'Consult staff' over employee benefits

Date: 16/03/2009

Employers should consult staff about what would help to motivate them in the workplace, it has been claimed.

Mike Herdman, senior manager in employer solutions of accountancy firm Grant Thornton, told LDP Business that firms should consider "alternative ways" to reward their staff.

This could be key to offering employees a good work-life balance during the downturn.

He said: "Examples include grandparent leave, having birthdays as an extra, free, day's holiday, annual hours contracts, childcare leave or the ability to take unpaid leave.

"The best advice is to consult your staff, find out what would make a difference to them, and trust them to have the maturity to make it work for both parties."

Ian Rummels, of business resource Fresh Business Thinking, explained recently that flexible benefits are becoming an increasingly popular way of motivating staff.

He suggested that allowing employees to select the benefits they can take advantage of could also improve motivation.

Related Articles:

Employee motivation: Staff see improvement in work-life balance
Employee motivation: Letting staff watch key Olympic events could boost morale
Employee motivation: Workplace pride defies recession
Employee motivation: Staff wellbeing toolkit launched
Employee motivation: How to spot a good employer

 

› Return