I am looking to compile a list of next level benefits we could offer our employees that would set us apart. At this point in time, PTO, 401k matches, and paid insurance are base-level pay-to-play. What is a benefit that you have never heard of a company having that you would love!? Think outside the box! (Primary employee demographic 30 year old males with 1-2 kids).
a hot take: ownership? at the very least, the ability to participate in decisions that affect them. look into employee ownership resources, cooperative models, etc.
now, i’m not saying give up the whole business! but check out the essay “private government” by elizabeth anderson. even with all the cushy benefits i had at a tech job, the bureaucracy and top-down decision making is why i left!
Thanks for the recommendation, I will check out the article. I 100% agree that having a seat at the table where you can share ideas and are genuinely respected for your key part is HUGE. We appreciate the idea of employee-owned companies or employee-staked companies, so I will be interested in reading the article.
great to hear it!! and keep in mind, you don’t need to go down the ESOP route necessarily, as some of those more complex legal structures can be more for larger corps. i frequent a local business that just wrote up papers as an LLC with a set number of shares owned by its employees.
I’d be happy to chat/curious if you do go down this route. especially what the road bumps were / what would make it easier. i’m also a fan of employee ownership, and working to try and make it more commonplace :)