Unconventional Office Perks in 2014

As the fourth quarter of 2013 comes to an end, many HR professionals are thinking of ways to attract and retain the best and brightest employees in 2014. Younger applicants are especially interested in employee perks that make it easier to maintain good work-life balance and increase job satisfaction. Unfortunately, many employers offer the same old company perks from year to year, making it difficult to attract top talent. Using unconventional employee perks is a great way to attract applicants with the knowledge and experience needed to help your company succeed.

General Mills and Clif Bar offer company-paid sabbaticals, which is fairly rare outside the academic field. Employees who meet length-of-service requirements are allowed to take sabbaticals to travel, spend time with family members, or pursue personal goals. Offering this perk helps employees reduce stress, but it also has positive consequences for employers. Although you may not see an immediate return on your investment, offering employee perks is a good way to retain valuable team members. Because identifying and training new employees is so expensive, retaining your best workers can help you reduce staffing and employee development costs.

Some companies are even allowing employees to bring their pets to work. Implementing office pet policies helps employees build strong relationships and improve their concentration. Having pets around also promotes relaxation, which can actually increase alertness. If you allow employees to bring their dogs to work, the workers may even get more fresh air and exercise because they have to take the dogs outside several times per day. If you decide to allow pets at work, be very clear about which pets are allowed and which are not. Google bills itself as a "dog company," so employees are not allowed to bring their cats to the workplace.

Many HR professionals are realizing the benefits of offering company perks that help employees relax and relieve stress. As a result, some employers are offering access to meditation rooms in the office. Big companies have been offering free massages for years, but this is a recent development in the human resources field. Offering this type of perk gives employees an opportunity to relax during their lunch breaks or destress after a long day of work, which can make them happier and more productive. If this catches on, expect more employers to start offering unconventional employee perks in 2014.

If you do not have the budget to give large pay increases or offer high starting salaries, offering employee perks is a great way to attract people interested in maintaining a good work-life balance. In 2014, employers will be offering sabbaticals, pet policies, meditation rooms, and other unconventional perks to attract highly qualified applicants and retain their best employees. If you do not currently offer employee perks, talk to executives about the benefits of doing so.

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