Courtney Shipshock, Author at PerkSpot

5 Trending Benefits To Implement In 2023

Courtney Shipshock December 19, 2022

Benefits are always evolving and adapting, especially with new generations joining the workforce and work environments becoming more flexible. Whether it’s the option to work remotely or commuter benefits, there are endless ways to help your employees feel valued. With the new year right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to consider what benefits you’ll be providing employees in the upcoming months.

To make things easier, we’ve laid out a list of the benefits employees are looking for out of their current or future employer!

1. Financial Wellness Contributions

With record high inflation rates in the past year, employees have been challenged financially to keep up. To mitigate the effects, it will be crucial to provide benefits that help your employees stretch their paycheck. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to provide financial value to your team. A few examples include financial reimbursements 401(K) contributions, a flexible spending account, financial planning and coaching, and implementing or upgrading your employee discount program.

2. Voluntary Benefits

Healthcare costs only continue to increase causing employees and their families added stress. A few of the trending voluntary benefits that companies are taking advantage of are accident insurance, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, identity theft protection, and pet insurance. By including these benefits at no-cost to employees, it’s a great way to provide protection and security.

3. Family Planning Support

According to Mercer data, 70% of employers are already offering or planning to offer parental leave in 2023. Additionally, 53% are providing or planning to provide paid adoption leave. Not only that, but companies are starting to provide surrogacy benefits, fertility treatment coverage, on-site or backup childcare options, and extended leave for both parents.

4. Mental Health Benefits

With the recent pandemic, increased inflation, and a rise in layoffs, employees have been not only challenged physically but also mentally. Now is a great opportunity to add or improve your benefits around well-being. A few examples you can provide include online resources like classes or apps, employee assistance programs, employee training and workshops, and discounted therapy access.

5. Unique, Outside The Box Perks

Employers across the nation are starting to implement fun, exciting benefits that employees are loving. Whether it’s extended time off for holidays, volunteering days, unlimited PTO, lunch stipends, pet-friendly workspaces, or home-office contributions, there are plenty of ways to increase employee engagement with new perks.

When it comes to employee benefits, there are plenty of opportunities available to help your employees feel valued. Ready to get started today with a financial benefit that helps employees save on the things that matter most? Sign up for a demo and provide your team with exclusive access in a matter of days.

4 Budget-Friendly Gift Giving Techniques For Employees

Courtney Shipshock December 8, 2022

Finding the right way to say “thank you” to your employees during the holiday season can be stressful. But believe it or not, it doesn’t have to be. Not only will your employees feel appreciated, but gift giving is a great way to recognize their hard work and accomplishments over the past year.

We’ve laid out four tips and tricks to conquer this holiday season with gift giving techniques that don’t break the bank. Your wallet will thank you and your team will feel valued!

1. Keep In Mind That A Homemade Gift Is Just As Special

Sometimes when we think about gift giving it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying the next best thing or associating the amount of money spent with your gift’s value. In reality, there’s plenty of ways to show your team you care with homemade cards, blankets, cookie mix, ornaments, mittens, and so much more. It’s the thought that counts!

2. Remember The Importance Of Quality Over Quantity

Sometimes the best gift is the gift of quality time. Instead of unwrapping presents, plan to spend time together as a team. You could plan an event you’ll all attend, schedule a virtual happy hour with festive beverages, or even volunteer for a good cause with one another. Sometimes the best gift is the one filled with laughter and catching up.

3. Did Someone Say Company Swag?

One of the easiest ways to thank your employees is to set them up with some new company swag. There’s plenty of options including mugs, sweatshirts, phone cases, slippers, and so much more. Not only is company swag a great investment that promotes your company, but it also boosts company culture and brand recognition in the long-run.

4. Don’t Forget To Make It Personal When Gift Giving

A simple and effective way to give a gift that goes the extra mile is to incorporate personalization. Is there a coffee shop your team loves? Does your team enjoy grabbing lunch at a nearby restaurant? No matter what you decide, be sure to include a personal message reiterating your gratitude. It’s safe to say that a handwritten card will go a long way with your employees.

There’s plenty of ways you can recognize the hard work of your employees this holiday season.Thanking your team and showing appreciation will not only make their holiday more jolly, but it will pay off long term. In fact, a recent survey found that engagement, productivity, and performance are 14% higher than in those companies without recognition.

We’re here to help this holiday season. An employee discount program can make your gift-giving easier and less expensive, so you can focus on building a better business while keeping employees happy and engaged. Schedule a demo today to discover great deals on family fun time, new gadgets, last minute gifts, and more.

