Courtney Shipshock, Author at PerkSpot

The Benefits of an Employee Discount Program

Courtney Shipshock June 23, 2022

When it comes to benefits and perks, it can be difficult to find solutions that employees not only engage with but also find value in. With financial stresses high due to inflation and other economic factors, it is an especially crucial time to offer a perk that stretches your employees’ paycheck. An employee discount program could be the benefit you’ve been searching for, with exclusive discounts for your teammates on the things that matter most. We’ve laid out a few reasons why you should join the thousands of employers taking advantage of steep discounts.

What is an Employee Discount Program?

An employee discount program is a marketplace of exclusive discounts, negotiated by a team of experts, from top brands and local businesses. 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.

No Impact on Your Budget

Employee discount programs are often an affordable way to provide financial benefit to your team. Not only that, but it’s much more than exclusive access. With PerkSpot, you’ll get an easy-to-use portal, optimized for all devices, that ties in with your company’s unique branding, creating a one-stop shop for employees’ perks and discounts. The best part? It’s free. What’s the catch? There isn’t one. It’s a no cost solution to help stretch your employees paycheck.

Easy to Maintain

One of the best parts about an employee discount program is the low maintenance. The portal is managed for you and discounts are regularly updated. Leslie Sells, Benefits Analyst at Humana, shared, “It’s always been easy. This is one of the programs that almost runs itself. It’s not one I have to spend a whole lot of time on.” With a dedicated Client Success Manager, we are here to create a communication plan that builds program awareness and helps employees maximize their valuable benefit.

Exclusive Savings

Another great benefit of an employee discount program is the exclusive access to meaningful savings. With PerkSpot, employees save from 25+ categories including electronics, travel, home goods, cars, health, and so much more. In addition, savings with PerkSpot are personalized. In comparison to other discounts available, these savings are tailored and relevant. It not only saves time for your employees, but also provides discounts your employees may not be aware of. Another great benefit of PerkSpot is the access to Premium Perks. Premium Perks are verified to be the best available discounts on the market by your PerkSpot team.

Exceptional Employee Retention and Engagement

It’s estimated that turnover costs employers over $1 trillion annually. So, how do you minimize these costs and setbacks? It all starts with the employee experience. With PerkSpot, you can lend your employees a hand with their financial wellness by offering exclusive discounts on tax services, loans, mortgages, and more. Not only that, but we’ve built our platform to encourage engagement by allowing employees to save when and where it matters to them by showing the most relevant and meaningful offers.

With a multitude of benefits and perks to choose from, offer a solution that is affordable, easy to maintain, exclusive, and engaging. Not only that, but it’s valuable for your employees. With a potential of $6k in savings, you’re not only offering impactful discounts but you’re providing a financial wellness benefit. Ready to start the savings journey for your teammates? Sign up for a demo today!

The Importance of Pride Month in the Workplace

Courtney Shipshock June 8, 2022

Pride Month is a time for LGBTQ+ communities and allies to come together to celebrate the freedom to be yourself. With decades of struggles with prejudice and acceptance, this month is crucial. It is a time when cities hold parades, celebrations, rallies, parties, workshops, and much more to recognize the fight for equality. As important as it is to celebrate Pride Month outside of work, it’s just as important to celebrate this monumental month in the workplace. We’ve gathered a few different ways you can raise your rainbow flag and join the movement today.

A Brief History

In 1969, police stormed into the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwhich Village, New York. Customers were being removed from the bar but tensions quickly rose. Patrons began resisting arrest and bystanders started throwing bottles and coins at the officers. Following the incident, the gay community was fed up after decades of harassment and took to the streets to riot for three days straight. After the riots, the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance were formed. One year later, the nation’s first Gay Pride parades were held.

Why Celebrate?

