According to new research from youatwork, employees don’t want to be fobbed off with fancy job titles, flexible working, bonding days and beers with the boss. No, they just want to be thanked for their work!
More than two thirds (68%) of workers questioned said that benefits such as new job titles, the opportunity to work from home and even training and development did nothing for their motivation in comparison with a simple thank you.
The research highlighted the benefits that are really valued by employees – and those that just don’t cut it:
IN
– Being thanked for good work
– Better pay
– ‘Thoughtful’ perks (such as Man Utd giving David Beckham a set of Old Trafford goalposts)
– Well-deserved promotions
– Discounted gym membership to stay in shape and de-stress
– Being given a choice of benefits so you can select what works best for you
OUT
– Working round the clock and bragging about it
– Frittering profits away on corporate bonding days
– Access to a share scheme which offers no instant gratification
– Fancy job titles that mean nothing in reality
– A good car parking spot so you can drive right up to the office door
– Being taken for a beer by the boss and having to struggle in to work with a hangover the following day
Only employees n financial businesses bucked this trend. One fifth (20%) of financiers said that being taken out for a beer by their boss was more important than courtesy in the workplace, in comparison with the 4% average.
Kind words aside, it would seem that the next best way to every employee’s heart is through his or her stomach. When asked which small perk they valued most highly, food featured heavily on the list for UK workers including a staff biscuit tin (44%), free fruit (42%) and luncheon vouchers (37%).
But the top perk for all staff questioned was discounts on holidays and trips which was requested by more than half (52%) of employees. The opportunity for an afternoon siesta was requested by 45% of employees.