From all of us here at PerkSpot, happy holidays!

An Inside Look At PerkSpot’s Headquarters

Courtney Shipshock October 27, 2022

We’re headed behind the scenes to get a glance at PerkSpot’s Headquarters located in Downtown Chicago. At PerkSpot, our mission is to inspire others to love where they work, and that starts right here with our own employees. What began as an idea has now sprouted into a company that is changing the lives of employees at more than 1,000 businesses around the world, all with the goal to build a better place to work.

Above all, we are proud to be a leader in the human resources space, creating new and valuable ways for employers to provide financial wellness for over one million employees with an attitude of humility, generosity, and gratitude.

Collaboration is Key

PerkSpot’s office is built for collaboration. With two stories of workspaces, the options are endless.

Open-Air Concept

With an open-air concept, employees are able to smoothly work cross-functionally with other internal teams. In addition, there are plenty of meeting rooms available for private meetings.

The Kitchen

Did someone say free lunch? The PerkSpot kitchen is the perfect place to mingle with colleagues. It’s also a great place to cheers to our successes!

Creative Nooks

Why work from a desk when you can work from a couch? PerkSpot has multiple nooks to let your creativity flow.

Historical Elements

Located at 320 W Ohio Street, the PerkSpot office has historical elements throughout with brick walls and industrial accents.

Natural Sunlight

You don’t have to worry about a lack of sunlight here. In other words, with windows on every wall, natural lighting is always present.

A Culture of Recognition

We are proud of our accomplishments. In other words, our recognition wall is the perfect motivation for all employees.

Outstanding People

Our people are pretty great. Throughout the office you’ll find PerkSpotters hard at work to provide the best possible experience for our members.

Work Hard, Play Hard

PerkSpotters like to have fun too! We frequently hold events both in-person and virtually to connect with our peers and get to know one another.

For our colleagues in Chicago, we offer the flexibility to work remotely. Yet, we cherish our in-person monthly All Hands meetings along with occasional in-office collaboration days. For our remote employees, we offer occasional travel into the office for team and company events.

Recently, PerkSpot was named one of Built In Chicago’s 2022 Midsize Companies Best Places To Work and one of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies by Inc. 5000.

We’re always looking for people who align with our core values, an essential part of who we are as a company. Are you interested in becoming a PerkSpotter? Check out our open positions and apply today!

H-E-B Helps Employees Save When They Need It Most

Courtney Shipshock October 12, 2022

H-E-B needed a benefit that satisfied the needs of their entire workforce, made up of nearly 120,000 employees. “We have a lot of single parents and employees on a budget, so we’re always trying to see how we can better serve them,” said Lupe Melendez, the Benefits and Health and Wellness Advisor of H-E-B. That’s where PerkSpot stepped in. After partnering with H-E-B in 2016, all employees are able to save with thousands of exclusive savings.

How Does PerkSpot Support H-E-B?

When asked why H-E-B was looking to make the switch from their previous discounts provider to PerkSpot, Lupe Melendez said, “H-E-B was looking for someone who was seamless, provided various resources, and was easy for our Partners to navigate, a one stop shop.”

With PerkSpot, there’s not much required from an HR director or benefits manager. A dedicated client success manager sends regular reports detailing employee savings, program participation, and more. Additionally, marketing materials are sent throughout the year. By highlighting seasonal savings, employees can make the most of their discount program!

“What we love most is that we don’t have to do a lot of manual entries. I love the fact that PerkSpot handles all of the logistics for us and we don’t have to continuously respond to various vendors who constantly call or email. PerkSpot gets back to you.”

How Did Employees Save During Difficult Times?

As a grocery store during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaders at H-E-B’s corporate offices quickly realized how thinly stretched their time would be. With important discussions at hand, leaders from over 300 stores became busy fast with store management. With such a strong focus on this, PerkSpot’s relationship with H-E-B became crucial.

PerkSpot doubled down on efforts to find the most relevant savings for employees. In turn, the efforts helped those who were strongly impacted by the pandemic to save time and money where they needed it most.

Check out other savings stories from some of PerkSpot’s partners.

Interested in joining the hundreds of companies helping their employees save with unmatched discounts? Schedule a demo today to get started!