There are many reasons why diversity is important in the workplace. A few include differing perspectives, new ideas, improved creativity, and better problem-solving. As the leaders in your organization, it’s critical to showcase the stories that make people unique and celebrate the diverse voices throughout the company. It is important to remember that the first Pride was not a celebration, it was a riot led by queer people of color.

How To Recognize In The Workplace

There are plenty of ways to show your allyship and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in your workplace, whether you’re remote or in-person. A few of our favorites are below!

Support LGBTQ+ Causes

There are dozens of different organizations and causes you can donate to. It’s important to mention, it doesn’t have to be a monetary donation. Donating your time, voice, and energy is just as important!

Update Your Company Branding

Businesses around the world have shown their allyship in different ways. For example, you can update your Zoom background, add your pronouns to your email signature and LinkedIn page, and send out some pride swag for your employees to show off.

Educate Your Employees

A lot of employees are familiar with Pride Month, but they may not know the history behind it. Use this month to sit down with your teammates for an open discussion or provide resources for employees.

Pride Month is a time to celebrate how far we have come with LGBTQ+ rights, but it’s also a time to continue to fight for equality and recognize the struggles the community has faced. This month, take the time to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of the gay rights movement and the brave LGBTQ+ advocates and allies standing up for equality.

Additional Resources:

Infographic: What Your Employees Need For Success

Courtney Shipshock May 27, 2022

In the past few years, employees’ needs to achieve success have shifted with financial wellness making its way to the top. In addition, employees are seeking improved appreciation, emphasis on diversity and inclusion, hybrid or remote work environments, and a company culture that aligns with their values. With high turnover rates, what can you do to attract and retain top-notch talent?

Employees are looking for more out of their employer. What options do you have to improve morale, retention, and success? Listen to employees needs, have direct conversations, and consider additional benefits. PerkSpot could be the perfect solution.

Interested in learning more about the value of an employee discount program? Sign up for a demo today. Your employees will thank you later!

PerkSpot Named Amongst The Fastest Growing Companies In Chicago

Courtney Shipshock May 25, 2022

PerkSpot has been named to the 2022 Crain’s Chicago Business Fast 50 List for the third year in a row. Each year, over one hundred applications from a variety of industries are submitted. With only 50 making the cut as Chicagoland’s most rapid growing companies, competition is stiff.

Founder and CEO, Chris Hill launched into the HR technology space when he founded PerkSpot in 2006. What began as a small company with a big vision has evolved into the successful PerkSpot that we know and love today. We continue to change the lives of employees at more than 1,000 businesses around the world, all with the goal to build a better place to work. Without a doubt, we are proud to be a thought leader in the human resources space, creating new and valuable ways for employers to provide financial wellness for over 20 million employees with an attitude of humility, generosity, and gratitude.

“As we continue to expand, it’s important to acknowledge that growing a business is by no means easy. We continue to learn important lessons and make exciting progress towards the goals we have set. Above all, none of it would be possible without each and every PerkSpotter.”

– Chris Hill

To see the full list of 50 companies in alphabetical order, visit Crain’s Chicago’s Business.

Interested in being a part of the exciting growth? Visit our careers page to apply today.

How To Prioritize Mental Health In The Workplace

Courtney Shipshock May 12, 2022

Mental health is an incredibly important part of our overall health that unfortunately is commonly overlooked. In recent years, stresses from the pandemic, inflation, along with many other contributing factors have led to further deterioration. To recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, we have gathered different ways you can prioritize the health of your employees this month and beyond.

Ensure Employees Are Taking Time Away From Work

In 2021, Americans took the fewest number of PTO days out of everyone on the planet. In 2019, research conducted by the U.S. Travel Association found that 55% of Americans did not use all of their paid time off. So why are people leaving vacation on the table and letting their health suffer from burnout? Vacation guilt and worries about work are common reasons. It’s crucial that employees are given the needed time to unplug and recharge, and a lack thereof can be detrimental to their overall health. Encourage paid time off and ensure employees are fully disconnected while out of office.

