10 inexpensive ways to increase the loyalty of employees in a startup
Startups and small companies often cannot offer stellar salaries to their employees, but there are other ways to make the lives of employees more enjoyable. Most of these methods are free or cost you a penny.

1. Flexible opening hours
Someone wants to come later, someone wants to leave earlier. It makes no sense to work strictly from 9 to 18, if this does not bring returns. The schedule must be flexible to accommodate individual abilities and needs. Someone does not want to drive into traffic, someone needs to pick up children from school. It would be convenient for someone to work one day from home - give him that opportunity.
2. Free meals
This is not only about caring for employees and their health, but also saving time. Joint dinners also provide an opportunity to exchange a joke or two or discuss a problem.
3. A cozy atmosphere in the office.
Give each employee the opportunity to arrange their workplace as they wish. Let them feel comfortable. This applies both to workplaces and to other rooms.
4. Lack of
dress code If your company does not work directly with customers - the issue of clothing should not even arise.
5. Free coffee and other drinks.
Coffee improves productivity. You do not want employees to pickle instant coffee or run around the neighborhood in search of a coffee shop. Buy a decent coffee machine and keep a supply of coffee.
6. The budget for the purchase of useful things
Give employees a small amount of money that they can spend at their discretion on something related to the work. It can be books or a cool gadget on your desktop or a package of exotic tea. 50 bucks spent in this way will bring more benefits than an increase in salary by the same amount.
7. Fast computers, large monitors, comfortable chairs, better software.
It costs money, you say. It’s worth, but much less than the salary of a programmer. An increase in productivity even by 10-15% will break off within a few months.
Read more here: Savings for startups. 17 tips from Jason Kalakanis.
8. Minimum rallies
Give employees the opportunity to communicate during lunch and the need for rallies will be reduced to a minimum.
9. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
Buy free fruits and healthy drinks in the office. Sponsor gym memberships. If there are many smoking employees, you can give bonuses to non-smokers, although this is on the verge of being politically incorrect.
10. Four or more weeks of vacation of
herd horses are shot, right? Do not bring to this. Rested employees work better. The main thing is to coordinate the deadlines in advance so that the deadlines do not suffer and go on vacation at the same time both technical support employees.
11. Bonus advice. Promotion of professional development.
Send employees to the conference. Invite famous people with lectures to the company. Encourage the study of new technologies during working hours.
Our company still needs to work on points 6, 9 and 10. And what inexpensive but effective methods to increase employee loyalty can you share?

1. Flexible opening hours
Someone wants to come later, someone wants to leave earlier. It makes no sense to work strictly from 9 to 18, if this does not bring returns. The schedule must be flexible to accommodate individual abilities and needs. Someone does not want to drive into traffic, someone needs to pick up children from school. It would be convenient for someone to work one day from home - give him that opportunity.
2. Free meals
This is not only about caring for employees and their health, but also saving time. Joint dinners also provide an opportunity to exchange a joke or two or discuss a problem.
3. A cozy atmosphere in the office.
Give each employee the opportunity to arrange their workplace as they wish. Let them feel comfortable. This applies both to workplaces and to other rooms.
4. Lack of
dress code If your company does not work directly with customers - the issue of clothing should not even arise.
5. Free coffee and other drinks.
Coffee improves productivity. You do not want employees to pickle instant coffee or run around the neighborhood in search of a coffee shop. Buy a decent coffee machine and keep a supply of coffee.
6. The budget for the purchase of useful things
Give employees a small amount of money that they can spend at their discretion on something related to the work. It can be books or a cool gadget on your desktop or a package of exotic tea. 50 bucks spent in this way will bring more benefits than an increase in salary by the same amount.
7. Fast computers, large monitors, comfortable chairs, better software.
It costs money, you say. It’s worth, but much less than the salary of a programmer. An increase in productivity even by 10-15% will break off within a few months.
Read more here: Savings for startups. 17 tips from Jason Kalakanis.
8. Minimum rallies
Give employees the opportunity to communicate during lunch and the need for rallies will be reduced to a minimum.
9. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
Buy free fruits and healthy drinks in the office. Sponsor gym memberships. If there are many smoking employees, you can give bonuses to non-smokers, although this is on the verge of being politically incorrect.
10. Four or more weeks of vacation of
herd horses are shot, right? Do not bring to this. Rested employees work better. The main thing is to coordinate the deadlines in advance so that the deadlines do not suffer and go on vacation at the same time both technical support employees.
11. Bonus advice. Promotion of professional development.
Send employees to the conference. Invite famous people with lectures to the company. Encourage the study of new technologies during working hours.
Our company still needs to work on points 6, 9 and 10. And what inexpensive but effective methods to increase employee loyalty can you share?