Now that so many employees have shifted to a remote working model – and so many others seems to be looking for that kind of work – Comparably was curious what new-fangled benefits companies were offering their work-from-elsewhere employees, now that granola bars and coffee won’t cut it. Here’s how several great companies responded.
Tell us about some of the perks you are offering specifically to your remote workers.
As a remote-first company where our entire team has remote or hybrid schedules, we offer the same great perks across our workforce. To foster a sense of community, we host virtual events for our remote team members, including happy hours and team-building events and periodically bring our team together in-person to build deeper, more meaningful relationships. Additionally, we offer unique perks, like our Employee Gift Program, which is aligned to affinity months and company milestones, and our $500 yearly powersports safety equipment stipend so our people can do what they love more safely! By combining special perks with benefits like a continuing education stipend, great healthcare plans, and policies that encourage work-life balance, like 20+ days of PTO, emergency days off with “no questions asked,” and an employee assistance program, we’re able to support all of our employees and ensure that our remote employees feel cared for and connected to our company culture and their team.
What are the challenges associated with developing perk offerings for remote workers?
Developing perks and benefits can be difficult because employees have different needs and are in different life stages so perks that are important to some employees may be irrelevant to others. Companies should work alongside their employees to develop and promote a great work environment – complete with perks and benefits that matter to their team! We stay attuned to the needs of our 600+ team members by hosting regular Employee Engagement surveys and feedback sessions – and developing benefits and perks based on that input, like Octane in Action, our newest wellness program that provides resources and events to support our employees’ mental, physical, and financial health.
Check Out Octane’s Careers Page Here!
Tell us about some of the perks you are offering specifically to your remote workers.
Nav is an organization committed to the holistic wellness of our employees. To Nav, a healthy workplace culture is one that supports both its employees’ physical and psychological health, as well as their financial health. That’s why we’ve designed solutions that meet employees where they are, regardless of location. Nav’s commitment to financial health is demonstrated through pay transparency, variable pay for performance, equity, virtual financial health classes, a free Nav.com account to improve their own personal credit, and 401k match to name a few. Our unique approach to physical and mental wellbeing by offering a variety of free and virtual options to fit the varying needs of our diverse employee sets us apart. Free telehealth for all employees, weekly virtual sessions on a variety of topics such as mental health, meditation (including our weekly “Meditation Mondays”), pain management, and opioid awareness. Free calm app with 80% engagement.
What are the challenges associated with developing perk offerings for remote workers?
Employee unique preferences, as well as actual use of offerings, are what guide our wellness philosophy and we are constantly revaluating to ensure that employees truly value the offerings. That’s one of the reasons that we launched a new “pick your perk” benefit in 2022. This program offers customization as each Naverick gets to choose how and what to spend company funded dollars on in categories such as home office, food, wellness, lifestyle and teambuilding.
Check Out Nav’s Careers Page Here!
Tell us about some of the perks you are offering specifically to your remote workers.
At Gympass we offer two flexible working models: flexible hybrid and remote. Our teams are dedicated to ensuring all employees have all the resources they need to do their best work, independently of their location. All new hires are eligible for a one-time subsidy to buy or rent furniture, equipment, tools, and other ergonomic supplies that will make working from home comfortable. In addition, we offer a monthly flexible working allowance to cover expenses like phone, internet, among others, while working from home. Supporting our Gympasser’s health and happiness is our top priority: all employees receive the Gympass Gold plan at no cost. Wherever they are, employees have access to both in-person and virtual solutions such as personal training, fitness partners, sleep and meditation guidance, mental health support, nutrition resources, and more!
What are the challenges associated with developing perk offerings for remote workers?
We can’t meet in person as often as desired, so we found new ways to engage with our employees. This year we welcomed over 1,300 employees from 11 countries to our first global in-person company-wide event! We spent three days together in Brazil to foster constructive collaboration and communication. We’ve also created many opportunities for employees to come together virtually: monthly global Town Halls, virtual workouts, fun challenges with prizes, and How-To series where Gympassers showcase their out of office talents (like DJing, baking, collaging, and more).
Check Out Gympass Careers Here!
Tell us about some of the perks you are offering specifically to your remote workers.
