AS WORK ENVIRONMENTS CHANGE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON YOUR BENEFITS AND PERKS.
The company you work for can make a big impact in helping you and your coworkers feel confident in navigating a crisis (say, a pandemic). From traditional benefits to office perks and company culture, things will continue to look different as more than 20% of the working population does so from home.
As work environments change, think about what you need with a new perspective.
When it comes to classic benefits, compare or consider:
- Health care and related support. Make sure any healthcare plans offered align with your typical and ongoing needs but ask your potential employer if the company has made changes since to these policies in response to the pandemic. Are they now covering more of the premium than before, has mental health support been added or are there other new benefits to help employees take care of themselves and stay healthy?
- Paid time off, parental leave and flexibility in hours. If you’re working where you’re living, you still need time off to decompress and recharge. How does this company expect you to be “on” during your work hours? Is there flexibility to pick up kids from daycare or run an errand during the day when stores are less crowded?
- Hazard pay and safety measures. Maybe you’re not fully work-from-home, and you have to travel onsite to support clients, receive inventory or any other duty that requires an in-person appearance. Related: transportation accounts. Pre-pandemic, a company might have covered your parking garage fees or allowed you to contribute to a commuter account before taxes. Ask if hazard pay and/or transportation perks are available and the safety measures the company is taking to protect employees right now.
Now, the perks of a job. Office dwellers could usually depend on a selection of “extras” that improved cubicle culture, from snacks to happy hours or activities. When considering a remote position, there are two important questions to ask yourself or the hiring manager:
Was the process easy? Job hunting won’t ever be as easy as essentially signing-up for a gig, but companies, especially now, should be making an effort to have a streamlined and seamless hiring process start-to-finish. This shows this employer wants applicants to feel part of the team from the beginning, as well as demonstrating this team cares about your experience.
How does the company try to replicate or replace in-person interaction? From Zoom hangouts and companywide meetings and events, to recognition on internal platforms, check if your potential future employer is investing in its culture. Connection to your coworkers is important for productivity and team success.
How does the company make sure you feel part of the team? Family, pets and roommates are now common guests in meetings, as are grocery deliveries and loungewear. How often these work from home quirks appear can say a lot about your potential employer. Maybe childcare is a benefit you’d like, or, maybe the company proactively communicates that it’s no problem for kids to be part of your daily professional life. Inclusivity is important, and that comes from both benefits and culture.