6 Incentives To Bring Employees Back To The Office

Many employees have gotten used to the remote and hybrid work arrangements that most feel little reason to go back to the office. But as the pandemic wanes and public health measures become stronger, many organizations now want to reunite and resume an in-office workplace setting. 

Instead of forcing your employees back to the office, the good news is that there are many unique incentives and perks to provide a little extra motivation for team members to return to the office. From transport benefits to free office meals and subsidized daycare, here is a list of top employee incentive ideas to ease the transition back to the office.

 

#1 Offer daycare or childcare subsidies

For many working parents, the years of working from home have stamped out the need for a babysitter or daycare service. So if you want to entice parents to return to the office, you’ll need to show your commitment to supporting their family life. 

You may offer childcare subsidies or in-home care to employees with children. For larger companies, consider bringing the childcare service on-site so employees can drop off their children as they go to work and pick them up accordingly when it’s time to leave. Programs such as these set apart organizations that claim to have a family-like bond and others with no interest in supporting their employee’s well-being and familial needs. 

Another great childcare perk option is providing employees free access to daycare centres nearby. This helps relieve employees of the pressure of childcare, enhances work productivity, and reduces absenteeism.

 

#2 Adopt hybrid flexibility

A flexible work arrangement is a great (and often low-cost) incentive for returning to the office. Instead of the strict 9-5 work schedules, companies can allow employees to work 8 or 9 hours each day on their terms - whether it’s showing up at 7 am or 10 am. 

 

Allowing employees to work from home for 1 or 2 days per week is also a great way to incentivize employees to come back physically. 77% of companies have implemented some form of hybrid work system. Some companies even adopt a fully “at-will” hybrid arrangement, where workers can come into the office as much or as little as they’d like. This shows that you value your workers’ work-life balance while ensuring they maintain a physical presence in the office. 

 

#3 Provide travel benefits

Working remotely has relieved employees of the stress of bearing a long commute - not to mention the increasing expenses. One of the best back-to-office perks is providing travel benefits that minimize the cost of getting to the office and time spent on the road. 

Some great examples you may consider:

• Provide fuel discount programs or fuel gift cards

• Offer discounted or designated parking 

• Provide public transport cards

• Offer toll cards

• Implement pick-up and drop-off services nearby the office

 

#4 Offer free office meals

To bring your employees back to their office seats without grumbling, let it be known that you aren't returning to business as normal. Spice things up by announcing that the company is offering free weekly office meals or snacks, depending on your budget. 

Some great ideas to steal from:

• Provide catered breakfast or lunch

• Offer weekly meal deliveries to all employees from their favourite restaurant

• Upgrade the office pantry or snack bar and have a variety of drinks and snacks stocked up

• Implement food truck days

• Offer healthy snacks or meals

It will make your workers feel appreciated and increase bonding time among team members as they share a meal together. Providing free meals also alleviates employees' costs to buy food and drinks during work hours.

 

#5 Bring practical perks into the workplace

More than ever, workers now want their job to match their lifestyles. Implementing private showers, quiet spaces for meditation and prayer, or casual dress codes can offer your office the spark it needs to appeal to more employees. Plus, giving your workplace a revamp, such as adding an outdoor space or new comfortable furniture, can breathe new life into the office. 

Employee incentive programs don’t need to be complicated or overly expensive. Oftentimes, all you need is to listen to what your workers want and make reasonable changes to your office to accommodate their lifestyles and needs. 

 

#6 Invest in new office technology

Often, your at-home work setups just don't cut it. One way to bring your employees back is by making their job easier in the office. Invest in technology that simplifies their tasks, streamlines the workflow, and makes it available to anyone who needs it. Once your employees experience increased productivity with the newly acquired technology, they are more likely to opt to work in the office. A good start for this is researching any technological challenges your employees face when working remotely. 

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