There is no dearth of skilled jobs in the market today. Therefore, employees in addition to looking for good salaries also want substantial benefits packages. Employee benefits have been proven to improve workforce productivity, improve engagement and enhance satisfaction.

The most common employee benefits are related to medical coverage and retirement. However if you really want to attract an influx of talented and creative workforce, you need to offer them more than just a basic set of benefits.

You need to provide them with benefits that are out-of-the-box and personable. Here are a few innovative benefits that is sure to attract top talent.

Paid Holidays on Birthdays

All of us at some point in our lives have had to be at work early in the morning on our birthday. Even though, your colleagues try to cheer you up by getting you a cake and sing you a birthday song in front of everybody – you’d much rather not be at work.

Most of us would prefer to just get a day off, have some fun and wind down. Paid birthday holidays would be a great addition to the benefits package. It is a small benefit that just shows employees that you care, and can have a huge impact on workforce morale.

Sponsored Team Vacations or Getaways

Team building, productivity and motivation go together. What better way to promote positive reinforcement and collaboration amongst employees than sponsoring a vacation or even a weekend somewhere.

Offering Company Discounts

If your company sells a product, giving your employees discounts, even if it just 10 to 15 %, will make the employee feel like part of the family. It is this sense of belonging, sense of being rewarded that promotes loyalty and satisfaction.

Relaxing Space

Make sure your workspace is more employee-friendly by making it as comfortable as possible. Add a small gym to the space, maybe a rec room. You could create spaces or rooms where your employees could go just sit and relax, watch some TV and maybe talk.

There is no hard and fast rule as to what you could include in your employee benefits. However to stand out amongst your competitors, you need to step into their shoes and try to make their work-lives more comfortable. Health insurance and comprehensive paid leave policies are great, but also benefits such as free yoga classes or employee discounts will improve morale and reduce turnover.