If I had a dollar for every time a founder asked someone at affix what perks & benefits candidates are asking for, I\u2019d be able to fund their entire benefits package for the next 5 years. What founders are really<\/i> asking when they say this is:<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can we stay competitive to attract great talent to our startup?\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
That\u2019s because many startup founders feel like they can’t match the amazing benefits packages offered by the big corporations and tech unicorns. And fair enough. Sure, it\u2019s inspiring to read about the industry leading policies they offer, but it can be pretty daunting for small businesses to know where to start.<\/p>\n
But honestly? The founders I speak with are usually surprised by just how much they can actually compete, without breaking the bank (or cashing in my hypothetical pretty pennies).<\/p>\n
The trick is in knowing what employees actually care about, and creating pocket-friendly employee benefits that directly address their needs and desires. According to a recent PwC “What Workers Want” report, flexibility, parental support, workplace culture, and wellness sit at the top of the list of benefits employees want – and you know what? They don’t have to cost a fortune.<\/p>\n
Here are a few startup-friendly benefits you can offer employees that address what they actually<\/i> want.<\/p>\nFlexibility is priceless (and free)<\/b><\/h2>\n
You only need to look at the stats to see why flexibility ranks as the number one request employees are making over and over again. A whopping 65% of employees ranked flexibility as a \u201cvery important\u201d benefit, according to the PwC report.<\/p>\n
In a Gartner 2021 Digital Worker Experience Survey, 43% of respondents said they achieved more productivity thanks to flexible working hours. While 85% of businesses report an increase in productivity after implementing flexible work policies Gitnux<\/a>.<\/p>\n The best part is that flexibility doesn’t cost a cent! But, it does require you to trust your team and treat them like adults. If the thought of doing that makes you uncomfortable\u2026 well, then I think you have a much bigger problem than flexibility my friend!<\/p>\n Allowing remote or hybrid work and flexible hours shows your employees that you trust them and care. So why not give the people what they want?<\/p>\n As a small full service digital agency for not-for-profits, Ntegrity<\/a> gives employees full flexibility to work from home or the office whenever they want. And despite calling Melbourne their HQ, Founder Richenda Vermeulen is open to hiring absolutely anywhere in Australia, trusting the digital systems her and her team have built will keep their teams creative, connected and collaborating.<\/p>\n Similar to Ntegrity, here are a few ways that you can create a more flexible workplace:<\/p>\n Look, I get it. Facetime is damn valuable, especially in a small business. I myself would go to the office 5 days a week if I could as a matter of personal preference. I\u2019m not suggesting you need to be a 100% remote company (but if that\u2019s your jam then awesome!).<\/p>\n But the world of work has changed and people, rightly, want an employer that gets it. As a recruiter, the number one reason I speak with folks looking to make a move is to find greater flexibility in their next role.<\/p>\n 57% of employees said paid parental leave is a very important benefit, but the sad reality is that offering extended leave can be pretty bloody costly for startups.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, needing to care for their children is a reason why so many working parents delay their re-entry to the workforce, with the most significant burden often placed on women.<\/p>\n Not only is this detrimental to their careers and the advancement of women professionals, but it also eliminates a significant portion of the workforce who could be doing amazing things at our businesses.<\/p>\n\n
Parental and family support<\/b><\/h2>\n