Staff perks: It’s the little things
What do you do to incentivise your staff? With today’s average worker staying in a job for just 4.4 years, how can you retain a valuable team? Employment law specialists Peninsula took to the Breakthrough Box floor to talk businesses through the ins and outs of boosting employee productivity.
Realising that low-cost incentives can be incredible morale boosters is crucial for SMEs, explained Peninsula’s David Passfield. But “make sure you really consider your workforce carefully,” he advises. It’s easy to offer a nice dinner out, but pretty useless if your team values time at home. “Really think about what’ll turn your staff on.” Examples from delegates ranged from £50 peer bonuses – where an employee can nominate another who they think is doing a good job – to cake Friday and cheesy chip Tuesday. “It’s your team that makes it happen,” says JJ Lorraine, director of architectural practice Morrow and Lorraine. “You do need to work hard to make sure your aspirations are aligned. Otherwise, it’s overkadover.” Lorraine pays for half his team (presumably the eager and willing half) to go to a spin class once a week, culminating in a once-yearly team cycle to Paris. “I did think, ‘hang on – that’s ten people not at their desks, and I’m paying for the classes!’ But actually, productivity has really improved. You can get what you need to get done in 40 hours.”