10 Great Benefits for Remote Workers That Every Company Must Offer

In an increasingly competitive world, companies are constantly trying to obtain and retain top talent, especially when their workforces are distributed and global.

That’s why one of the best strategies is to offer benefits for remote employees, from flexible schedules to discount vouchers.

In many territories worldwide, benefits are a form of non-financial compensation in addition to the salary workers must receive, such as vacation, sick leave, or annual bonuses. These benefits are stipulated in local labor laws, and not providing them can result in non-compliance and possible fines. 

As part of employee retention strategies, organizations offer other types of compensation packages to their teleworkers, ranging from health and wellness programs to work-from-home subsidies.

Although there are many benefits for remote employees that growing companies can provide, here are 10 of the most popular and requested by global talent, plus some reasons why offering these rewards to the international team is necessary.

10 great benefits for remote workers

• Flexible schedules

Remote work is synonymous with flexibility, but many companies expect their employees to follow a regular schedule as if they were in an office when they start working in a distributed workforce. 

While some industries require telecommuters to be available at certain times of the day, firms with global talent on their teams must ensure that one of the benefits for remote workers is flexibility. 

Workplace flexibility is best achieved by setting objective-based criteria for work rather than measuring time spent. This gives creative freedom to their staff, and avoids micromanagement or a feeling of surveillance.

• 2. Modern and up-to-date work tools

As with in-office workers, companies must ensure that their remote teams have the equipment and tools to operate, such as laptops, tablets, and cell phones. This may even extend to desks and chairs to make sure that their posture can be maintained.

Providing work tools as one of the benefits for remote employees also involves ensuring that it is up-to-date and has the necessary software for smooth operations. To go along with this, subscriptions to services may be necessary. 

If employees are in remote areas or shipping their work equipment to them is simply impossible, companies can offer subsidies or bonuses for global talent to purchase their own computers and necessary devices.

• 3. Mental and physical health programs

Caring for employees’ health should be one of the priorities of companies since sick leave, whether physical or mental, means expenses for organizations, low productivity, and even staff turnover.

Therefore, one of the benefits for remote employees should be mental and physical health programs, from insurance tailored to their particular needs or conditions to mental health care and support where needed.

Employees working from home may feel lonely, isolated, and experience episodes of anxiety or depression. For this reason, it is necessary to stay aware of the importance of remote work and mental health to protect the well-being of workers and develop their professional potential.

• 4. Discounts in clubs or gyms

In the post-pandemic era, more and more people want to exercise and improve their fitness. At least in the United States, visits to wellbeing spots increased 9% in February 2023 compared to February 2020, according to research by The Washington Post. 

For this reason, and in addition to physical and mental health programs, many international companies offer their remote employees benefits related to memberships and discounts to sports clubs.

Firms provide these rewards because they know that exercising keeps employees more active and motivated and helps them reduce health problems, combat depression and anxiety, improve their concentration, and increase productivity.

• 5. Ongoing training

Ongoing training opportunities keep staff motivated, help them improve their skills, and grow professionally. Therefore, when firms have employees in various locations, it is necessary to ensure these kinds of benefits.

Courses can be both inside and outside the organization, and these can be related to the skills that staff need to acquire to do their job better or to a topic that interests them.

The best workers are those that are curious to learn, so they look for jobs that allow and facilitate the acquisition of new knowledge. In addition, there is a wide range of online courses, both free and for a small fee, making learning more accessible than ever.

• 6. Business travels

Travel is an excellent option to escape routine, disconnect, and get to know other cultures. That is why offering business travel as one of the benefits for remote employees helps them to socialize and not isolate themselves. It could even be a way for employees to meet in person. 

Companies should also remember that remote employees are their representatives wherever they are, giving them an international presence without the need to move part of their operations to other territories. 

Thus, through business travel, these representatives can attend events, talk to customers, and create networks of contacts around the world that, in the future, can become potential investors for an expanding business.

• 7. Subsidy to improve the home office

In addition to offering modern, up-to-date, and quality work tools, such as computers or mobile devices, companies can provide benefits for remote employees to improve their home office. 

This includes supplying them with office furniture, from desks and chairs that are part of the organization’s inventory to providing subsidies for employees to purchase their own set equipment, stationery, and any tools needed to work. 

Some organizations also offer support for the global team to pay their bills, especially those related to internet, electricity, and any services needed to perform their work.

• 8. Food vouchers

Food and grocery vouchers or restaurant discounts are part of the benefits for remote employees that many growing companies offer to their teleworkers. 

Some companies send meal kits to their remote staff as part of these rewards, especially when working long hours due to an unexpected delivery or a demanding project. 

These food-related benefits are an easy and affordable way to help global employees and show them that their organization cares about them and their nutrition.

• 9. Benefits for family members

From paid maternity and paternity leave to special permission to care for a sick family member, companies should offer benefits for remote employees related to their loved ones. 

In addition to the leaves mentioned above, growing businesses can provide their global team with educational assistance for their children, social security, and even childcare.

Family welfare will always be a concern for employees, so understanding and assisting them in this regard will make them feel valued and, consequently, increase their commitment to the organization.

• 10. Life insurance and retirement plans

Retirement is a constant concern of the global workforce, so offering pension and life insurance plans designed according to their needs is a good strategy for companies seeking to retain top talent. 

A life insurance retirement plan (LIRP) is a permanent program in which companies can contribute a portion and employees the rest to have assured savings in case of accident, death, and retirement. 

These savings accounts are even helpful in case of dismissal. It depends on the clauses involved and the constant payment agreed upon since purchasing the insurance policy.

Why offering benefits for remote employees is important

Offering benefits for remote employees, in addition to fair and competitive salaries, is essential for companies to comply with local regulations, as many are required by law to provide rewards such as health insurance, paid vacation, annual bonuses, etc.

However, additional benefits help to attract and retain top talent: the more and better rewards you can offer, the more and better professionals will seek to work for your company wherever they are located.

These extra offers, especially those related to health, wellness, and training, help employees have a more balanced life, which means that while working for a global company, they have the opportunity to develop professionally and care for their health. 

In addition, benefits for remote employees will improve their productivity, as these rewards will motivate staff, making them more committed to the organization and, consequently, help achieve the organization’s goals faster and better. 

Finally, providing benefits for remote employees helps to have more stable international teams and reduce staff turnover, a process within human resources that can be a significant expense for companies.

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