Today’s employers are placing a premium on employee wellness and engagement. And rightfully so, hard working employees deserve some love. But in addition to doing right by their people, businesses that provide comprehensive wellness plans and lifestyle perks for their employees are realizing huge benefits from it. But with more unconventional and physical activities going on in the office, there comes a whole new set of risks for employers.
Let’s talk about what employers are doing for their people, how it’s working, and how to manage the risks involved in the modern office.
A New Age of Employee Engagement
Now more than ever organizations in business are truly investing in their people. Employee perks and benefits are evolving to an all new level thanks to forward-thinking companies like Google with state of the art fitness facilities, fully stocked game rooms, free bicycles and more cool perks for employees. Who ever thought we’d see a rock climbing wall at the office? Googles’ perks go so deep that past and current Google employees have gone online to list their favorite perks working for Google.
Here are Some Common Contemporary Employee Benefits, Perks and Activities
- Fitness gyms
- Yoga, Karate, Pilates studios
- Basketball courts
- Table games: Ping Pong, Foosball, Billiards, etc.
- Video games
- Reading rooms
- Massage chairs
- On Site Pet Care
- And yes, even rock climbing
A New Age of Risk
Not to be a wet blanket, but you can get hurt playing Ping Pong, and the bottom line is: If you’re putting perks and activities in place that present the potential for an accident or injury, you have a responsibility to manage the risk and provide the safest environment possible for your employees. So, before you put up the basketball hoop, put some basic risk management measures in place.
Here are some simple things that you can do to manage the risks involved with lifestyle perks:
Liability Waivers: If you’re offering activities with any level of physicality or potential for injury, it’s a common best practice to get signed waivers from participants…even if it’s only Ping Pong.
Medical Clearance: Depending on the physical level of the activities you make available, you may consider requiring clearance from a doctor before employees may participate in any activities.
Restrict Access: To reduce employer risks, allow only employees of the company (and not friends and family) to take advantage of the amenities (Gym, Sports Court, etc).
Safety Programs: Institute a safety education program covering the equipment and activities, and post safety guidelines in game rooms, gyms, and on ball courts or playing fields.
Get Covered: If you’re thinking of providing any new perks or benefits for your employees, make sure that you have adequate liability and workers’ comp insurance coverage in place (yes, even if it’s ping pong).
The modern office landscape is changing, and with this new era of employee engagement and all of the perks that go with it, a new set of risks arise. So, if you’re considering taking your benefits package to the next level, talk to us at Sinclair. We specialize in measuring your risk and covering your exposure. We’re also Liability and Workers’ Comp experts, so this is right up our alley.
Shannon Hudspeth
Human Resource Director
shudspeth@srfm.com
