It's very easy to just roll your eyes at the word "perks." But providing them for your employees doesn't mean you're constantly treating them to major benefits. It can be the little things that make a difference: the coffee in the breakroom, biscuits, the water cooler humming in the corner. And they don't exactly sound like the type of things that can break a workplace, but the thing is, they kind of do.

Because while they might show up as extras on your budget sheet, they're small touches that actually make people's days brighter and easier to manage. That employee who got up late and was so focused on getting to work on time could had her morning coffee at work thanks to you supplying the facilities and supplies required to make a coffee to take it to her desk. Day saved. The mum who was too busy wrangling the kids out the door for school to eat, grabbed a breakfast bar from the breakroom so she won't be working on an empty stomach till lunch.

These are the perks that aren't just extra expenses you pay for, but an investment in your company and money well spent.

Hydration Stations

Let's start with the water cooler. It doesn't look like much and likely doesn't cost too much, either. But that place where people can grab a quick drink makes all the difference in productivity. When people are hydrated, they're more focused, they feel better, work better, and they tend to be less focused on sourcing liquids elsewhere during the working day because they can just grab a cup and head to the provided water coolers. 

Snacks and Breakroom Basics

Sure, you're just filling the breakroom with random snacks so people can grab a quick bite to eat or a hot drink, nothing much. But these perks aren't just spoiling people, they're fuelling them. No one works to the best of their abilities when they're hungry or thirsty, and when you reach this point, efficiency, productivity, and standards go out the window.

But thanks to you filling the cupboard with snack bars, grab-and-go foods, or even fruit or healthy snacks, you can give people that quick bite to take the edge off their hunger and get back to work. So it's not a wasted investment; it's a lifesaver for many people and an investment in their health and abilities.

Training and Development

Training your employees is never a wasted investment, even if you feel like it is. The reason training and development is one of the smartest perks you can offer is what it gives back to you as an employer.

While it looks like you're just building your employees up with the skills for the job, you're actually investing in the company. Because people who are well trained and supported are likely to perform better, make fewer mistakes, are more equipped to handle their workload independently and deliver higher standards and better results. And on top of this, they're more likely to remain with the company if they feel they're valued and you're invested in their career development, too.