The average wage for a fast food worker in the U.S. is $12.43, though the federal minimum wage remains at just $7.25/hour. However, many people simply won’t accept the bare minimum. Job seekers want competitive wages, opportunities for growth, and the best employee benefits. Employers must get creative with employee benefits if they want to attract and retain hourly workers.
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Aside from industry standard benefits — medical, life, disability insurance, etc. — here are seven creative types of employee benefits to offer your hourly workers.
1. Sign-on Bonuses
Companies like Papa John’s and McDonald’s have started to offer their hourly workers sign-on bonuses. The food service industry, in particular, is facing record-high turnover rates, so it’s crucial to attract and retain applicants. Employees will get to enjoy the instant gratification of cash in their pocket and will likely be more motivated to stay at your business long-term. It’s a win-win.
2. Gym Membership Discounts
Encourage your hourly workers to maintain a healthy lifestyle by offering gym membership discounts! Regular exercise can boost employee engagement and productivity. The healthier your hourly workers are, the more likely they will come to work energized and ready to conquer the day.
3. Scholarship Opportunities
Seeking a degree is costly, so why not reward your hourly workers with free education? Top brands like Taco Bell currently offer exclusive scholarship opportunities for employees. Their Live Más Scholarship will be awarding Taco Bell employees with $7 million in 2021.
4. Tuition Reimbursement
Approximately 43 million Americans are currently burdened by student loan debt. Some companies, like Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s, have taken it upon themselves to offer their employees tuition assistance or reimbursement.
So, what is tuition reimbursement? Employers agree to pay a specific amount or percentage of their employees’ higher education for a degree if the employee works a certain amount of hours per week. Usually, the study program relates to their current career, but that is not always a requirement. Offering tuition reimbursement to your hourly workers can benefit your company since your employees are less likely to leave and seek higher wages elsewhere.
5. Workplace Counseling
Stress is inevitable, regardless of the industry you work in. Consider implementing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits such as workplace counseling. This gives them access to therapists who work with employees to reduce stress that could impact employees’ ability to do their job. Workplace counseling aims to provide a healthy environment as it benefits both employers and hourly workers. Employees have a safe, confidential place to discuss problems, solutions, and useful skills, and businesses generally see lower turnover rates, higher employee attendance, and better productivity.
6. Childcare Services
62% of parents in the U.S. struggle to find childcare so they can support themselves and their family. Additionally, 83% of millennials say they would leave a job for one that provided more family-friendly services like childcare. This employee benefit program is often overlooked or forgotten by employers, so if you have the resources to do so, it would make many parents happy. Plus, childcare services will boost employee recruitment, retention, and attendance.
7. Charitable Donations
Consider making a donation in your hourly worker’s name to a charity of their choice. A Senior Helping Seniors franchise implemented this program to attract more caregivers to their locations, and so can you!
Bonus Benefit: Being Part of a Cohesive Team
In addition to implementing several types of employee benefits, hire individuals who will mesh well and succeed like your best hourly workers! Sprockets’ Applicant Matching System empowers owners and operators to predict applicant success based on the mental makeup of top team members, ultimately reducing costly turnover by 22%! Our AI-powered solution is proven to work and is trusted by top brands like KFC and Taco Bell.