Employee retention is about more than salary. While competitive pay remains an important part of attracting and keeping good people, employees also want to feel valued, supported and comfortable in their workplace.
For businesses looking for cost-effective ways to improve the employee experience, small workplace perks can make a meaningful difference. From flexible working and learning opportunities to free refreshments and office fruit, thoughtful extras can help create a workplace people enjoy being part of.
This is particularly relevant for smaller businesses that may not have the budget to compete with larger organisations on salary or extensive benefits packages. The good news is that effective employee perks don't necessarily need to come with a large price tag.
Why do workplace perks matter for employee retention?
Employee retention is influenced by a combination of factors, including pay, career development, workplace culture, management and overall job satisfaction. Perks alone won't solve underlying problems, but they can complement a strong employee experience by demonstrating that a business cares about its people.
The key is relevance. A perk doesn't have to be expensive or particularly elaborate to be appreciated. It simply needs to provide something employees genuinely value.
For example, free fresh fruit in the office might seem like a relatively small gesture compared with a large benefits package. However, it provides an everyday benefit that employees can actually use while they're at work.
Small perks can have a big impact on workplace culture
One of the advantages of workplace perks is that they can contribute to the atmosphere and culture of an office.
Consider something as simple as an office fruit box. Rather than being an individual benefit, it is something employees can share. The fruit bowl can become a natural point for people to take a break, chat with colleagues and step away from their desks for a few minutes.
This is particularly useful for businesses encouraging employees back into the workplace following periods of hybrid or remote working.
The objective shouldn't be to use fruit as a substitute for meaningful employee benefits. Instead, it's about creating an environment where small details show employees that their wellbeing and experience matter.
What makes a good workplace perk?
Not every perk will appeal to every employee. One of the most important considerations is whether a benefit actually meets the needs of your workforce.
There are a few characteristics that can make a workplace perk particularly effective:
1. It should be genuinely useful
The best perks solve a problem or make employees' working lives a little easier.
Free snacks, for example, provide employees with something they can use during the working day. Similarly, flexible working can help employees manage their responsibilities outside work, while professional development opportunities can support their longer-term careers.
2. It should be accessible to everyone
A perk that only benefits a small group of employees may have limited impact on workplace culture.
Shared perks, such as an office fruit delivery, can be particularly useful because everyone in the workplace can access them.
3. It should be consistent
One-off gestures are appreciated, but consistency can make a perk feel like a genuine part of the workplace rather than a temporary initiative.
A regular office fruit delivery for example, means employees know that fresh fruit will be available throughout the working week.
4. It should fit your company culture
There's no universal list of the best employee perks. What works for a large technology company may not be appropriate for a small professional services business.
The best approach is to understand your employees and choose perks that complement how your organisation works.
Why office fruit can be a simple employee perk
Fresh fruit is a relatively straightforward workplace perk that combines convenience, wellbeing and accessibility.
Instead of employees having to remember to bring snacks from home or buy something during the working day, fresh fruit is available in the workplace when they want it.
It can also provide variety. Fruit 4 London's Office Fruit Box contains a selection including apples, bananas, pears, clementines or satsumas and seasonal fruit, while the Office Fruit Box Plus adds berries and grapes.
For businesses, office fruit can also be easy to manage. Fruit 4 London offers different box sizes, with options ranging from 20 to 160 pieces, allowing businesses to choose an amount suited to their team. Recurring weekly or fortnightly deliveries are also available, with no long-term contract.
That makes it possible to introduce the perk without creating a significant administrative burden for office managers.
Workplace perks don't have to break the budget
For smaller businesses, the cost of employee benefits can be a significant consideration. However, offering meaningful perks doesn't necessarily mean trying to replicate the extensive benefits packages of larger organisations.
Instead, businesses can focus on a smaller number of benefits that employees are likely to appreciate and use.
For example, a company could combine flexible working with regular team activities, learning opportunities and simple office perks such as fresh fruit. Individually, each initiative may appear relatively small, but together they can contribute to a more positive employee experience.
How can you measure whether workplace perks are working?
If employee retention is the goal, it's worth measuring more than simply whether employees use a particular perk.
Start by establishing a baseline. Look at employee turnover, engagement survey results, absenteeism and feedback before introducing a new initiative.
You can then monitor changes over time and ask employees directly whether they value the benefits being offered.
For example, HR teams could include questions such as:
- Which workplace benefits do you value most?
- Which perks would you like us to introduce?
- Do you feel the company supports your wellbeing?
- How satisfied are you with the current workplace experience?
- What would make you more likely to stay with the company?
A small perk can be part of a bigger retention strategy
Employee retention shouldn't rely on free fruit, free coffee or any other individual perk. Employees need fair pay, supportive management, opportunities to develop and a workplace culture where they feel respected.
However, that doesn't mean smaller perks are irrelevant.
The most effective retention strategies combine the fundamentals with smaller touches that improve employees' everyday experience. For an office-based business, providing fresh fruit is one simple way to show employees that their wellbeing matters.
For businesses operating in London, Fruit 4 London provides office fruit deliveries across London and within the M25, with next-day delivery available for qualifying orders. The service also uses a fully electric delivery fleet and collects reusable crates and baskets, helping businesses incorporate the perk alongside wider sustainability goals.
Ultimately, the question isn't whether an office fruit box alone will make employees stay. It's whether your business is creating a workplace where people feel valued.