– EIQ Cares – access to an online volunteer platform Swoovy – and 2 paid volunteer days off
– Flexible work hours for asynchronous work hours, allowing employees to prioritize work-life balance. Employees can work with their manager and teams to choose what time they work, supporting their working habits and their goal to make time for the things necessary to them
– Summer hours. Early office close at 1pm on Fridays during the peak summer months
– 3pm close before long weekends
– Home internet and phone reimbursement
– Free One Year Premium Calm App Membership- the #1 app for mental fitness
– Calm’s diverse online content library offers resources to suit an employee’s schedule and needs. Employees, and up to 5 of their family members, can explore guided meditations and specialized music playlists to help with stress and focus, mindful movement video and audio, relaxing Sleep Stories, tailored content for children, wisdom-filled masterclasses led by experts, and much more.
– Employee Assistance Programs – services for employees and their family members include 24/7 counseling, mental health, child and adult care referrals, legal assistance, coaching, identity theft resolution, self-care app, online resources & interactive self-guided programs
– Well-being programs – the program addresses wellbeing from a holistic perspective that supports and empowers individuals to thrive at home, work, and in their communities and identifies and leverages resources available to support all aspects of an individual’s wellbeing – physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community health. Each month we focus on one of the aspects of wellbeing and share weekly posts in Community (internal social media platform)
– Social media channel, called Community, a thriving hub of communication and connection, provides remote employees with opportunities to come together virtually to celebrate work anniversaries and birthdays, peer recognition, fun challenges, wellbeing, DEI and PIVOT culture
.- Employee Recognition and Appreciation – offered through various channels, including a peer recognition feature, “Impressions” in our online social media channel. Allows colleagues to connect to give each other shoutouts and share their appreciation via a mobile app or web platform. Employees are also recognized during remote company update meetings, as part of our “Wow” factor recognition program- recognizing above and beyond employee performance, employees’ achievements and efforts are highlighted during the live event.
– Quarterly DEI awareness Speakers – These interactive sessions promote awareness, understanding and allyship. Attendees can communicate with the speaker and their co-workers, creating time and space for employees to interact and build a community of learning.
– Join the PIVOT Culture Committee – We are committed to a culture that embraces growth, one focused on Performance; Innovation; Vision; Opportunity; and Teamwork (PIVOT). Employees on this committee focus on increasing fun, connection and team building at EnsembleIQ, with members creating in-person and virtual events and activities for employees.
– Company swag – offers remote employees tangible gifts, helping them to feel like a part of the larger company community
– Join the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council – Our DEI Committee includes three task forces that are a pathway for engaging employees in our equity and belonging work. These communities provide spaces to discuss issues and craft solutions while creating leadership and professional development opportunities for members
.- Two healthy living competitive group challenges per year through IncentFit (a wellness program that helps empower employees to live healthier lives while getting to know each other. Employees can participate in fun and engaging challenges designed to inspire healthy living and friendly competition). Prizes include gift cards for food delivery, local restaurants or delivery services.
– Fun virtual watercooler events organized by the DEI council, offering the opportunity for employees to mix and mingle, play trivia and compete for prizes
– Healthy cooking demos from a Registered Dietitian
– Employee Referral program. Encourages existing hires to get involved in recruitment, promoting a happier, more engaged workforce. Employees who refer candidates who are hired receive a $2000 referral bonus.
What are the challenges associated with developing perk offerings for remote workers?
– Ensuring programs / perks offered are engaging for a diverse workforce
– Getting a buy-in from the Executive Leadership Team in terms of budget, value add to employee engagement, and cost of administering the programs
Check Out EnsembleIQ’s Careers Page Here!
Tell us about some of the perks you are offering specifically to your remote workers.
Veracode believes that individuals flourish most when they can choose where they prefer to work. Veracode offers employees the opportunity to elect twice per year where they prefer to work – hybrid or remote. With over 75% of Veracoders choosing to work remotely, we have shifted to a remote-first organization. Given our new remote-first culture, we announced a new initiative for Veracoders centered around the idea of connection – both to the business and to each other. Each quarter is focused on a specific topic, with the first few topics focused on thriving as a remote individual and focusing on inclusion in a remote world. This initiative has generated a great deal of engagement and participation and has allowed Veracoders to understand how they can thrive in a remote, high-growth culture.