Meet PerkSpot’s 2022 Internship Program

Courtney Shipshock September 29, 2022

With the summer coming to a close, we are celebrating the success of the internship class over the past year. From leading projects to participating in training and skill buildings, the interns were fully immersed in what a career at PerkSpot looks like. Not only that, but with a variety of different backgrounds and experiences, our interns spread out across multiple teams ranging from sales to engineering.

We Aim High

Each of the interns exceeded their manager’s expectations while participating in projects and taking ownership of their responsibilities. Unlike other internships, our program is dedicated to providing real value during the duration of their time with PerkSpot.

Week by Week Timeline

Managers created an overall framework to get each intern’s project done and achieve their goals. In doing so, this allowed them to get the experience that was relevant to their major while exploring their interests with real life examples and tools.

Team Support

Intern’s were challenged with a larger sized project for the majority of their program. In an effort to build relationships amongst our interns, we created a friendly atmosphere with someone to lean on for advice or provide support throughout the process!

Skill Building Days

As part of the internship, we dedicated a full day to building useful skills in the workplace, like DISC assessments, mental health and ways to avoid burnout, time management, giving and accepting feedback, and many more.

We Stay Humble

Our humble beginnings remind us that there is no job too big or too small when it comes to the success of our team. Therefore, our interns involvement with every project with had an impact, no matter the size. We’re beyond grateful for each and every one of their contributions!

We Value People

People, be they employees, users, clients, or merchants, are at the center of everything we do and it’s our goal to serve them as best we can. As part of the intern’s time, they planned a company-wide event for all PerkSpotters to attend. Based on superlatives, the intern’s had everyone submit their votes for a variety of categories. It was an exciting way to recognize and get to know the great PerkSpotters of the company.

We Have Fun

We held an after work event at the office along with a company-wide picnic in downtown Chicago to celebrate an exciting summer and the great work of each of the interns. It was a great time getting together and having some fun!

Check out some of our favorite memories from the summer below!

Thanks again to our amazing interns,

Arthur Hartnett, Sales Trainer Intern
Twinkle Patel, Quality Assurance Intern
Jake Rogers, Software Engineer Intern
Anthony Hanna, Sales Operations Intern
Kevin Cooke, Business Intelligence Intern

Are you interested in an internship with PerkSpot in the future? Stay tuned for our open positions on our careers page. Check out our other open roles in the meantime!

Offer Discounts That Support Local Businesses

Courtney Shipshock September 15, 2022

Local businesses have faced increased challenges over the past few years. The pandemic, increased inflation, and supply chain disruptions have all contributed to the struggles to survive. Starting a business can be daunting in itself. What better way to lend a helping hand than to offer benefits to your employees that support their local favorites? Employees save and businesses grow their customer base, it’s a win/win situation.

Why Support Local Businesses?

There are plenty of reasons to support local including sustainability, product diversity, an increase in local jobs, innovation, and many more. Locally owned businesses also have a large impact on the overall wellness of their respective communities. For example, compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy, enriching the whole community.

The Value Of An Employee Discount Program

One way to provide employees with a financial benefit that helps stretch their paycheck is to implement an employee discount program. An employee discount program is a marketplace of exclusive discounts, negotiated by a team of experts. Employees can access their discounts through their discount portal and browse deals, search by brand or category, discover curated and personalized discounts relevant to their interests, and enjoy savings on a variety of products and services.

What Makes PerkSpot Unique

Compared to similar discount programs, one unique feature PerkSpot offers is the option to “Suggest a Business”. Members have the option to fill out a form with the business information and PerkSpot will reach out within 5 business days to secure an exclusive offer for their perks portal. This allows members to save on all things, including small businesses.

Local Savings In Action

Clients from across all industries have taken advantage of local savings through PerkSpot including Mayo Clinic. Thousands of patients from around the world travel to Mayo Clinic on a daily basis seeking top-notch care. Not only has Mayo Clinic invested in their employees by partnering with PerkSpot, but they have also used PerkSpot’s “Suggest a Business” feature to recommend local vendors to be added to their discount portal. “The Suggest a Business functionality is great for adding additional discount opportunities for our staff,” shared Betty Smith, Employee Purchase Program Coordinator.

PerkSpot provides a financial benefit to your employees, and by suggesting local businesses we also support your community. If providing impactful discounts and shopping local interests you, PerkSpot could be the perfect benefit for your employees. Interested in learning more? Schedule a demo today!

