Office perks are an essential part of building an office culture. Various perks can attract employees and improve their mood and morale when they are present in the office. However, employees and their preferences have evolved with time.
These days, certain office perks can negatively impact employees rather than a positive one. Let’s take a look at these perks:
Ping-Pong Tables and Other Games
Ping-pong tables, Pac-man consoles, and other arcade games were a big hit in offices in the late 1980s to mid-1990s. However, video games as office perks have become outdated. The accessibility and advancement of smartphones have brought all these games and more to every employee’s pocket. The pocket versions are also able to keep the employees’ records.
If you still think ping-pong tables are better as they let employees socialize, think again. New age videogames also allow employees to play with each other online. Moreover, most employees these days grew up playing video games instead of games in the street. Their idea of games is much different than the employees from the 1980s and 1990s.
Full Attendance Bonuses
Full attendance bonuses are a discriminatory office perk. A difference in gender and social class of employees can mean vast differences in their domestic responsibilities, which can greatly impact their attendance at work. Moreover, many employees can suffer from medical issues, making this specific office perk unachievable and unfair to them.
Sleeping Pods
Instead of sleeping pods, allow your employees to take off work as soon as they are finished with their daily work. Office naps can be uncomfortable and can lead to a decrease in productivity. On the other hand, the office perk to go home can motivate employees to work faster and more efficiently. However, avoid overburdening the employees if they finish their work early.
Team-Building Activities that Require Mandatory Attendance
Mandatory attendance for office seminars and team-building activities can also be considered a pointless office perk by various employees. Many employees don’t feel comfortable participating in team-building activities. Employers need to understand that certain employees’ lack of comfort for such activities doesn’t stem from their dislike towards their coworkers but their anxiety and lack of social cues.
For these employees, team-building activities with mandatory attendance can decrease productivity. These activities might also be considered a waste of time by even those who are social and friendly.
Free Sugary Drinks
Free sugary drinks and other unhealthy snacks are also a must-go office perk. Sugary drinks only get the employees addicted to sugar, which can be severely harmful to their health and productivity. As the sugar rush diminishes after finishing a sugary drink, employees’ productivity decreases too.
However, free snacks is not a bad office perk. Employers only need to replace unhealthy snacks with healthy snacks, such as fruits, black tea or coffee, and salads.
Last but not least, a great office perk that can attract all employees is fair wages and acknowledgement and reward for employees’ hard work. As an employer, you will never need to come up with unique office perks if you make it a practice to pay your employees fairly.
