Top 10 Small-Scale Office Perks

According to the KPMG 2023 CEO Outlook, 64% of business leaders believe there will be a total return to office in three years. This may play out differently for organizations that use hybrid and remote work opportunities as a primary edge in the war for talent. However, if returning to the office is inevitable, organizational leaders will need to do things differently– and better– to not only attract new talent, but also retain current talent. 

Here are ten small-scale office perks you can introduce to make your workforce's in-office experience more enjoyable. 

 

Top 10 Small-Scale Office Perks

Who doesn’t like free books?! If feasible for your office or workplace, consider building a small library employees can access. If you want to take this perk a step further, you can even offer employees the option to join a book club– and pay them for reading! Here at BerniePortal, we use BetterBookClub, an online rewards platform that allows employers to curate an online library of books for their employees. Employees can submit short reports and get rewarded for expanding their knowledge.  I’ve heard of other organizations implementing “DEAR Time”. DEAR time requires everyone to drop everything and read for a specific time frame. Depending on the nature of your industry, DEAR time may be very disruptive to productivity, but if not, it’s a great way for you to encourage your workforce to take a step back now and then.  

2. Snacks & coffee bar

Consider keeping your kitchen or break room stocked with snacks and, more importantly, coffee! We all know that well-fed and caffeinated teams are more productive. On days when employees come into work on an empty stomach, this small perk will make a huge impact on their day. 

3. Monthly lunch & learns 

L&Ls are not only great ways for you to treat your employees to a delicious meal once a month, but they’re also a way for you to give space for employees to connect with one another and learn something new. Some organizations prefer to bring in a speaker or subject matter expert to speak at Lunch & Learns. If you’re unsure where to get started, here are some topics frequently covered at these events: 

• Mental health
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Brainstorming for the business
• Ways to give back to the community
• Team-building
• Time management
• Goal setting   

4. Standing desks or convertible options

Working at a desk for 8+ hours a day can have very harmful effects on your employees. According to Yale Medicine:

• A lack of physical activity can lead to cardiovascular disease
• Sitting increases stress on the spine, which can lead to osteoporosis
• Increased sitting is linked to weight gain and diabetes
• Too much time in a chair can lead to blood clots and even deep vein thrombosis

Standing burns twice the number of calories as sitting, so doctors recommend that employees do as much of their job standing as possible. Consider purchasing standing desks or adjustable tables for your workforce. This small, inexpensive perk can greatly impact an employee’s overall health and decrease long-term healthcare costs for your organization. 

Parking can be an additional stressor for employees, especially if you’re located in a busy city. Parking often becomes an undesirable part of an employee’s busy schedule. Introducing an ‘Employee of the Month’ parking spot helps you show recognition to exceptional employees and makes them feel special. I recommend installing a custom signpost at your workplace's best parking spot. The sign can state: “Reserved for V.I.P: [insert employee name]” or “Reserved for Employee of the Month”. 

I’m sure we all remember the days every meeting was held via Zoom. We could host and attend meetings in our sweats or PJs, but no one would ever know. Many employees who are required to dress up to work desperately miss these days! Luckily, employee dress code is something you have plenty of control over. You may not be able to go as far as allowing your employees to come to work in their PJs but consider transitioning to a more casual dress code that helps ensure employees feel comfortable throughout the day.

Unless you work for a mattress company, introducing nap time as a workplace perk won't be easy. However, it might be easier to set aside a quiet, dark room that employees can book when they need to put their heads down for a few minutes, relieve a migraine, or take a screen break.  

If you work in an open-concept office environment, you know how loud it can get. Although open-concept office spaces are great for collaboration, they can sometimes limit easily distracted employees. Additionally, employees may need to take personal calls or important client meetings and may find that larger collaboration rooms in your office are already booked. Having a set of smaller booths or pods that employees can access at any time can not only help you show employees that their personal lives matter too but can also boost productivity.   

Flexible schedules or “flex-time” can be a great perk for organizations that don’t use hybrid or remote work models. Flexible work hours often accommodate a working parent, an employee with a long commute, or other unique situations requiring accommodations. They allow employees to come in earlier or later in the day and leave earlier or later in the afternoon to accommodate their personal schedules. If an employee is client-facing, flex hours may not be as reasonable. 

Most people don’t enjoy being cooped up inside all day when it’s beautiful outside, and staying inside all day is not good for an employee’s productivity and creativity. A University of Utah study found that getting outside increases performance and nurtures creativity and problem-solving skills. Providing the option and space for employees to work outside can also boost employees’ moods and relieve stress. 

When deciding which perks to introduce to your office, remember you cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. Each workforce and industry has different needs, which should be reflected in your perks. I recommend surveying current employees to help you determine what they would like. 

How to Select the Best Employee Perks for Your Organization

The best perks will supplement the core mission and values of an organization. Try these approaches: 

1. Decide which values you wish to exemplify, and let that guide your decision as you formulate your perks policy.
2. Use surveys and internal employee feedback to determine what perks employees would like. You can continue to do this even after establishing a perks program because—as organizations evolve, so should employee perks.
3. Research the perks offered by competitors or organizations in your industry to ensure your offerings are competitive and attractive to potential employers.
   

Remember that perks should be flexible. If they aren't working well for your employees, don't be afraid to change them. There's no reason to continue offering a perk that doesn't support your team. 

Additional Resources

You can stay informed, educated, and up to date with important HR topics using BerniePortal’s comprehensive resources:

• BernieU—free online HR courses, approved for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit
• BerniePortal Blog—a one-stop shop for HR industry news
• HR Glossary—featuring the most common HR terms, acronyms, and compliance
• Resource Library—essential guides covering a comprehensive list of HR topics
• HR Party of One—our popular YouTube series and podcast, covering emerging HR trends and enduring HR topics
• Community—the HR Party of One Community forum, a place devoted to HR professionals to ask questions, learn more, and help others