Small Business, Big Perks

Small business owners can be sheepish employers, thinking that what they offer isn’t competitive with what a big business can offer. Yet there are plenty of people who would rather work for you – especially when you perk them up with benefits they can’t find in Fortune’s 100+. Feature what you offer that employees will never find in Corporate America. Here are a few low-to-no-cost perks I’ve seen woo and retain employees who are just the right fit for your size Small:

• Include the whole staff in annual planning, so every employee knows the impact, and feels the accomplishment, of her work. (Bonus: dilute your business owner’s load by spreading the responsibility.)

• Travois setup on-premise day care and encourages dogs at work. Dogs and kids are lively reminders to stay fluid and keep laughing.

• Offer a shortened workweek; Fridays off; extra days off for the same or less pay. To some, time is more valuable than moula.

• Brandon Worrell of Clickfarm Interactive, offers his employees a weekly meeting just to focus on their individual professional development. It’s like having an industry-immersed career coach on staff.

• Host lunches. Bring in Bomb Pops. Stock the kitchen with healthy snacks.

• Buff up employees with a free gym membership like emfluence does.

• J. Schmid lets employees decorate their offices any way they want. The idea has been so successful that they should host the office equivalent of a homes tour to show off.

• Let employees work from home.

• Pay a stipend for employees to use toward their personal health insurance coverage.

Homework: Write in the comments below any perks you offer or would like to try.