7 Benefits for Remote Workers That Every Company Should Offer
(And What to Request From Your Employer If You Work Remotely)
Ahhh, employee benefits... Or, #workperks as the kids are saying. The elusive confetti cannon of the business world that can make or break team morale, the quality of work produced by employees, employee turnover, and overall employee satisfaction.
It can be a complicated topic to navigate, and once you throw benefits for remote workers into the mix, your head may start to spin.
It used to be that the option to work from home WAS a work perk. But with 70% of employees worldwide working from home at least one day a week, the remote workforce is stronger than ever… and just because working remotely is a kind of perk in and of itself doesn't mean it should be used as an excuse not to offer other benefits.
Is working in your pajamas really more valuable than an office chair that offers top-notch lumbar support? Or having two high-quality monitors to work from?
And that's not even touching more serious and essential benefits like healthcare, which can be difficult to navigate when a company is based in one location and its employees are global.
So whether you're a job seeker trying to figure out what type of benefits to be on the lookout for, or you're an employer trying to make sure your telecommuting employees stay happy, productive, and engaged, these 7 benefits for remote workers are a great place to get started.
1. Technology & Supplies
It's pretty safe to say that just about 100% of remote workers depend on their laptop and all its necessary accessories to complete their daily responsibilities. Providing these gadgets - or even just providing a stipend for employees to purchase these items on their own - is a highly appreciated and anticipated benefit. You might also consider offering an allowance for office desks, chairs, and supplies such as notebooks and pens.
2. Coworking Space Stipend
Working in your bed sounds great...until it isn't. Everybody needs to get out of the house, spend time with other people, and have a dedicated workspace with quality internet. Reimbursing employees for a coworking space is a great way to show that you value their sanity. Yay for putting on real clothes!
3. Flexible Work Hours & Unlimited Paid Time Off
Arguably one of the best things about working remotely is the feeling of knowing your employer trusts you enough to not have to keep an eye on you at all times. Many would assume that working from home means more flexibility, but a lot of companies still expect their employees to be on the clock during normal business hours. If a remote role has room for flexibility (i.e., doesn't require answering phone calls between set business hours), flexible work hours and even unlimited paid time off can go a long way as a company perk. Employers that don't care when or how a job is completed as long as it gets done are favored for a reason!
4. Health and Wellness Allowance
Healthy employees are happy employees... And happy employees are productive employees... And productive employees are the gold standard of the whole entire world! Well, at least the business world. That's why it's no surprise employees and companies alike value health and wellness benefits. Offering free gym memberships or allowances towards things like fitness programs, massages, nutritionists, and exercise equipment is an easy way companies are keeping their workers happier, healthier, and more productive.
An allowance like this is also a great way to ensure that employees living abroad can purchase whatever health insurance best suits their needs and get reimbursed.
5. Company Trips
One of the biggest downsides of working remotely is feeling lonely and isolated from coworkers. The bigger issue here is that despite conference calls and video chats, feeling isolated during working hours can contribute to the feeling of not being a part of a team. Companies that offer all-expense-paid trips allow remote team members to escape the seclusion of their homes, have some personal time outside of their home office on the company's dime, and experience team bonding that results in a better sense of belonging in the company.
6. Paid Parental Leave & Childcare Benefits
Going back to the office after bringing a new baby into the world is incredibly difficult for most parents. But going back to work when your office is in your home where you've been cuddling your little bundle since it arrived in this world? That can be extra difficult to navigate. Just because employees are working from home doesn't mean you should expect them not to need/want paid time off with their new addition. You need to offer paid parental leave and childcare benefits to remote workers the same way you would in-office workers. (Unless you're in the 60% of companies in the U.S. that don't offer paid parental leave - then you need to do better.)
7. Home Delivery Services
With the boom in subscription boxes, offering affordable - yet exciting - home delivery subscriptions to remote employees is a great way to bring in-office culture to a remote setting. If a company headquarters is pet friendly, sending a monthly dog toy subscription to remote pet owners is a great way to involve Fido from afar. If a company is known for providing outstanding coffee or lunches in the office, providing remote workers with a meal kit delivery service or a coffee-of-the-month subscription is a simple, affordable, and easy way to help employees know you care!
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Are you ready to move your office from cubicle to condo? Be sure to check out all our remote jobs here. Or, if you're a company looking to hire remote talent be sure to join our hiring platform to find the best candidates for the job.
Homecare Homebase Cares
Empowering Exceptional Care
At Homecare Homebase, it's more than just writing code, quality assurance, or even customer support- it's about providing tools for their customers that will allow them to provide great care to patients.
Click here to see all available opportunities at Homecare Homebase.
Job Of The Week + Companies That Care
End Q1 With Companies Coming To You!
Q1 may be coming to a close, but for those of us preparing for end-of quarter presentations, April can't come fast enough. Luckily for you, we launched our final Excel Masterclass: Reporting and Dashboards just in time for putting any last minute touches on your Q1 reports. And get this, you won't need to purchase any fancy software to make them look fabulous. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and relax while our Senior Web and Data Analyst (and mom of two) Vanina, walks you through everything you need to know about creating reports in Excel or Google Sheets in only an hour. And to wrap up the quarter on an even stronger note, make sure you follow the companies we're partnering with below!