PerkSpot Celebrates 16 Years

Courtney Shipshock August 18, 2022

Founded in 2006, PerkSpot is dedicated to inspiring others to love where they work by providing exclusive access to the best discounts available – anywhere. How do we accomplish that? By hiring the very best people and staying true to our core values that are part of our everyday work ethic, culture, and passion.

Together we have established new partnerships, increased the number of members actively utilizing our platform, improved our products, and most importantly, helped employees save on the things that matter most. We’ve added 35+ PerkSpotters to the team and have increased our discount offering by over 250 new brands.

Chris Hill, Founder and CEO, shared, “It’s exciting to see new faces and the growth of the company over the years. I’m extremely grateful we were able to get together and celebrate the past year’s accomplishments surrounded by our biggest supporters and families. As we look ahead to the next year, I’m eager to see what we achieve.”

To recognize the hard work and dedication of our employees, we gathered with our family and friends for a picnic in the heart of Chicago. Plenty of fun was had and memories were made that will last a lifetime.

Cheers to another great year. Thank you, PerkSpotters!

Join the Team

We are thrilled to embark on another great year ahead but we can’t do it without our people here at PerkSpot. Interested in joining our growing team? Check out our open roles today!

What Does Hybrid Really Mean?

Courtney Shipshock August 2, 2022

In the past few years, the standard work environment has seen changes. Prior to the pandemic, the majority of companies had their roles in-person at their corporate offices. It wasn’t uncommon for employees to relocate to new towns, cities, and even states for their job. However, something changed. During the pandemic, companies were faced with the unique challenge of keeping their employees safe while remaining in business and successful. To do so, a lot of employers switched to a work from home model. Technology had to be updated, expectations were adjusted, and a new work environment was taking shape. After two years of little to no in-person collaboration, employees have started to show interest in returning to the office. That’s where the hybrid model comes in, a mix of both remote and in-person to balance the best of both worlds.

Hybrid Defined

A hybrid work environment can be different depending on the industry, role requirements, or your current technology capabilities. Some companies have a set number of in-person days built into their team’s schedule per week, others have quarterly onsite gatherings to get the team together and collaborate. In general, a hybrid work environment is one made up of both working from home and working in-office for a period of time. Each version has its set of pros and cons and it’s up to you to decide which model works best for your team.

How To Execute

It can be challenging going from a fully in-office model to employees scattered throughout the country. One of the most important pieces to switching over is communicating expectations company-wide. As important as it is that employees feel empowered, it’s just as important that everyone is on the same page. To keep up with the progress, send out a company poll and ask managers to discuss the change with their employees. It will only further the trust between employees and their managers.

The Benefits of a Hybrid Model

There is a reason 74% of companies in the United States are currently using or plan to implement a permanent hybrid work model. The best part about a hybrid model is that employees are able to experience both a remote and in-person environment. A remote environment brings more flexibility, fewer distractions, and even increased productivity. An in-person environment brings increased collaboration, an opportunity for team bonding, and access to office resources. Statistics show that 83% of companies say that collaboration has been as good or better after switching over from a full in-office model to a flexible environment. Additionally, employees are more willing to stay at their jobs when it’s less controlled. Plus they’re able to save money without a daily commute.

Today’s employees are seeking flexibility with where they work. With 44% of employees preferring a hybrid work model, it might be time to reconsider your current work environment. You might be surprised at the increase in productivity and retention you see when you make the change!

Interested in investing further in your employees? Check out our E-Book, “5 Focus Areas For Building a Better Workplace” to find out how you can create a better working environment for your team.

The Importance of Trust in The Workplace

Courtney Shipshock July 21, 2022

The relationship between employees and their managers is often a complex one. With different working styles, communication preferences, and work environments there can oftentimes be disagreements. In addition to the already existing responsibilities as a leader, how do you create an environment where employees feel inspired and engaged? It all comes down to trust. When there is mutual trust, there is increased empowerment, more open communication, and higher success of employees. So, how do you show your employees you trust them?

What is Trust?

Trust can look a lot of different ways in the workplace. It’s when a manager feels that they can count on their team to meet their responsibilities and be honest in their progress. It’s allowing for flexibility and letting teammates work where they are most comfortable whether it’s remote or in the office. Trust in the workplace means your employees enjoy a culture of honesty, psychological safety, and mutual respect. In addition, it’s being able to predict that someone will act in specific ways and be dependable.

How To Build Trust

Building trust can be easier said than done. For example, statistics show that people trust each other less today than they did 40 years ago. With it being difficult to achieve, how do you find success with your employees? We’ve laid out a few tips.

