Rethinking Perks: Goodbye Stocked Kitchens and On-Site Gyms

With more than a quarter of the global workforce working remotely, the perks of office life seem to sound like a distant dream – from stocked pantry to on-site gyms, the benefits of a physical workplace are missed.

How can companies going remote full-time, or those planning to work remotely, still provide perks to their employees working from home? You might be surprised to learn that the COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically redefining the workplace and impacting employees in terms of flexibility, engagement and burnout.

With more than a quarter of the global workforce working remotely, the perks of office life seem to sound like a distant dream – from stocked pantry to on-site gyms, the benefits of a physical workplace are missed.

The Workhuman employee pulse survey, taken in early May, polled more than 3,000 full-time workers in the U.S., across various industries. Their responses highlighted much-needed perspectives on what’s most important to workers right now, and how the current climate is changing benefits and perks provided to employees.

• 53% of workers would rather spend the rest of their career working from home with their family.
• Since the pandemic began, 42% of workers said they have a felt a sense of loneliness and isolation once a week or more often, 10% said they felt lonely every day. 
• When workers were asked how well their managers boosted motivation and engagement during this time, the average score was 65/100. 
• Remote workers ranked “my colleagues” as what they miss most about working in the office – placing it ahead of culture, work/life balance, and routine. 
• The survey showed that social distancing, health risks, and loss of routine are all wearing on people: 38% of workers experienced a form of burnout during the pandemic, and for working parents the number was even higher at 42%.  
• 25% of employees reported their sense of work/life balance became worse over this time period, 26% of workers admitted they were working more hours 
• “What is the biggest change you’d like to see happen in the workplace after COVID-19?” the top answer was “more flexible work-from-home policies” (39%), followed by “more recognition for the work we’re doing” (18%). 
• 62% of workers said they have not been recognized since the pandemic began 
• When asked what’s the biggest change they’d like to see after COVID-19, write-in responses included “healthy facilities,” “increased measures of safety and cleanliness,” and “better contingency planning.”  

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