Train Your Leaders To Help

It’s important to increase awareness so people in the workplace can notice when a coworker is struggling with their mental health. Offering managers the opportunity to attend trainings focused on the subject equips them with the skills to support those with mental illness as well as help the well-being of the rest of their teammates. Each illness is different and it’s important that managers approach each employee as an individual.

Provide Mental Health Benefits

Mercer’s 2021 Health on Demand Report found that of 14,000 employees across 13 countries, 44% of employees, who didn’t have access to mental health benefits, felt unsupported by their employers. Benefits can include a wide range of offerings, from weekly meditation to discounts on therapy sessions. It’s important to provide a tiered benefit program that offers a variety of different options that can benefit each individual’s unique needs.

Fight The Stigma

A stigma causes people to feel ashamed for something that is out of their control. There are plenty of ways to fight the mental health stigma, including open communication, education, compassion, along with many others. In addition to providing options, it’s important to communicate with your employees the different opportunities available and offer a safe space for discussion. Let your employees know the importance in your workplace and encourage open communication.

The mental health of your employees is more important now than ever. This month, take the necessary steps to support, recognize, and positively impact the mental health of your employees. They will thank you!

Mental Health Resources:

SAMHSA’s National Helpline

Help For Mental Illnesses

Faith & Spirituality Also An Important Part Of Workplace Inclusion

Courtney Shipshock April 28, 2022

A unique calendar alignment has occurred this year that only takes place approximately every 33 years. Easter, Passover, and Ramadan have overlapped, bringing a convergence of reflections for these communities. To recognize this, the PerkSpot team came together to discuss. The focus was around how faith & spirituality influences who we are and how we work. Our conversations included personal stories and breakout sessions. Both designed to unlock conversation on a topic that is often ignored or overlooked in our workplaces.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Discussing faith and spirituality can be a daunting and sensitive topic. Our beliefs are a core part of our identity and employees feeling excluded or unrecognized can be detrimental. Faith & spirituality, whether observed or not, is often highly influential in informing who we are, the choices we make, the way we interact, our aspirations, and our values. When considering DEI efforts, we think you should find opportunities to affirm the important role that faith plays in how your employees contribute in the workplace.

Recognize Your Employees Beliefs

It’s important to recognize and offer time away to practice each individual’s traditions and practices. Offering an open vacation policy or flexible scheduling allows employees to take the time to fully immerse in their practices.

Nadir Mian, Graphic Designer at PerkSpot, shared, “At companies with a designated limit to PTO, some people have to use their vacation for their religious holidays whereas others have time off for their religious holidays built into their schedule. Although accommodating for every religious holiday may not be feasible, extra days on top of the allotted PTO time should be available to those who witness religious holidays that don’t fall under the traditional corporate holiday schedule.”

Another way to recognize your employees is by holding company-wide events or smaller breakout groups. It allows the opportunity to reflect, discuss, and participate in sharing personal stories when comfortable. We don’t advocate discussions that compare or contrast belief systems. But rather, allow employees to share how faith has influenced who they are, their life experiences, and what’s important to them.

We encourage you to use this unique overlap of traditions as a reminder to recognize your employees’ differences in beliefs. Offer a safe, open working space that allows for exploration and recognition.

Mayo Clinic Centralizes Their Discount Program

Courtney Shipshock April 21, 2022

Mayo Clinic is home to 73,000 employees with major campuses located in Rochester, Phoenix, and Jacksonville, with smaller satellite locations across the country. As one of the top healthcare providers in the nation, patients from around the world travel to Mayo Clinic seeking top-notch care. With employees located in different regions, Mayo Clinic was in need of a discount provider that could bridge the gap in their discount offerings.

Prior To PerkSpot

Mayo Clinic previously had their own discount portal but it was a heavy lift to manage and had strict requirements. To be listed, vendors needed 3+ years as a business, 20% discounts or higher, and needed to commit to a year of service. This criteria made it difficult to secure offers and the management of the program was difficult.

