7 cool perks to attract remote employees in high-demand fields.

When the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed the global economy in early 2020, many office workers were forced to work from home. With that shift, many traditional employee perks (such as social events, free lunches and on-site childcare) no longer make sense. To attract top-tier talent in competitive fields where talent remains scarce, such as tech, employers are getting creative and thinking outside the box about the unique perks they can offer to talent to set their organization apart. Here are 7, out-of-the-box perks you can offer while working remotely.

seven strategies for recruiting remote employees

1. a home-office budget

Some companies have already jumped on offering this perk to help employees build productive home workspaces. For example, Shopify gained attention during the pandemic for the support it provided to its remote teams. Providing a budget for employees to create a productive workspace shows that the company values their well-being and wants to support them in adapting to remote work. This can boost employee morale and engagement, leading to increased productivity.

A dedicated workspace improves productivity

Having a dedicated home office space with essential equipment such as a desk and ergonomic chair can greatly enhance an employee's comfort and overall work experience. A comfortable workspace can help reduce physical strain, improve posture, and minimize distractions, allowing employees to focus better on their tasks.

Moreover, offering a home-office budget promotes inclusivity by ensuring that all employees have equal opportunities to create an ideal remote work environment. Not everyone has the financial means or resources at home to set up an effective workspace. By providing a budget, companies level the playing field and enable employees from diverse backgrounds to thrive in their remote roles.

Lastly, investing in employees' home offices can yield long-term benefits for both the company and its workforce. A well-designed workspace enhances concentration and creativity while reducing stress levels. This ultimately leads to improved job satisfaction, retention rates, and overall performance.

2. food delivery and meal kits

After a long day of working from home, cooking meals can be an extra chore. Some companies have started giving remote employees the option to sign up for a meal kit plan as an extra perk to replace catered meetings and other perks they’d typically have access to in the office.

Offering meal kits allows your employees to save time on grocery shopping and meal planning. With pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered right to their doorstep, they can enjoy delicious home-cooked meals without the hassle of searching for recipes or shopping for ingredients.

Food delivery services like DoorDash or SkipTheDishes are also an interesting alternative, offering a convenient solution for those long meetings or team lunches. Instead of spending valuable time coordinating orders or going out to pick up food, employees can simply place an order through an app and have their favorite meals delivered directly to them.

Providing these food-centric perks demonstrates that you value your employees' well-being and understand the importance of nourishing both their bodies and minds. A healthy meal can boost energy levels, improve concentration, and ultimately enhance productivity. Offering food delivery options or meal kits as perks helps foster a sense of community among remote teams. Sharing a virtual lunch break where everyone enjoys the same catered meal kit creates a sense of camaraderie despite physical distance.

3. free tech gadgets

Working from home effectively requires some basic tech. At minimum, employees need a computer. While working off a laptop may help them get through in a pinch, it’s not the ideal set up for a long-term remote work setup. Some organizations are going above and beyond to make sure that employees have all the tech they need to build an optimal work-from-home space. With monitors, keyboards, webcams, headphones, and other gadgets, creating the perfect remote work set up can get pricey. If your organization has partnerships with tech providers, you can leverage those to make sure that your employees have all the tech they need to make the most of their workday. Everyone loves free stuff.

4. internet and phone plans

Paying for cell phone plans has become a relatively common perk. However, with employees working from home full-time, paying for home Internet is a newer twist on this established perk. Anyone who’s working from home will tell you a solid internet connection is a must, especially for those long video meetings! In tech-driven fields where a lot of bandwidth is needed, Internet is more than just a perk, it’s a necessity and it can get expensive. Offering full or partial reimbursement for Internet expenses can quickly add up and be a much-appreciated perk.

5. wellness memberships

With everyone staying home to practice physical distancing, workout routines have been disrupted. Let's be clear: it's not advisable to go to a gym or fitness class in person during a pandemic like the one we experienced with Covid. That being said, there are plenty of digital fitness resources and subscriptions you can provide your employees to help them stay active and healthy while staying remote. From virtual class passes, to subscription video workouts, to fitness trackers, to yoga and mindfulness apps there are plenty of options to choose from. The pandemic has been stressful for everyone. Providing your employees with access to wellness outlets free-of-cost makes it clear their physical and mental health is a priority.

6. development opportunities

Offering opportunities for training and development shows that your organization cares about workers’ careers and nurturing their talent. And it’s a win-win since your organization benefits from employees’ expanded knowledge. With plenty of digital training and e-learning tools available, there are lots of ways you can offer career development to employees while they’re working remotely. For example, sites like Coursera and LinkedIn learning offer online courses on a variety of topics. While many courses are free, you can also offer employees a training and development budget to explore their own interests and skills in their field. With everyone staying inside and more free-time on their hands, it’s a perfect time to explore this perk.

7. digital social events

With everyone working remotely, socializing with colleagues has fallen to the wayside. Spending time chatting around the coffee machine or going out for a drink after work aren’t options. With those casual opportunities for socializing gone, employers are having to think more creatively about ways to build their team dynamic and ensure that all employee interactions aren’t work-centric. Create opportunities for employees to stay in touch and spend time together that isn’t all about work. Whether it’s scheduling Friday evening drinks via zoom or daily coffee and breakfast before logging into work, creating those opportunities for employees to spend time together is good for everyone’s mental health.