How to Boost Employee Engagement with In-Office Perks

Discover how smartly crafted in-office perks can drive employee engagement, improve productivity, and foster a thriving workplace. Learn our top strategies today!

How to Boost Employee Engagement with In-Office Perks
Copyright - ENVATO - Article written in partnership with Deskbird

Employee engagement isn't just another corporate buzzword—it's the lifeblood of a thriving business. Think of it this way: an unmotivated workforce is like an engine running on fumes, with no power to drive long distances. Engaged employees, on the other hand, are the Ferrari of employees—focused, reactive, interested in growing within the company, and the catalyst for productivity and creativity.

The result?

A direct boost to the company's bottom line. But here's the catch: engagement doesn't happen by accident. One of the most powerful—and often underestimated—ways to inspire it is smartly crafted in-office perks. These benefits aren't just about adding a ping-pong table or free coffee. They're a way of saying, We see you. We value you.

When done right, they create a culture where employees don't just clock in; they show up ready to excel. Let's explore a few ideas that you can implement to enhance your team's engagement.

The link between perks and engagement

Knowing the connection between in-office perks and employee engagement is the beginning of success for any progressive company. Perks aren't something extra; they're a strategic investment in your most valuable asset—your people. They tell the employees that the company values their well-being and satisfaction, hence belonging and commitment. 

deskbird insights reveal that companies that actively engage employees consistently outperform those who don't by a considerable margin.

In-office benefits are essential in engaging them because they provide all the facilities they need for professional growth and personal well-being. When employees really feel valued and supported, they are much better able to pull out all the stops in work, hence driving innovation and productivity.

Top in-office perks to improve engagement

Knowing what your employees truly value requires a nuanced approach to implementing the right perks. 

Here are some top in-office perks that can really help boost employee engagement:

  • Flexible workspace: Gone is the day of rigid cubicles. Modern employees need flexibility in the workplace, from quiet areas for focused individual work to collaborative areas for team projects and even ergonomic options like standing desks. A well-designed workspace can significantly impact employee morale and efficiency.
  • Wellness programs: Investing in health-oriented benefits, such as on-site fitness classes, meditation sessions, or offering healthy snacks, shows that you value your employees' well-being. Wellness programs can reduce stress levels, decrease absenteeism, and improve morale because a healthy workforce is a productive workforce. Wellness initiatives include also mental health support, access to counseling services, and workshops on managing stress. Other wellness programs could be group activities that can help build camaraderie and healthy employee competition. For example, a company-wide step challenge or a wellness fair with local health professionals can help employees get involved in fun, health-promoting activities.
  • Professional development: Employees highly prize anything that offers growth or learning opportunities. Offering workshops, training, or tuition reimbursement to enable your employees to gain additional skills is a great way to enrich and advance their career paths. This investment in their future can increase loyalty and engagement. Other valuable experiences may be mentorship programs and going to industry conferences. By supporting professional development, the company is sharpening the skillsets of its team and showing that it's invested in the long-term success of its employees. deskbird points out that continuous learning opportunities create a big difference in employee retention.
  • Social office events and team building: Regular social activities, lunches, game nights, or off-site retreats bring the team closer. Stronger interpersonal relationships help with better collaboration and a well-bonded atmosphere in the workplace. Ensuring good team dynamics is essential for employee satisfaction. Social events tear down barriers between departments and hierarchies, allowing a free flow of communication and respect toward each other. This will help improve morale and create a positive company culture when celebrating achievements and milestones.
  • On-site amenities: A cafeteria, a coffee bar, or a relaxation lounge can make the office a comfortable spot to spend long working hours. These benefits cut down on burnout and hopefully get your employees through the daily slump. Giving your people space to unwind and revitalize will go a long way in terms of engagement. Other facilities like nap pods, game rooms, and quiet meditation areas give much-needed respite during a busy day. deskbird highlights how incorporating such amenities into the office space enhances the employee experience, making the workplace more than just a place of work but a community, a hub for collaboration.

💜Check out deskbird resources for more ideas and tips to increase employee engagement and provide better office perks.

Perks are a good way to implement engagement effectively

Introducing them requires a strategic approach to boost engagement as needed. Here are some steps you might want to consider:

  1. Assess employee needs: Conduct surveys or open suggestion boxes for input on what employees value most as perks. This will ensure that the benefits offered are what employees really want (and need).
  2. Align with your company culture: When building an in-office perks strategy, offer benefits that fit your organization's values, culture, identity, and mission. Remember to communicate how employees can use the benefits and how they work. Proper communication maximizes involvement and effectiveness.
  3. Adjust: In-office perks are not a one-and-done type of project. It's important to check their effectiveness with periodic surveys to ensure your team benefits from them and that no changes are required. Tools such as urbest.io can help manage office facilities and services, making implementing and maintaining various perks easier.  
  4. Measure the impact on engagement: How do you know if these benefits work? The key is to measure the engagement to calculate the return on investment. An example is analyzing office event attendance with deskbird.
  5. Ask for feedback: Conduct periodic assessments regarding the benefits and how they impact job satisfaction. The insights gained from direct input into the decision-making process are priceless.
  6. Check performance metrics: Observe productivity improvements, work quality, and innovation. In most instances, a very engaged employee will quickly go beyond the call of duty.
  7. Check retention rates: Observe turnover to see if your initiatives on employee engagement will prolong employee tenure. High retention is a strong indicator of employee satisfaction.
  8. Check absenteeism: Reduced absenteeism may suggest improved engagement and job satisfaction. Employees who feel more appreciated will show up to work more regularly. By studying such metrics, companies can gauge how well their in-office perks work and inform decisions toward a more effective engagement strategy.

As we end our exploration, it's clear now that benefits and perks are not just nice-to-haves. They are part of a holistic strategy to enhance employee engagement. You can create the most dynamic, satisfying, and productive work environments by selecting and implementing office benefits that speak to your team. The secret to great, effective benefits is that they align with your employees' needs and the company's culture. 

Learn how urbest.io can help you easily manage your office facilities to support these initiatives.

Embrace in-office perks as a core component of your employee engagement strategy: you will position your company not just as a workplace but as a community that values every member.