Free Lunch Don't underestimate the value of free food when seeking employees.
By Ellen Paris
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
In today's economy, free stock options aren't the onlythings luring prospective employees to companies. Free food mayalso whet their appetites.
Edible perks can range from gourmet coffee service and morningmuffins to monthly luncheons. "People are looking for socialcommunity at work. Sitting around and eating together, even ifit's just doughnuts and coffee, creates that," says DianeMcNutt, director of human resources at Minneapolis-based CeridianEmployer Services.
Anything you can do to differentiate yourself from otheremployers helps. Adds McNutt: "It's that casualwalk-down-the-hall conversation when you're showing aprospective employee what your company has to offer that people payattention to."
In a recent online poll of companies of all sizes, Ceridianfound that 65 percent of the 129 respondents believe "workperks" like casual dress, flexible hours and free food andbeverages help attract and retain employees. Free food ranked fifthin the survey, with 36 percent of the companies polled offeringgratis edibles.
Surprisingly, traditional perks such as child care and fitnesscenters-once thought crucial to attracting talented workers-havefallen off the top five perks list. Time to call Starbucks?
Ellen Paris is a Washington, DC, writer and former Forbesmagazine staff writer.
Contact Source
- Cerididan Employer Services, http://ces.ceridian.com
