Remote employee benefits include more than remote work options and flexible schedules.
A full-time working-from-home experience is markedly different from an in-office encounter. Companies must provide a variety of employee benefits to put together a decent experience and make it enjoyable for their remote employees.
Providing comprehensive remote employee benefits has the potential to…
- Increase retention
- Increase productivity
- Improve the culture of remote work
- Enhance employee satisfaction
- Improve overall employee health
And the list of work-from-home benefits goes on and on. However, plenty of these can be found in the list of remote employee benefits below.
You’ll find ample inspiration, whether you’ve always been a remote company or have been forced to switch to a work-from-home setup due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Importance Of Offering Employees Benefits To Your Remote Workforce
Remote work is here to stay.
Over the last decade, the number of remote employees has steadily increased. According to a recent study, the number of remote workers has increased by 140 percent since 2005. This is just one of many statistics demonstrating the rise of work from home in business these days.
Did you know? 59 percent of US workers who were in WFH during COVID-19 prefer to work remotely.
Given the facts, it is past time to provide excellent employee benefits to remote workers. These plans benefit not only employee engagement but also a slew of other areas. Indeed, 78 percent of employees said they are more likely to stay with a company because of their benefits package.
Boosting job satisfaction is another important plus point of a good employee benefits plan. According to a Zoro study, 72 percent of workers believe that increased employee benefits lead to greater job satisfaction. It is a characteristic that is desired by all employers but attained by only a few.
What Remote Employee Benefits Should You Offer?
Although employee benefit plans are widely used today, formulating such programs for remote employees may seem so difficult. While most employers are accustomed to working face-to-face with office workers, this is not the case with remote workers.
Remote working brings a new scenario with new pain points. A workplace environment, facilities, work setup, communication, and so on are examples of these. In short, what benefits may be beneficial to an office-based workforce may not be relevant for remote workers.
As a result, understanding the specific needs of a remote employee is required. Organizations must understand what works and what does not. To assist you in determining these, we’ve compiled a list of our top picks for the most asked-for remote employee benefits.
Must-Have Employee Benefits For Your Remote Workforce
These are the best employees benefits that are most relevant for your remote workforce:
Retirement Plan & Financial Wellness
Retirement benefits are always a boon that an employee receives for staying on the job. As a result, you should include a retirement plan in your employee benefits plan as well. You can begin by starting Provident Fund accounts for your remote employees and making a contribution to them every month.
There are other financial benefits you can provide in addition to a pension plan. These can include financial counseling, stock option advice, and employee personal loans, among other things.
Health & Term Life Insurance Plan
Health insurance and term life insurance are essential components of today’s uncertain lifestyle. It provides reassurance against any unpredicted misfortunes. Because of its relevance, this should be included in your employee welfare plan. As a result, providing insurance support is a fantastic employee benefit plan for employees. This insurance support can come in a variety of forms, including life insurance, health insurance, and even a medical emergency loan.
Given the variety of group insurance plans available, it is simple to find the best option for your employees. You can look at our health insurance and term insurance plans to find one that best meets their needs.
Work From Home Setup
While your office workers may be able to use the best office supplies, your remote workers may not. It’s because some work-from-home setups aren’t as well-equipped as an office workspace. In this case, a lack of a suitable working environment can stifle work efficiency.
As a result, your remote workers must have all of the necessities for a work-from-home setup. An employee benefit plan for setup support can help them get the required equipment, work from home furniture, a decent internet connectivity plan, and so on. You can also provide reimbursement for certain expenditures in the establishment of the previously stated remote working space.
Paid Time-Off
A break from work is always a welcome stress reliever.
As a result, you must provide vacations to your remote workers in order to alleviate stress at work. Most employers believe that this is redundant for remote employees, but that’s not the case.
While your office employees work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a remote worker does not. In most cases, remote employees work more hours than the average office worker. As a result, you must not overwhelm them with work and deprive them of their vacation time. In this case, a few days off can go a long way toward relieving stress. It is also a good idea to have unlimited or open vacation policies that do not restrict breaks to a tight schedule.
Learning & Development Opportunities
Learning experiences are the foundation of all growth.
While your office employees may receive a large number of training and seminars, your remote employees may not. It is also important to note that they are provided with appropriate growth opportunities.
You can ensure this by enrolling them in and paying for a few online courses in their area of expertise. It is because, with the rise of the internet, the supply of knowledge has no bounds. You must take full advantage of this situation and provide them with a variety of online courses.
Employee Wellness Plans
One of an employer’s most important responsibilities is to ensure the good health of its employees. It is one of the most important advantages that you must have. While corporate health insurance plans are standard in this industry, companies are now going above and beyond.
Many businesses are now providing employee health benefits in addition to corporate wellness plans. There are methods for encouraging a healthy lifestyle through increased participation in games, scoreboards, and gift vouchers.
But Before Implementing Any Of These Benefits…
These are just a few of the employee benefits that your remote employees would appreciate. This is due to the fact that these are the points that address the potential pitfalls of remote work challenges. Furthermore, it is always preferable to find out what your employees prefer firsthand.
In this case, an employee satisfaction survey focused on understanding your remote workers will be extremely beneficial. Acknowledging their needs and problems will enable you to provide them with a better employee benefits plan.
Start Cooking Up Your Remote Employee Benefits Plan Right Away!
So far, the corporate world has had a particularly difficult year. Businesses are barely making ends meet in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current situation of working remotely for months has forced the companies to drastically change their methods.
Whether it’s company goals, employee benefits plans, strategic plans, or anything else, these abrupt changes have impacted not only employers but also employees. While employees everywhere are attempting to transition to remote work, such a drastic change is never easy.
Remote workers are worried about their jobs, terrified of unemployment, and unmotivated in general. This hurts the workforce’s productivity. Employee benefits are one aspect that is sure to help in raising motivation levels. With that in mind, we recommend that you get started on that ideal remote employee benefits right away.