Tip-Off

Many businesses provide employee benefits such as healthcare, dental insurance, and 401K plans and contributions. However, some companies go the extra mile and offer additional workplace perks to set themselves apart. Some candidates use these as a deciding factor in their next career move. In short, company perks are something everyone can get behind.

Below are 16 of our top work perks, but we wanted to learn from job seekers which of these were their favorites. In our own version of March Madness, we set out to find out which of these is the most preferred in our community. We pitted these work perks against one another in a month-long, head-to-head competition entitled ”Workplace Wild Card.” In this game, we asked social media followers to choose their overall favorite, and after weeks of stiff competition, we uncovered the winning perk. You can see how each of these perks performed in this downloadable bracket.

Unlimited paid time off

What it is: Unlimited paid time off (PTO) is a structure where instead of being allotted a set number of paid days off each year, employees can take time off whenever and however long is needed, as long as business is not disrupted.

Why it’s beneficial: Giving employees the freedom to take paid time off is great for morale and provides a better work/life balance. Employees are more relaxed — and possibly more productive — because they are less worried about losing their jobs. And they don’t continue pushing themselves when experiencing illness, burnout, or dealing with unforeseen situations.

Who has it:

Flexible work hours

What it is: Flexible works hours mean employees have different start and end times for their workday, allowing employees to start their work earlier or later as needed.

Why it’s beneficial: Another opportunity to offer employees work/life balance. Allowing flexibility in scheduling, where possible, gives employees the chance to work when they are more productive and efficient.

Who has it: Harris Teeter Distribution Center, Averitt, Ralph Lauren, Akzo Nobel

Gym membership

What it is: Employer-paid gym memberships or a gym in the office.

Why it’s beneficial: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be more difficult on a limited budget, as gym memberships can be pricey for some individuals. But some gyms may offer discounts for company-sponsored memberships. Plus, as we all know, exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy… and happy people just don’t quit their jobs. They just don’t! (Legally Blonde)

Who has it: FurnitureLand South, Lab Corp

Shorter days near the holidays

What it is: Allowing shorter hours of operation either a day before or after a national holiday.

Why it’s beneficial: It’s just a fact that at least one of your team members has a family, and even if they aren’t raising kids themselves, some need to travel to see family during the holidays. Shorter workdays near the holidays may boost productivity as employees tend to meet their deadlines faster when a break is soon approaching. So, offer them an option to work remotely or take half days closer to company-recognized holidays.

Who has it: Longleaf Network

Extended parental leave

What it is: Extended parental leave provides new parents with extended paid time off to care for newborns or recently adopted children.

Why it’s beneficial: Allowing new parents to get their personal lives in order right after welcoming a new member to the family is vital for proper work/life balance. It has been shown to contribute to healthy development for families with new members and allows new parents to come back to work fully focused and engaged.

Who has it: City of Greensboro

Stocked fridge and pantry or weekly catered meals

What it is: Providing nutritious food and drinks in the workplace.

Why it’s beneficial: It’s no secret that sometimes a little snack can quickly boost our energy as much if not better than a cup of coffee – without the added jitters often accompanied by caffeine. Having snacks on hand for your team is a great way to ensure everyone is working at their peak and focused on their work.

Who has it:

Pet-friendly workplace

What it is: A pet-friendly workplace can mean different things in different workplace environments. For instance, allowing animals to wander the office or creating a pet-friendly room where employees can bring their furry friends.

Why it’s beneficial: Happy pups in the workplace are a sure way to boost serotonin in just about anyone. Not a fan of animals? Create a pet-friendly room or a separate space where team members can have their furry friends hang out for a while as employees still get their work done.

Who has it:

Educational opportunities

What it is: Educational opportunities enable employees to further their education. These perks can be tuition discounts, an educational program through a partner academic institution, or the company itself.

Why it’s beneficial: This perk is self-explanatory as offering educational opportunities to employees is a win-win. Employees can further improve their knowledge and skills, and the business gains a more vital employee.

Who has it: Harris Teeter Distribution Center, FurnitureLand South, Amazon, Haeco, Akzo Nobel, Starr Electric

Remote work options

What it is: Remote work allows employees to perform their jobs from a location other than the business operated by the employer. Employees can work from home or anywhere outside the traditional business environment.

Why it’s beneficial: The pandemic proved that workers could be just as, if not more productive, working from home as they are working on-site at the office. With gas prices rising, there’s no better time to implement this option if possible. Give employees the flexibility to choose what days they need to work remotely.

Who has it:

Commuter benefits

What it is: Commuter benefits are financial incentives for employees to pay for qualified expenses related to travel to the workplace.

Why it’s beneficial: If your field of work doesn’t allow an option for remote work or is more public-facing, offering commuter benefits for those who travel more than 30 minutes to get to work helps employees financially, significantly as gas prices rise.

Who has it: Akzo Nobel

Childcare assistance

What it is: Childcare assistance provides financial aid to parents for childcare services. This assistance can be company-sponsored or through a government program.

Why it’s beneficial: As inflation continues to shake the nation, childcare costs have increased so that some are choosing to stay home rather than return to work. Offering assistance with childcare costs, whether from daycare services to childcare stipends, allows employees to be engaged in their work and enables many people to come back to work.

Who has it: FurnitureLand South, Cone Health

Employee recognition program

What it is: An employee recognition program is an initiative to reward employees for achievements and milestones.

Why it’s beneficial: Making an effort to boost morale is essential to make employees feel seen and appreciated. Highlight one or a few team members once a month to let them know their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

Who has it: Home Instead

Remote work stipend – Home Office Budget

What it is: Offering employees who can work remotely a budget for necessary supplies, machinery, and any technology required for day-to-day work.

Why it’s beneficial: A home office budget goes the extra mile for remote work options. Especially if your field needs additional tech, this stipend can help employees function properly from home while getting all their work done effectively.

Who has it: Longleaf Network

Employee Discounts/Rewards

What it is: Offering discounts at local businesses or for local services helps boost morale. Utilizing these discounts for group activities helps your company build and maintain positive relationships with local businesses.

Why it’s beneficial: Partnering with local businesses to offer employee discounts is a great way to build connections while also making employees happy. It can be a win-win-win for everyone involved.

Who has it: Averitt, FurnitureLand South, Ralph Lauren, Cone Health, Haeco

Wellness Program

What it is: Wellness programs are offered to employees to help avoid illness, improve mindfulness, and improve and maintain employees’ general health and well-being.

Why it’s beneficial: An established wellness program allows employees to seek out healthy ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Who has it: FurnitureLand South, Essentra, Ralph Lauren, Cone Health, UnitedHealth Group

Employee Development Plans

What it is: An employee development plan is a process that helps individuals improve skills and build knowledge for new roles and responsibilities in the company/organization.

Why it’s beneficial: Employee development plans are a win-win for everyone involved. They allow employees to build on and improve their skills while the employer gains a more knowledgeable and productive team member. These programs also enable employees to grow within the company.

Who has it: Harris Teeter Distribution Center, Averitt

The Winning Play

Perks are an added bonus to any workplace; they boost morale and improve the lives — and ultimately the productivity — of employees. Whether it’s something small like snacks and drinks in the breakroom or company-sponsored gym memberships, adding some of these perks is a winning solution.