Give employees the gift of robust benefits

Long story short: Give employees what they want

December 23, 2022 11:00 AM

If the holiday spirit has you feeling all warm and fuzzy, now's the time to direct some of that energy toward your hard-working employees. But before you start wrapping up company swag, take a moment to think about what might actually make your team feel seen and heard this season and into the new year.

Thoughtful benefits and workplace policies are the gifts that keep on giving, and the key to creating employee loyalty, contentment and productivity. Our top stories this week feature expert advice from leaders across industries, who share their thoughts on meeting employees' needs, crafting intentional communications — and yes, even giving them end-of-year gifts.

"Everything has a dollar amount," Burgette White, VP of HR at staffing agency Adecco, told EBN this week. "As employees are looking for new opportunities, or as they're sticking with an organization, they're thinking about their benefits — they're thinking about the full total rewards or compensation, and those benefits have a dollar value associated."

Check out this week's coverage for more insight from White and other leaders on how to truly reward your employees.

How to build the best wellness package for your workforce

What does modern wellness look like? The term encompasses much more than it did a few years ago, and thus the benefits that cover it can no longer be one-size-fits-all.

EBN Editor Lee Hafner spoke with Adecco's White to better understand how employers can build a wellness package that best serves their teams. Step one? Listen.

"Employee wellness is not new, but discussions are on the rise," says White. "Employees are taking inventory of what's important to them, so it is about creating the space to speak more about mental and physical health and work-life balance and having choice."

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How to build the best wellness package for your workforce

Why businesses are giving employees the gift of earned wage access

For businesses and employees alike, the gift of earned wage access — in which workers have instant access to their pay following a shift — will likely be valued long after the holiday season is over. A recent survey conducted by on-demand payment provider Instant Financial found that 87% of employees are more likely to take a job where they have access to their pay each day.

Associate Editor Paola Peralta spoke to experts about why this is a smart strategy for employers fighting to hire seasonal talent as well as organizations that have experienced year-round staffing hurdles as of late.

"On-demand pay will no longer be only for the gig economy or service jobs," says Jim Colassano, SVP of product development and strategy at payment company The Clearing House. "Eventually individuals of all income levels will expect on-demand wage access to help with unexpected payments, emergencies and even investment opportunities."

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Why businesses are giving employees the gift of earned wage access

HR leaders share their tips for crafting a pitch-perfect end-of-year message

As 2022 comes to an end, one shared sentiment may emerge across all organizations and industries: "What a year."

The EOY message is a great chance to touch on company culture and values, whether it is continuing current practices or introducing new ideas for the year ahead. But how can leaders build a message that's both honest and encouraging?

"Communication should be personal and personalized as much as possible, and stress the human aspects of work," says Stefanie Tignor, VP of data science at HR tech company Humu. "Humu sees from our data that employees are hungry for managers to express emotional support, show an interest in their well-being, and genuinely care for their direct reports. You need to understand what motivates your team members and what they value."

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HR leaders share their tips for crafting a pitch-perfect end-of-year message

Gift cards, mugs and…a frozen turkey? The best and worst gifts employees have gotten for the holidays

For this week's moment of humor and levity, Executive Editor Alyssa Place touched base with employees across industries to hear about the best (and worst) holiday gifts they've ever received. While gift cards, tech tools and extra PTO are beloved, other gifts have missed the mark.

"One year, [my employer] showed up one day with a pickup truck full of half-thawed turkeys that ended up dripping all over the newsroom," says one former news editor. "It was two weeks before Christmas, and the turkeys couldn't be refrozen, so everyone had to go home and cook them immediately so they didn't spoil."

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Gift cards, mugs and…a frozen turkey? The best and worst gifts employees have gotten for the holidays