These days, attracting top talent isn’t simply a matter of offering competitive pay. Modern employees want more than a paycheck. They want a business they can be proud to work for - an office they enjoy. Corporate culture plays a huge role in that, but so do the perks you offer as an employer. We’re going to discuss the latter today. 

There was a time when basic benefits and a good salary were really all an employer needed to attract and retain talent. The entry into - and eventual dominance of - the workforce by millennials has changed that. Today’s employees are still interested in competitive wages, of course.

But they’re more interested in benefits. Any business can offer them basic healthcare and a living wage. But only certain organizations can provide a decent corporate culture and a set of attractive perks. 

Stuff like the ability to work from home, a pet-friendly office, and a gym membership is pretty standard these days. Don’t get us wrong - these perks are all incredibly important, and all contribute towards making your business more attractive to both current and prospective staff. But they’re just the beginning.

If you really want your workplace to stand out from competitors, you need to get a little creative - here are a few ideas to get you started. 

Free food, discounts, & giveaways

It’s more or less a universal human truth that everyone enjoys getting free stuff. Rather than expecting your staff to bring their own lunches, why not look into offering stipends that they can use to purchase food from nearby restaurants when they’re on their break? And why stop there?

Reach out to businesses your employees might be interested in patronizing to see if you can provide them with a discount program. Offer giveaways and run sweepstakes events for your employees. Give them plenty of opportunities to acquire free (or discounted) swag, and hype up the events amongst staff.

Just make sure that the stuff you’re offering is stuff people actually want - and will actually use. 

Mental health allowance

Particularly in the United States, mental health is one of those things we have the unfortunate tendency of sweeping under the rug. Stand out from the crowd as an employer by doing the opposite. Make it clear to both prospective and current employees that their mental well-being is your priority.

Offer on-site counseling. Work therapy into employee health and wellness plans. Make it clear that illnesses such as anxiety and depression should not be stigmatized, but accepted and openly discussed. 

Show your employees that they’re more than warm bodies or corporate resources to you, and they’ll repay you with loyalty and dedication. 

Well-stocked game rooms

What do your employees do when they’re on break? How about just after they’ve gotten off work? If your workplace is like most, the answer probably involves either dissociating from their jobs or simply going home - maybe both.

As an employer, you want to make your workplace feel like a community - a place where people can go to have fun rather than earn a paycheck. Common rooms stocked with board games and other hobby stuff can go a long way towards accomplishing that. Give employees some fun stuff to do with their leisure time as well as their work time. 

Put employees first

The savvy among you may have noticed that the above suggestions all have one thing in common - they all put the employee first. They prioritize the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of your workers. Because at the end of the day, the best way to attract the best people is to show them that they’ll be valued.

To make your office not just a cool place to work, but a fulfilling one as well.