5 Post-Pandemic Company Benefits To Consider

Work safety is one of the biggest concerns in this pandemic. Employees still want to earn their keep despite the perceived hazard, but they want to do it without compromising their health and that of their loved ones. To manage this, many companies have redesigned their benefits to help employees cope with uncertainties. 

And if Coronavirus were to finally pass? The health concerns still wouldn’t die down anytime soon. It then becomes important to provide security for employees not just for their jobs, but also for their overall well-being. More companies need to adjust the benefits accordingly to support their employees in times of crisis. After all, employees are their biggest asset.

In the post-pandemic world, here are some of the benefits that both employers and employees should start looking into.

1. No-nonsense healthcare plans

Even before the first recorded COVID-19 positive case, healthcare benefits are already one of the biggest determining factors for job seekers and employees. With the pandemic making health a more pressing matter, employers may need to level up their healthcare plans.

Even if New Zealand has a great healthcare system, it makes a world of difference knowing that they have their own plan as a backup in these uncertain times. This plan should not just include some basic check-ups and consultations. It should also include coverage for a wide range of diseases — from common colds to terminal stage cancer. 

The plan should also include remote mental health check-ups and other forms of assistance. As the pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health, it became one of the most important inclusions. On top of this, it won’t hurt to offer coverage for the employees’ immediate family as well. While it’s not essential, it shows that you truly care about your biggest assets.

2. Well-compensated hazard pay

Nobody wants to put themselves in danger without getting the right compensation. And this is true for health workers and frontliners amidst the pandemic. That’s why they raised their request for higher hazard pay as they directly interact COVID-19 patients.

With this increased likelihood of contracting deadly diseases, employers need to offer the right hazard pay for their employees. A well-compensated hazard pay should include coverage for comprehensive check-ups for them and their family. This is on top of the pay itself for being in close contact with the disease.

The pandemic has also taught us that essential workers aren’t only exclusive to medical workers. Jobs in cleaning, administrative, grocery, and hospitality staff among others, are considered as frontline workers too. For this reason, they also need to have comprehensive hazard pay even in the post-pandemic world.

3. Additional sick leaves and financial assistance

Before the pandemic hit, most people would disregard common colds and cough. Most people will still go to work without worrying about it, especially because not going to work means not getting the day’s pay. When the Coronavirus outbreak started, this all changed.

Most Kiwis would call in sick, as even common colds can lead to COVID-19. As there are very limited sick leave credits, however, some people still disregard any symptoms because they have to earn their keep. To ensure work safety, employers may need to add sick leave credits and provide some assistance for their medication.

Even if the pandemic has finally passed, this can still prove beneficial to employees and businesses. Without someone constantly sneezing and coughing in the office, you lessen the possibility of mass transmission. You can avoid employees calling in sick, as it can greatly decrease the productivity of the company as well.

4. Lay-off and termination benefits

One of the many repercussions of the pandemic is the widespread lay-offs. With the economy closing down due to hard lockdown, many companies are going bankrupt, which has ultimately led to 11,000 Kiwis losing their jobs.

Some companies have exhausted all their resources to provide a substantial termination pay for their employees. However, some have simply terminated their employees without giving them the right termination benefit. While you can’t blame most companies,  it should no longer be the case in the post-pandemic world.

Companies need to assure termination benefits when laying off their employees for whatever reason. They must make sure their employees are ready to support their future endeavours by giving them a considerable ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’ benefit. After all, they’ve contributed so much to the company’s growth.

Airbnb stood out in this regard when they let go of 25% of their employees last May. Their CEO and Co-Founder Brian Chesky made sure those leaving are taken care of. He released a public heartfelt message with a list of the five ways they’re assisting ex-employees in finding new job opportunities. Such empathy should be expected from higher-ups moving forward.

5. Remote work set-ups and benefits

While many believe that most jobs can only be done in the office, the pandemic has proved it false. Many companies started to adapt the work from home set-up to keep their businesses operational during the closure of the economy.

In the post-pandemic world, many companies will start to adjust their work set-ups to slowly bounce back in business. It can either be a full-remote work or a combination of a more flexible office and work set-up. Whatever it is, companies need to provide remote work perks just like they’ve provided free gym or free meals in the office.

One of the best ways that companies can do this is by offering entertainment services like a free Netflix and Spotify subscription. They can also offer designated work devices like laptops and tablets equipped with a stable internet connection, as the main drivers for them to work more efficiently.

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