Remote work was rare 10 years ago; however, remote and hybrid work is common today. About one-third of Americans with jobs that can be done remotely work remotely all the time, according to a [Pew Research](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/30/about-a-third-of-us-workers-who-can-work-from-home-do-so-all-the-time/#:~:text=A%20largely%20empty%20office%20area,have%20settled%20into%20hybrid%20work.) study. More than 40 percent work from home at least part of the time. Remote working offers employees more flexibility and can improve work-life balance. It also offers companies the opportunity to hire the best talent without regard to geography.
However, distributed teams face challenges, such as feeling disconnected and less engaged, difficulty in building collaborative relationships, social isolation, and trouble maintaining a consistent company culture.
As workplaces have become more remote, corporate benefits have evolved to accommodate the new way of work. Benefits have become more flexible, catering to a diversity of lifestyles and focusing on all aspects of wellness. Many companies have introduced [discount programs](https://employers.workingadvantage.com/blog-content?item_id=ecc502f1-dac4-40f8-950f-c25deda5fe88) that allow employees to create benefit packages tailored to their unique needs.
## Adapting Corporate Benefits
Smart companies adapt their benefits to accommodate employee needs regardless of their physical work location. Flexible health insurance with telemedicine benefits is one example. Other popular benefits for remote workers are:
- Support for setting up and operating a home office
- Wellness and mental health programs, especially those that address isolation
- Professional development opportunities
- Opportunities for remote employees to travel to company events
- Flexible work schedules
- Opportunities for "virtual coffee breaks," daily check-ins, and other team-building activities.
- Travel and leisure events that get them out of the house
[Flexible corporate discount programs](https://employers.workingadvantage.com/blog-content?item_id=ed05b8f2-4cb9-4b24-8c77-8a6353b1806a) help ensure equity in benefit offerings, regardless of geography, without creating additional work for human resource teams. Companies can partner with third-party providers to offer a wide variety of discounts, allowing employees to choose those they prefer.
### Customizing Discount Programs for Remote Employees
Companies can easily provide corporate discounts that meet the specific needs of remote employees. One example is offering discounts on office equipment, such as computers and Internet connections. Another example is developing an [employee recognition program](https://employers.workingadvantage.com/blog-content?item_id=dd1b40f8-fc20-423b-a9a7-49adb4072719) that recognizes remote teams who have done a good job of collaborating to meet a goal. Providing discounts on snack or meal programs delivered to the home is another example.
### Leverage Technology for Remote Team Benefits
Technology can help remote teams communicate and collaborate better with each other. Examples are tools such as video conferencing, cloud-based project management, and a communication platform. Health and wellness software can also promote individual wellness, while learning systems can provide professional development opportunities without the employee needing to come to the office.
### Enhancing Employee Engagement through Discounts
Corporate discounts on leisure, wellness, and everyday purchases let employees know that management cares about them, their families, and their health. Examples include discount tickets at popular vacation spots, discounted financial planning services and gym memberships, and discounts from national retailers. [Studies show](https://www.nursingcenter.com/journalarticle?Article_ID=739217&Journal_ID=420959&Issue_ID=739129) that employees are [more engaged](https://employers.workingadvantage.com/blog-content?item_id=acddbe8d-2ebc-4f0c-9203-eb2867df03e5) when management cares for them outside and inside the office. Engaged employees are more loyal, so offering employee discounts can improve employee retention.
Workers are also more engaged when management [recognizes their hard work](https://www.workhuman.com/resources/reports-guides/from-praise-to-profits-workhuman-gallup-report/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2160936&utm_content=6nArIXb2TiTa2FBEkHobig&utm_term=2024_wh_sem_nb_awareness_secondary_na_phr_rlsa~work_engagement&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-ai0BhDPARIsAB6hmP7Jeu2BcD-nHTwo2y40fjq3YpX5JlsSfd7u_Lzh-cdPmM5m7KYgz_0aAllZEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds). Discount programs ease the administration of employee recognition programs.
### Balancing Traditional and Modern Benefits Approaches
The most comprehensive employee benefit programs balance both traditional and modern benefit approaches. Traditional benefit programs include basic health insurance, paid time off, and support for retirement. Modern benefit approaches build on traditional programs by offering voluntary benefits that employees can tailor to their needs. Examples include specialty health insurance such as critical illness or hospital insurance; discounted auto, home, and pet insurance; and discounted legal aid programs. Modern approaches also include discounts on lifestyle perks, such as live concerts, trips to popular vacation sites, and fitness equipment. Combining both traditional and modern approaches into your benefits package ensures you meet the needs of a diverse and distributed team.
## Key Takeaways
- Most organizations have a distributed workforce.
- While remote work has many benefits, it also has many challenges.
- To meet the needs of a diverse workforce, organizations must ensure their benefits evolve so that employees are treated equally regardless of geography.
- Modern benefit approaches include voluntary benefits that employees can choose to supplement basic benefits. Another popular modern benefit is a corporate discount program that helps employees better manage the challenges of working remotely.
- Employee benefits will continue to evolve as the workforce becomes more diverse. A corporate discount program can help companies keep pace with this evolution at no additional cost to the company.
Employee discount programs will continue to play a key role in providing the benefits necessary to keep remote employees engaged and prevent isolation.
Working Advantage is the largest corporate discount program in the world, providing a broad range of benefits that meet the needs of a diverse, remote workforce. Ready to launch your corporate discount program? Contact [Working Advantage](https://www.workingadvantage.com/employer) today.
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