The Importance of Total Rewards
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The Importance of Total Rewards in Offering Remote Work Abroad
Attracting and retaining top talent has become a significant challenge for HR professionals. To meet this challenge, HR needs to continually evolve their compensation and benefits strategies to meet the diverse needs of their workforce. One innovative approach that has gained traction in recent years is offering the option to temporarily work from abroad as an official benefit to employees. While this idea might initially seem impractical for businesses with a wide range of employees, a well-thought-out total rewards strategy can make it feasible and beneficial for everyone involved.
Understanding the Workation Trend
The concept of working from abroad temporarily, also known as workation, is simple: it allows employees to work remotely from a different location, often in a completely new setting. This can mean working from a beachfront villa, a cozy mountain cabin, or any other destination that provides a change of scenery. Workations offer employees a unique blend of work and leisure, allowing them to rejuvenate while staying productive.
However, some companies argue that this benefit may not be suitable for all of their employees. For instance, production employees who require a physical presence in the workplace cannot profit from remote work options. Similarly, some employees may prefer the traditional office environment. So, how can HR professionals create a workation benefit that accommodates the diverse needs of their workforce? The answer lies in a well-crafted total rewards strategy.
The Power of a Total Rewards Strategy
A total rewards strategy goes beyond the traditional compensation package. It takes into account all the ways in which an organization compensates and rewards its employees, including base salary, bonuses, benefits, and more. When applied thoughtfully, a total rewards strategy can align with the unique preferences and needs of different employee groups, making it a valuable tool for companies seeking to offer workations as a benefit.
Here's how a total rewards strategy can help make workations a reality for computer-based workforces and how employers can profit from allowing this flexible work option:
1. Customization of Benefits:
A total rewards strategy enables HR to tailor benefits to meet the specific needs of different employee groups. For example, for production employees who need to be on-site, workations might not be practical. However, HR can customize their compensation package to include other benefits that matter to them, such as flexible working hours, on-site wellness programs, or skill development opportunities.
2. Inclusivity:
One of the key challenges in offering remote work abroad is ensuring that all employees feel included. A total rewards strategy can help by offering alternative perks to employees who may not opt for workations. For those who prefer office-based work, consider enhancing the office environment with ergonomic improvements, relaxation areas, or on-site childcare facilities and the like.
3. Communication and Education:
A total rewards strategy also involves effective communication and education about the benefits offered. HR professionals can proactively engage with employees to explain the workation benefit, its eligibility criteria, and how it fits into the overall rewards package. Providing clarity can help dispel concerns and misconceptions among employees.
4. Balancing Flexibility and Accountability:
Workations are not synonymous with a lack of accountability. HR professionals can use their total rewards strategy to set clear performance expectations and establish mechanisms for tracking productivity, regardless of where employees are working. This ensures that employees remain responsible for their tasks and maintain their performance levels.
5. Encouraging a Healthy Work-Life Balance:
Workations, when integrated into a total rewards strategy, can promote a healthier work-life balance. HR can emphasize the importance of finding the right work arrangement, which can boost overall employee well-being and productivity.
6. Promoting Employee Retention:
A well-designed total rewards strategy that includes remote work abroad can be a powerful tool for attracting and retaining talent. Many employees today value flexibility and the opportunity to work remotely. By offering workations as a benefit, companies can create a competitive advantage in the job market.
7. Cost Management:
Contrary to the assumption that workations are a costly benefit, a total rewards strategy allows HR to allocate resources strategically. They can decide the extent to which benefits are subsidized and ensure that the overall compensation package remains competitive within industry standards.
A Competitive Advantage for Modern Employers
Incorporating workations into your organization's total rewards strategy can be a game-changer for employers. It allows you to meet the evolving needs and desires of your diverse workforce while enhancing employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. By customizing benefits, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring clear communication, HR can make workations a valuable addition to their compensation and benefits offerings.
As the work landscape continues to change, companies must adapt their strategies to remain competitive and relevant. Offering remote work abroad as part of a total rewards package not only demonstrates an organization's commitment to employee well-being but also positions it as an attractive employer in today's talent-driven market. So, take the plunge, embrace the workation trend, and watch your workforce thrive in a new era of work-life balance and flexibility.
Sandra Lugonjic, 28.9.2023