FEATURED JOB OF THE WEEK: CenturyLink - Account Director (Multiple Locations)
Dow Jones
Finding a job after taking time off can be very difficult; a Returnship Program gives professionals an opportunity for a fresh start. To see all available opportunities at Dow Jones, click here.
L3 Technologies Inc.
Flexible work, amazing benefits, and a decentralized operating structure, just waiting for you to make your mark in a thriving industry. To see all available opportunities at L3, click here.
LiveIntent, Inc.
Offering onsite self-defense courses and a world class mentorship program - personal and professional growth are key to their employees success. To see all available opportunities at LiveIntent, click here.
Synchrony Financial
They offer the chance to contribute to the customer experience, support their team in and out of the office, and share their success as they continue to build the company. To see all available opportunities at Synchrony Financial, click here.
Symantec
Offering a dollar-for-dollar match for your charitable donations up to $1,000. To see all available opportunities at Symantec, click here.
Raytheon
Nine employee-driven organizations foster an inclusive, engaged culture; drive business growth and innovation to help everyone succeed. To see all available opportunities at Symantec, click here.
Free Women In Tech Events: My Top Dos
What's coming in 2018 and how to do it right.
Last May PowerToFly started throwing in-person events for women in tech and across digital. We were already doing virtual events and webinars, but it only seemed natural to ramp up live meetups for our community that reaches over 12 million women.
We've now held over thirty events, and needless to say, learned a ton about what works for a women in tech event and what doesn't. I'll summarize a few key points here so that employers can know how to throw events, and women in tech can know what they should expect from an event.
If you're looking for a list of free women in tech events then bookmark PowerToFly's Women in Tech Events list that's constantly updated (most of these events are password protected, so please email talentgrowth@powertofly.com if you want to be included). We do have events in there that aren't tech focused - sales meetups, webinars for employers and a lot more.
Another great resource for women in tech events is MeetUp. You can search for events in your area or globally. Not all the events are free like PowerToFly's are. So dig through and see what you can get. The same goes for Eventbrite's list of women in tech events. Some are free, many are not. So if you're looking for free women in tech events then I can't stress how much you'll want to save our PowerToFly list.
Dos for Throwing a Women in Tech Event
Do - Be transparent about how your company is creating a more inclusive environment.
Companies have a long way to go on this front. Don't pretend you're perfect. No one is - yet. I love this example of an interview I conducted around an event for Dow Jones with one of their Senior Engineers who they hired at nine months pregnant.
Do cut the sales-y talk. Use real examples.
Women want to see what you're building - they want to look at code or hear the stories around a product. They don't want to be pitched on why your company is so great. A good example of this is from an event we recently did with Amazon where we got an inside look into the challenges of building Amazon food. The presenter was a woman, with two children, who fielded questions Amazon food's code-base along with whether she takes her kid to his doctor's appointments every time. You'll have to come to an event to learn about Amazon's code base because that conversation was off the record, but when it comes to taking kids to the doctor in the middle of a workday, yes, the developer told the room that she does it frequently. (Obviously she picks up her unfinished work later in the day, post appointment).
PowerToFly is running a series of women in tech events with Amazon in the Seattle area this winter. If any Seattle women in tech want to join us then follow Amazon for updates here.
Do Feature women and their stories
Not every company needs to feature a panel that has stories like Mona's (scroll up to the video if you want a refresher on who I'm referring to). Panels with women - and men - on them that can articulate what it means to thrive at a company without having to sacrifice one's personal life are key. We did an Austin women in tech event for Homeaway with a line up that included men, women and even the CEO of Expedia. The panel was all women, but as you can see from our write up about this Austin women in tech event there was a strong mix of stories. Another one of my favorite panels was with Dow Jones. We had a mix of women on there who could speak to feeling they belonged despite disabilities, sexual orientation, parenting duties and more. I've pasted a photo in of that women in tech event from this past summer.
Do Include hiring managers (no matter their gender)
Don't throw a women in tech event that only has women. Men make most of the hiring decisions - we need them included at these events. Our Phoenix women in tech event with American Express was a perfect example of how important it is to have hiring managers mix with women in tech. If you don't get hiring managers at these events, then they're not meeting women in tech, and women in tech are not meeting them. The event will feel like another - check the box - recruiting gig.
American Express Tech VP's mingling with Phoenix women in tech
Do Follow up
If you're looking to make hires then don't wait to contact women in tech you've brought to your event. Women in tech are in demand. Just look at all the companies trying to hire more women in tech in 2018. And if you want more stats on how diversity is a priority for top companies, then check out LinkedIn's 2018 hiring trends report.
Need more inspiration of what a good women in tech event looks like? I've pasted in some photos from our PowerToFly Instagram account. Keep scrolling.
Are you looking for women in Tech Events in 2018?
Here's PowerToFly's entire line up through March 2018.
I'll be building out a list for specific women in tech events for -
Women in Tech Events Bay Area
Women in Tech Events NYC
Women in Tech Events Seattle
Women in Tech Austin Events