Employee perks programs for small businesses: What to know

Curating the right mix of total rewards can be challenging for small businesses, particularly when budgets are limited. Employee perks programs offer a practical way to add meaningful value without increasing overhead. These programs provide your workforce access to savings from trusted retailers, service providers, entertainment and wellness brands, allowing smaller teams to enjoy valuable perks without incurring high costs.

When combined with HR technology, employee perks programs can significantly enhance the overall employee experience in the workplace. This article explores what small businesses need to know about employee perks programs. 

What are employee perks programs?

Employee perks programs are an employer-supported offering that gives employees access to preferred pricing and special offers across a range of products, services and experiences. These programs are designed to reinforce appreciation, support financial wellness and strengthen engagement as part of a broader total rewards approach. Perks typically span a range of categories, including retail, travel, wellness and experiences, with varying availability based on provider partnerships.

For small businesses, perks programs remove the need to establish and manage individual brand relationships, making it easier to offer value at scale. Solutions such as WorkPerks by Venngo provide Canadian small businesses with a competitive edge in hiring and retaining top talent. These solutions give employees access to a broad mix of national brands and local favourites across Canada, helping employers offer relevant perks without added administrative complexity. 

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Why are small businesses offering employee perks programs?

Small businesses across Canada are adopting perks programs to:

• Boost morale and satisfaction: People who are satisfied with their work experience have an 87% lower chance of leaving their jobs compared to those who are unhappy.¹
• Improve reputation: A positive reputation facilitates the attraction of top talent. In fact, 89% of employees at companies that prioritize well-being initiatives are more inclined to recommend their workplace to others as a great place to work.¹ 
• Enhance total rewards: Businesses can offer attractive total rewards without adding to their administrative workload.
  

Types of perks employers can provide

Most perks programs offer employees access to a wide range of offers. Common categories include:

• Retail: Savings on clothing, electronics and household items
  
• Health, wellness and fitness: Perks on gym memberships, wellness services and health products
  
• Travel: Reduced rates for hotels, flights and vacation packages
• Entertainment: Special offers on movie tickets, concerts and events
  
• Experiences: Perks on activities like adventure sports, workshops and classes
• Food and dining: Savings at restaurants, cafés and grocery stores
• Local offers: Special deals from businesses within employees' communities
  
• Family-focused perks: Perks on family activities, child-care services and educational resources
• Lifestyle perks: Offers related to hobbies, subscriptions and personal interests

What small businesses should consider before choosing a perks program

Before choosing an employee perks program, it’s important to evaluate key factors such as:

• Cost: Assess the overall budget, including any subscription or per-employee fees
• Relevance of offers: Consider the types of perks offered to ensure they meet the interests of your team
• User experience: Search for programs that provide ease of access through both mobile and online platforms
  
• Customer support: Evaluate the level of customer support available to address potential issues
  
• Geographic coverage: Ensure the program offers national coverage for remote teams or those spread across regions
• Integration with HR software: Check if the perks program can integrate with your existing HR tools

How HR software enhances employee perks management for small businesses

Integrating a perks program with HR software can help enhance the overall experience for business owners, managers and employees as they centralize access to various perks, providing employees with a single location to find all the information they need. Integration can also improve communication and visibility through notifications and employee self-service features. This process streamlines the onboarding and offboarding processes by automatically managing access to perks programs. Lastly, an integrated system provides valuable insights into employee engagement, enabling employers to understand which perks are most meaningful to their teams.

Enhancing the employee experience — your next step

Employee perks programs are a practical and affordable way for Canadian small businesses to enhance their overall employee benefits package. By offering curated savings on everyday purchases, these programs help support financial wellness, strengthen culture and enhance the overall employee experience. When paired with HR software, they also become easier to manage and more user-friendly for employees.

Small business owners looking to introduce accessible perks can explore solutions like WorkPerks by Venngo, along with HR and payroll technologies that help bring these experiences together. Tools such as ADP Canada’s small business solutions can support growing workplaces with the systems, insights and integrations they need to create a more connected, people-first environment.

Explore our small business toolkit to discover more opportunities to enhance your employee experience. 

FAQs

1. WorkPerks by Venngo, Why WorkPerks, 2019

This guide is intended to be used as a starting point in analyzing employee perks programs and is not a comprehensive resource of requirements. It offers practical information concerning the subject matter and is provided with the understanding that ADP Canada is not rendering legal or tax advice or other professional services.