Sometimes a high salary alone won’t be enough to convince top talent to sign on the dotted line if the location, company culture, and the flexible working policy don’t pass muster.
Candidates consider the whole package when it comes to accepting a job offer, including what the sustainable employee benefits are. Your benefits aren’t just how you attract and retain talent – they’re how you demonstrate your company values.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, 83% of employees would be more loyal to a company that helps them contribute to social and environmental issues. Another study shows 71% of Millennials and Gen Z see the climate crisis as the biggest challenge facing their generation and want their employer to make a positive and meaningful environmental impact.
There’s an app for that!
You can give your staff the opportunity to make a positive impact by including sustainable-themed apps and platforms in the benefits package. The apps include anything from discounts on shopping with more ethical brands to organic food boxes to digital vouchers to spend on more environmentally friendly meals out.
Let’s take a look at some of the available apps:
PLANTS + PERKS is an app on a mission ‘to empower 1m employees to live healthier, more sustainable lives.’ The app informs, incentivises, and inspires employees to reduce their impact on the planet in a supportive way. Not only will your employees have the feel-good factor using the app– you will too because you will be a more sustainable employer.
There are three services available:
- PLANTS + PERKS LITE: This is a completely free and is the perfect way to start the sustainability conver sation in your company.
- PLANTS + PERKS PLUS: Built with SMEs in mind, this service is ideal for companies who wish to offer employees more value and greater reporting.
- PLANTS + PERKS PRO: For larger companies, PRO is fully bespoke, fully integrated, and fully supported by an account manager.
The Lumina app was created by Amba as a solution for putting sustainability values at the core of benefit packages. It combines ethical perks and rewards with a one easy-access online platform Lumina is a new approach to caring for people and the planet.
Like PLANTS + PERKS, there are three services offered:
- Lumina Perks: Environmental and socially conscious employee discounted perks, ideal for SMEs with a smaller reward budget.
- Lumina Gateway: Host your reward package all in one place, with a self-service gateway that links out to all your employee engagement solutions.
- Lumina Plus: On top of everything else, Lumina Plus brings you access to fully flexible benefits & benefit trading.
Ailuna is an engagement app & platform for companies that want to make a bigger difference to the world around them, through action and positivity. The word Ailuna (Ai luna) is Hawaiian and means “up there, aiming high”. Which is fitting because that’s exactly what they are trying to do.
Ailuna combines technology with behavioural science and a LOT of passion, to help your employees build and stick to a series of habits that are designed to be good for them, good for the planet and most importantly, fun!
It’s possible launch app programs based on the long range of available challenges or programs, or develop bespoke ones to support your company’s initiatives and goals. Make your company brand and values shine through custom outfits for your employees’ and customers’ Ailuna avatars.
Giki is a platform which is step-by-step guide to reduce your carbon footprint for free. The Giki Zero Pro service helps your employees think carbon and cut carbon to build a culture with sustainability at its core.
Its combines science-based personal carbon calculator with teams and leader boards to bring people together. Blended with the expertise of climate change leaders to keep sustainability top of mind.
There’s even a free version for individuals to try out. Giki Zero is free and accessible for people who want to get a personal guide to help reduce their carbon footprint on an easy-to-use, beautiful app.
These apps are a great way to support the wider sustainable business model in your company. Get in touch with them directly to find out more information.
Authentic values matter
A Deloitte study found that 49% of Gen Z said their values influence what type of work they do. The rise of the ‘ethical employee’ has meant that the companies who attract and retain the best talent are those who offer meaningful sustainable employee benefits.
Along with the apps mentioned above, here are some other ideas on to how help employees (and your company) to reduce the environmental impact of working.
5 employee benefits that benefit people and planet
- Remote working
Flexible working supports the work-life balance of your team. But it also supports the environment, too! Reducing number of days your team travels into the office means that you reduce your collective carbon emissions.
- Salary sacrifice schemes
The classic example of a sustainable salary sacrifice benefit is the cycle to work scheme. This scheme also promotes health, wellbeing & greener travel! Some other eco options include charity salary sacrifice e.g., planting trees and EV (electric vehicle) schemes.
- Volunteering days
You can help support people and planet through offering your employees a paid volunteering day each year. This could be a day where they volunteer for a charity of their choice. Donations
- Donations
Using a giving platform such as B1G1 allows you link donations to specific business activities or business. The vetted charities are worldwide and the causes are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, so it’s possible to select the goals which align with your business the most.
You can plant trees, offset carbon, donate eye operations, or send vital medical supplies to the Ukraine, plus many more worthwhile impacts you can choose from.
If you would like advice on how to improve your employee benefit package to help attract and retain talent, get in touch with Maxine on 01256 236997 or email maxine@wotestreetpeople.co.uk for a confidential chat.