Conversely, PerkSpot manages the program for you with a team of client success managers ready to help. We devise engagement strategies, create marketing materials, and more. Additionally, Mayo Clinic’s previous discounts were based on their Rochester location making it difficult for employees elsewhere to benefit.

“We wanted to not only have our employees at Rochester have discounts, but everybody at Mayo Clinic to have discounts”, shared Betty Smith, Employee Purchase Program Coordinator. In 2015, Mayo Clinic made the decision to partner with PerkSpot. Since then, on average 11,500 employees have saved on a monthly basis. With a direct link from their employee intranet, the mobile app, and email communications, saving is easy.

Decreased Turnover Rates

The healthcare industry has seen staggering turnover rates with 19.5% in 2021, a 1.7% increase from the previous year. HR Professionals are being challenged to improve employee morale and decrease employees leaving. In addition, rising inflation and wage pressures are only adding to the challenge. “By having PerkSpot, it gives us a competitive advantage over our competitors that don’t offer comparable discounts to their employees.”

Supporting Local

One feature Mayo clinic has utilized is PerkSpot’s “Suggest a Business” tab to recommend local vendors. “The suggest a business functionality is great for adding additional discount opportunities for our staff. The more the merrier.” One example Mayo Clinic suggested was a local nail salon in Rochester. Following the suggestion, our team secured an exclusive offer for employees to start utilizing in their discount portal.

In addition to local discounts, employees are saving on hotels, groceries, events, and more. In 2022, Mayo Clinic’s most popular savings have included travel discounts along with savings on Apple products.

With the current environment and challenges over the past year, PerkSpot can be the solution you need to reduce turnover and set yourself apart.

Financial Wellness A Top Priority For Younger Generations

Courtney Shipshock April 15, 2022

Free coffee, paid lunch, ping pong tables, and office snacks are no longer going to cut it.

Financial wellness is at the top of the list of benefits younger generations are searching for. According to SHRM, “Many workers over the last decade have been frustrated by stagnant wage growth. Younger workers may be particularly focused on compensation as they pay off college loans and try to establish their savings so they can purchase homes and start families.”

Below are a few different ways you can support your employees’ financial wellness while improving overall retention and morale.

Provide Retirement Planning & Contributions

Although a traditional benefit offering for most, retirement contributions will always be an important financial benefit for employees. Employers that offer a retirement contribution or matching plan tend to have improved employee morale and loyalty. It’s also a great way to attract top-notch talent and interest in your company. In addition, a company sponsored retirement plan can help employees with little knowledge on the topic save for their future. To take it even further, offer your employees automatic payroll deductions for even easier saving.

Offer A Financial Stipend

To further assist employees with their finances, employee sponsored stipends tend to go a long way with younger generations. Onset by the pandemic, employers have begun providing reimbursements for things related to work from home environments. Examples of essentials include office equipment, high speed internet, and other role specific tools to improve productivity. Other opportunities for financial stipends are commuting, parking assistance, and professional development, among many others. Financial stipends are a great way to show employees the value their role brings to the company and reduce employee turnover.

Grant Access to An Employee Discount Program

Daily life expenses can add up, especially with the current challenge of rising inflation. A simple way to offer your employees an impactful benefit is to offer a discount program. What is a discount program? An employee discount program is a marketplace of exclusive discounts, negotiated by a team of experts, from top brands and local businesses. PerkSpot is the industry leader in negotiating, managing, and supporting member discounts programs. We’ve built our platform to help your members save when and where it matters to them by showing the most relevant and meaningful offers. From local deals to nationwide brands, there’s something for everyone.

Younger generations may be eager for financial wellness benefits, but all generations would appreciate the added monetary assistance. There are plenty of opportunities available to lend a helping hand financially, and it will only have a positive impact with your employees.

Ready to start providing financial wellness help to your employees? Get started today with a demo.

