Mel's Blog

An Incentive Program doesn’t have to offer expensive rewards.  Here are a few inexpensive suggestions I recommend.

Flexible Hours

Allowing your employees to enjoy more flexible working hours is a great incentive for attracting and keeping high performing employees. It doesn’t mean that they work less time; it just means they have the benefit of working the hours that you both mutually agree on outside the traditional 9 to 5 weekday. 

Of course this will not work for all companies or all employees, but consider establishing eligibility based on performance.  You could start by asking employees about their needs; then develop and communicate a set of guidelines that is realistic for all. For example, you might choose to offer your employees the option of starting or leaving work 1-2 hours earlier on certain weekdays.   Make sure your employees can make up those hours during the rest of the week. Ensure that your Flexi Hours policy includes a process for reviewing requests, scheduling and ensuring coverage.  And finally, once your Flexi Hour Program is underway, take time to adjust it, iron out any kinks and assess whether performance has been affected or the program has been abused.

Corporate Sponsorship

Whether it’s use of the company’s corporate box, tickets to a sponsored company event or discounted gym membership, these rewards can help promote employee wellbeing as well as help to facilitate business relationships when used as vehicles for client entertainment. 

Before you rush out to buy anything that appeals to you, talk with senior management and employees and gain an understanding on their preferences. Again, you may want to offer these perks based on performance. 

Family Matters

Show your appreciation for your employees by involving their families in their work life and work related social activities. From family movie nights, family picnics to family Christmas party, these activities can go a long way to making good on your commitment to, and appreciation of, your employees and those who support them.

Friday Drinks Trolley

When it comes to the end of a busy week, you start to wind down and look forward to that Friday night drink in the local pub.  Why not thank all your employees with a drink at their desk on a Friday afternoon.  Each week senior management takes to the floor serving employees beverages from the drinks trolley.  This allows management to get to know their employees by having a casual chat, putting names to faces, engaging with employees and having a bit of fun.  Make sure employees are aware of the restrictions, for example, no alcohol to be served to P platters and a limit on alcohol served per person.

Employee Wellness

For a company, losing just one employee to frequent sick days or a prolonged illness can be frustrating and a drain on resources. Consider implementing a workplace wellness program. Not only will it help educate your employees about all aspects of wellness (physical and mental), it will go a long way to showing you’re investing in them for the long term, and make for a more empowered and happier employees and work place.

Tie these in to your incentive program, for example, extending the lunch hour once a week to allow employees to take a 30 minute power walk, free yoga classes twice a week in the mornings, free flu injections, free allergy injections or offering prizes to quit smoking – something to motivate and get employees excited to be healthy.  You might even come up with a monthly wellness calendar that emphasises a wellness initiative, such as greening your work space, changing your snack habits or eating a healthy lunch.

Events to motivate, engage & reward