Key perks to woo staff back to work

Flexible hours, savings on fuel, parking and takeaways – hey, even being able to bring in the washing or take the dog for a stroll. It’s no wonder Aussies have embraced working from home. So, while more workers are returning to the office post-lockdown, many are wary - with cost and safety understandably big concerns. However, a few attractive perks can go a long way to assuaging these fears.

Eat and greet

New research by Uber Australia shows over 1 in 2 Aussies prefer free food over a flexible workplace policy, and almost 60% of employees wish their office offered free meals or food vouchers.

It’s something many businesses did for staff during lockdown, and it’s a great way to foster workplace engagement out of lockdown too.

“Food is the way to many people’s hearts,” said Tim Rossanis, Head of Enterprise for Uber for Business. “At the height of the lockdown, large enterprises were offering Uber Eats and digital gift cards to their Melbourne based staff to help keep spirits up. But free food is not just being offered by big business. Over a third of orders we have seen through Eats for Business this year were made by SMBs.” 

Uber Eats offers options like group ordering so teams can come together, even when working remotely. Managers can also send, say, $20 vouchers for a team lunch as a reward for completing a project or as a way to incentivise employees back in the office. The beauty of vouchers is you only pay for what is redeemed. There are Uber Eats gift cards you can use, and meal programmes that allow staff who are, say, working overtime to order Uber Eats and it gets billed straight back to the business.

Not only do food perks save staff time and money, but it’s a way of hammering home the message ‘we value you, and it’s great to have you back’. Plus by giving Uber Eats vouchers for local cafes, you’re doing your bit for local businesses impacted by Covid. It’s a win-win.

Travelling with ease

Uber’s research also reveals that over half of Aussies aged between 25 and 44 would be more likely to return to the office if their workplace offered free/subsidised commutes. And almost a quarter say their daily commute does not allow enough space for social distancing. This is where companies can help with incentives like an Uber rides voucher to come into the office or to cover the cost of their Uber rides for meetings.

“Not everyone is comfortable with taking public transport yet, and the economic impact of commuting, like road tolls, is deterring many people from returning to the office even when it is safe to do so,” said Rossanis. 

Add to that the fact in major centres like Sydney right now, buses are filling up by about the third stop, with long waiting times for passengers.

"Businesses are starting to think about how they can help their employees with their daily commute or providing alternative options in the post-Covid world,” said Rossanis.

With Uber for Business, you can set workers up on a corporate Uber rides programme, opting to pay, say, $20 of their commute weekly or daily. Your employee has their own reliable chariot to whisk them to work complete with – thanks to Uber’s partnership with Dettol – free, instant Hand Sanitiser and Disinfectant Wipes.

You can set limits for day, time, budget, and even the type of ride your employee can charge. Your travel policy becomes automatic and you pay for everyone using the same account.

See how other companies are using Uber for Business to engage with employees here or request a demo today.