Workplace Incentives
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- bogue
I'm trying to setup some work place incentives / rewards for employees who decide to sign on full time with our company. Wondering if any of you have any good examples of things that fall out of the obvious categories of courses / conferences / fitness & health money etc.. Anybody have any suggestions that are a bit more un-usual or meaningful?
- duckseason0
http://www.fastcompany.com/30429…
Could probably lift some ideas from these companies.
- ian11
You could let them go home to their families?
- pinkfloyd0
doggy treats
- SigDesign3
Does anybody actually like incentives?
I feel like most designers want to do good work, and also want to be able to have a life outside of work.
It's all time and money... you can give people time, or you can give them more money, but everything else is a meaningless gesture.
- Peter0
^ Not entirely meaningless imho.
I'm a strong advocate of one of those "obvious categories" we aren't to speak of: fitness & health. I believe a healthy body gives you a clearer mind. Which benefits everyone. Plus a nicer posture for us desk hunchbacks.
Granted, with a decent pay everyone can go get their own gym-card but not everyone's that determined on the get-go. However should a company provide you with the time/access to a gym it may be encouraging some to take it up. Win.
- dirtydesign0
I always enjoyed summer hours.
Basically half day Fridays. Some places do every other Friday off.
- formed0
Everything is time or money. If you offered someone the money for a membership or a membership, which do you think they'd pick?
If you are large enough that you can leverage a deal (like companies could do with health care), then there's advantages on both sides, but if not, it's money coming from one place and going to another.
Flexible hours would be seem to be big, chance to work from home, etc.
All that said, there's data out there supporting incentives/gifts, even as trivial as Starbucks gift cards. I guess there is something to the "it's the thought that counts"
- vaxorcist0
a place where management is really design-oriented, and has an "on your side" attitude.... rather than a sales-driven workplace, where there is an "anything the client asks for, we bend over backwards immediately" mindset.
- monNom0
Give employees ownership and empower them to lead their projects. Set aside time for learning and experimentation. Encourage your employees to become the best they can be, even if that might make them attractive to poach or go on to new things. Make sure the bills get paid and back up your team when they need it.
Oh, and nice chairs.
- ownership != equity, though that's a good perk too.monNom
- organicgrid2
"Hire people who are better than you are, then leave them to get on with it. Look for people who will aim for the remarkable, who will not settle for the routine."
- David Ogilvy
- freedom1
I've had jobs that didn't always pay on time or I hated my boss.
To have a nice friendly place to work with fitness & health money as a bonus might be enough to some people.
Have a good office culture and good clients and people will give you loyalty.
- bogue1
I think we're all speaking the same language about what kind of culture that we want at our office. And I certainly don't disagree that if we offered straight up cash over some bullshit incentive that people would choose cash every time. Everybody is compensated well here and bonus structures are in place so I don't think a small amount more is going to be the kind of thing that leaves a lasting impression. I just wanted to know if anybody here had ever received some type of work place bonus / incentive etc.. that was out of the ordinary, that stood out and felt meaningful to them.
For example we're in the middle of setting up our new office space. Currently adding things to our library and vinyl collection. So I'm thinking that monthly allowances for everybody to go out and get whatever they want to contribute to those two things would be a fun way to let people be a part of building our office culture and share their own taste and interests with each other.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a gift that people get to keep.. but different ideas on how to get people involved in ways that don't make them feel forced into an extra curricular they have no interest int.
- cbass990
I walked into work today with someone making eggs, bacon, toast for everyone....
- Irafis1
A f*** good chair.
- bulletfactory0
equity.
- omg0
The concept of the "break room" has been redefined in many ways to create that meaningful benefit to the employee so they could step out of the work zone without stepping out of the office. Increasing productivity, pleasantness, appreciation and driving the culture of the company.
- omg1
However, I think it would be helpful to know who the people in your company is, in order to drive ideas that would pertain to your culture. Otherwise you'll just drive general ideas that any company should have such as a lunchroom.
However catering to specific employee needs based on their work would probably constitute that "a bit more unusual" suggestion I think you might be looking for because only the people in that particular group may find appreciative compared to the other. Are they creative, salesmen, accountants, programmers, etc...
- freedom0
Any time I see photos of "creative" offices like Facebook or something like that with video game areas and ping pong, I wonder if anyone actually does work there.
- i worked in an office like that. it rarely got used we were so busy.bklyndroobeki