Provide All Things Travel Affordably in One Place

Courtney Shipshock March 11, 2022

For many of us, travel is a part of our everyday life. Whether it be a planned vacation, a business trip, or a journey to see family, traveling isn’t going anywhere. The dreadful part of traveling? The expenses. With employees showing an increased interest in alternative benefits, offer an option that goes the extra mile, providing all things travel affordably in one place.

Why Travel Is Import For Employees

Boosts Productivity

Time spent away from an employee’s normal working environment boosts productivity and morale, equips employees with management skills, benefits the job market, and is good for overall health.

Company Loyalty Improves

Retention is an ongoing concern amongst businesses. Travel allows employees to take the needed time to rest, visit their loved ones, and return less stressed. Studies have shown that when employees return from holidays, they are happier for weeks afterward. Maintaining a happy workforce will help maintain employees long term.

Improves Health

Traveling has been shown to improve health, both mentally and physically. According to Forbes, taking vacations can lower men’s risk of death by 21 percent and mortality from cardiovascular disease by 32 percent. Not only that, but travel has been linked to stress reduction and can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Offer Employees Savings On The Necessities

We’ve covered why travel is important, but what’s next? As we know, a lot can go into planning a successful journey. Packing luggage, buying airfare, confirming reservations, and securing rental vehicles are just a few of the necessary boxes that need to be checked prior to departure. With a discount program, you can offer your employees savings on all of the necessities in one, easily accessible portal.

Meet PerkSpot’s Travel Discount Center

One of the unique benefits that is part of partnering with PerkSpot is access to the Travel Discount Center. Within the portal, employees can search destinations and access exclusive savings on hotels, flights, rental cars, and cruises worldwide. In addition to transportation and lodging, PerkSpot provides your employees with steep savings on luggage, entertainment, restaurants and more.

Traveling has a variety of benefits but comes with a cost. Help your employees affordably travel with ease with an employee discount program. Interested in learning more about the value these programs provide? Check out our e-book and get in touch with us!

How to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day Virtually

Courtney Shipshock February 25, 2022

Employees should be celebrated on a daily basis but why not celebrate them a little extra this Employee Appreciation Day? It can be daunting to put together a plan with a remote or hybrid work environment. Luckily, there are options available to make your teammates feel valued and appreciated. We’ve laid out simple, effective ways to make this year’s celebration, on March 4th a success!

Send a Personalized Thank you Card

What better way to let employees know you appreciate them, than directly telling them? There are tons of options, physical or digital, to show your gratitude and put a smile on your employee’s face. It may seem old school, but greeting cards are still a thing in the digital age, thanks to millennials. If you’re looking for ideas, Canva has a variety of templates to get you started.

Provide Lunch to Their Favorite Spot

With teammates scattered, make lunch plans simple with a meal delivery credit. Employees can select their favorites and schedule the delivery time. Coordinate it so everyone can to get together (virtually) and chat! Not to mention, PerkSpot offers discounts on a variety of food delivery services to save you time and money.

Attend a Virtual Class Together

With busy schedules, it can be difficult to find time as a team to strengthen your skills. Providing opportunities to grow is an important part of a successful company. Dedicate this Employee Appreciation Day to your team’s expertise! It doesn’t have to be work-related either, Udemy Online Academy offers plenty of course options to enjoy with your team.

Deliver Some Company Swag

When employees feel a sense of purpose at their job, as a result, they tend to be more engaged in their work. Show your appreciation with company-branded apparel, water bottles, or even a gift card to your company store. Improve employee experience by making your employees feel seen, valued, and appreciated. It’s an easy way to retain great employees and attract top talent.

In short, go the extra mile this Employee Appreciation Day and recognize the hard work of your teammates. No matter the environment, there are opportunities available to make your employees feel extra special. If you’re interested in taking your efforts further, fill out a form and see how PerkSpot can benefit your company.