Listen Frequently

When your employees feel empowered to have their ideas be heard, they will be more willing to speak up in the future. One way to set aside time with your employees is to set up recurring weekly one-on-one meetings. This way you have dedicated time to talk directly with your team and gather feedback, both positive and negative.

Embrace Vulnerability

We all are human and face hardships outside of work. It’s important to embrace your employees’ true self and also be vulnerable when you can. By creating a safe space, your teammates will feel more willing to open up in the future.

Show Appreciation

Appreciation goes a long way. Whether it’s a simple “thank you”, a written note showing your gratitude following a large project, or celebrating a career anniversary. When employees’ feel appreciated at their job, they are more likely to meet deadlines and be honest with their managers.

Be Honest

Honesty is key to trust. If you’re honest about how things are going in and outside of work, your employees’ will be more willing to be honest going forward. Even if what you’re sharing might not be the best information, it’s better to communicate the truth than not at all.

Coach Before Discipline

One mistake a lot of leaders make is reacting to mistakes with discipline instead of coaching. Research has shown that authentic leadership can cultivate trust and improve employee engagement and performance. Not only that, but it’s been shown to improve work relationships company wide.

Transparency Over Everything

It all comes down to transparency. The more open and honest you are with your team, the better. Be open and transparent with your feedback and keep your employees’ in the loop. You’ll foster an environment based on trust in no time!

The Results

Trust has impactful results from improved engagement, efficiency, and productivity. According to research, disengagement costs U.S. companies approximately $450 billion to $550 billion annually. With trust impacting engagement alone, it’s a no brainer why trusting your employees is so important.

Interested in continuing your efforts to make your workplace a great place to work? Read our E-Book, “5 Focus Areas for Building a Better Workplace” to see how you can create a better place to work for your employees.

How To Achieve Work-Life Balance

Courtney Shipshock July 8, 2022

Finding a balance between your career and your personal life is a challenge that is often faced across industries and professions. But what does it really look like to balance both successfully? With the pandemic, work environments have changed and there has been an increase in remote work. Employees have enjoyed the added flexibility but there is a new challenge of knowing when to disconnect. We’ve laid out a few ways you can encourage your employees to balance their work and play. In return, your employees will have increased productivity, improved overall happiness, and fewer health issues.

Encourage Meaningful Breaks

It can be draining to work a full day without time to decompress. That’s where breaks come in. A break can range from a 15 minute microbreak at your desk to an hour-long walk with your dog during lunch. It can be tempting to work through the lunch break when you’re behind or simply want to get ahead, but it’s crucial to take the time for yourself. It’s important to break up your work day and encourage your employees to do the same, especially when they work remotely.

Set Boundaries and Communicate Them Company-Wide

It can be challenging to truly unplug from work. That being said, it’s not only important but it’s necessary. Encourage employees to utilize their calendar to block off when they will be unavailable and stick to those commitments. If your company uses Slack, Microsoft Teams, or any other communication tool, have your teams mute their notifications past working hours and update their status if they are away. If your employees have access to email on their cell phone, it’s also a good idea to mute notifications when not working.

Offer A Flexible Working Environment

When an employee feels valued and trusted at their company, it’s proven that they will perform better and stay longer. Employees who have the freedom to manage their time will feel less burnt out and use their time more efficiently. For example, employees who feel unable to complete outside of work responsibilities such as a doctor’s appointment during the workday will feel an added stress trying to fit everything into their day. If your employees are unable to step away during the day, allow for flexible scheduling and hours. Set the expectations early on and allow your team to perform where and when it works best for them.

Lead By Example

Leaders play a big role in the workplace. As important as it is for your employees to have a work-life balance, it’s just as important for managers and leadership to as well. With heavy workloads and busy schedules, there are times when it is necessary to work extra hours. But, that doesn’t mean breaks and boundaries shouldn’t exist. Set an example for your employees by utilizing your time off, setting working hours, and communicating flexibility. Not only that, but ensure your team’s are aware that they are not expected to respond to any messages or emails sent after their working hours. You’ll see that with time, employees feel more trusted and engaged when you lead by example.

It is challenging to balance your employees’ workload and their everyday life effectively. As an HR leader, there are plenty of ways to encourage a balance and set expectations at a company-wide level. By promoting work-life balance, your employees will be less stressed, more engaged, and a lot more content.

Interested in taking your efforts further? Download our E-Book “Building Culture in the New Normal” to see how to start building or rebuilding culture in our changing world and workplace.