Member Article

An office with a view? Today’s employees would rather have fun

BrightHR’s Co-founders CEO Paul Tooth and CMO Paul Harris discuss what constitutes ‘making it’ in the workplace when it comes to the best of the office perks.

At one time you felt like you had ‘made it’ at work if you managed to secure a corner office with a view, a top of the range company car and a round of golf with the boss once a year. But today’s high achievers are looking for either a little more or a little less - depending on how you view perks in the workplace.

“In many respects the workplace has grown more complicated and with that employees are now looking for a kind of simplicity that allows them to get their work done while enjoying the culture they work in,” discusses Paul Harris. “In a 24/7 working culture, where everyone is contactable all the time, whether it is social media or email, it is really difficult to switch off as work moves home, then some of the benefits of home need to move to work. Therefore company perks that allow us more work life balance are more important than ever before.”

Findings from BrightHR’s report ‘It Pays to Play’ found nearly half of those earning over £55k per year were the most influenced by cultural perks in the workplace — with highly paid staff being more likely to expect ‘Google’ or ‘Facebook’ style office.

Exploring the results, Paul Tooth argued, for those companies that haven’t embraced perks culture, now may be the time for them to catch up, as the study revealed more than 60 per cent of employees believe perks are more important now than they were five years ago.

“What is interesting is that cultural perks are what employees consider as ‘making it’ in the workplace,” said Paul Tooth. “Some businesses may be nervous to offer perks for their employees, but the reality is having your own private corner office with a view is no longer a perk. The demand lies in fresh fruit for staff on a daily basis, office yoga, an Uber account on expenses and flexible working hours. Ultimately an environment where you are trusted to have a good time while doing your job.”

Paul Harris agreed, he believes a business that trusts its employees with simple perks which improve the culture will retain their staff, with this they will boost wellbeing and encourage people to work hard. Today’s working culture is more life focused than cash focused.

“Money will always attract people and help recruit, but perks will retain staff,” adds Paul Harris, “This is why we see more and more employees wanting additional benefits from work. The traditional business perk such as the company car is only a perk if you need a car, if you feel more valued by having the freedom to do charity work or organising team socials then a car isn’t going to make you stay or make your more productive.” Employees need a sense of satisfaction in their workplace — move salary aside and perks and rewards will do the rest.

Research showed how those aged between 25 and 35 years old placed the highest value on perks and rewards than any other working age group. “We saw a leap in the little things,” said Paul Tooth, “their top three ‘dream work perks’ were having a day off on your birthday, additional holidays and more work socials. They weren’t asking for pay rises or expensive perks, they merely wanted to work in a place that values them enough to acknowledge when it is their birthday.”

Claiming work is now part of millennials social DNA, Paul Harris agreed, “Employees are now working longer hours than ever before, work is as much their fun outlet as it is their profession that pays the bills.” Today’s workforce will spend more time with their colleagues and more time in the office. Now employees want to crack out the karaoke in the office or play a game of table tennis ahead of a brainstorm. He added, “As an employer it is important that there is room to build these relationships and trust employees to make work part of their life rather than something that assists with them having a life.”

Rewards are always going to be there to incentivise employees and drive them to work harder, but what today’s workforce wants is to not just reap the benefits of work when they have ‘finally made it’. Making it today is feeling respected and valued in the workplace, and being trusted to have a good time while doing your job. Swapping the office with a view for a nerf gun and a round of indoor football between meetings.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Harris .