benefiting or not benefiting the employees is to take a survey. This survey or feedback will help in future decisions on events, location, and activities. An employee will definitely be loyal to their employer if the company shows commitment not only to their job but also to their work-life balance. In addition to subsidized memberships to health clubs, companies are beginning to offer a host of on-site wellness events including regular massages, free flu shots, round the clock access to a staffed nurse help line and weekly yoga classes.

There is an essential link between wellness programs and employee productivity. "Our minds function best in strong, pain free and relaxed bodies". Having healthy employee's results in fewer sick days and lower insurance premiums. Many local area gyms and fitness centers offer on site wellness events and programs. One national company that brings wellness activities to work sites is Well Bridge. In addition to all of these services that have already been mentioned, having flexible work arrangements in the work place can also be a key means to increasing overall productivity, and to building employee loyalty.

A senior consultant firm in Watertown, Mass., offers a variety of services, such as employee commitment audits and work life strategy consulting. They also do lots of surveys, and the number one thing that the people want other than compensation is flexibility. They want their companies to have a variety of work arrangements. As companies grow they need to manage flexibility to become a strategic advantage of a business. Flexible work arrangements vary, depending on the needs of each business. Among all of these resources and benefits, the common theme is recognition of the employee's value to the company and also recognition of their responsibilities and needs outside of the workplace.

By selecting and tailoring benefits to your employee population, allowing them to choose the benefits that best suit them as individuals, you may be surprised to discover benefits for your business that actually far outweigh your cost. By helping employees address outside demands, you will reap the rewards of increased focus, time on the job, and even gratitude. Employee benefits programs are crucial to the recruitment and retention of employees in any industry. Effective programs enable employees to better cope with the demands of home and the workplace. These same policies can also contribute to lower employee turnover rates, retention of qualified employees, and motivation of workers. When a company takes care of its employees, the gesture is returned in a very big way.

It's nice to know that the company is looking out for you. When the company treats the people well, then you get the people's loyalty. Once you get their loyalty, then they will do anything for you.