Ideas taken from the winners of the Sunday Times 'Best Small Companies to Work For'
- Install a ship's bell in the middle of the office. Ring it every time there's a new business win.
- Give staff a card of their birthday, a chocolate egg at Easter, time off to shop at Christmas, etc.
- Celebrate new business wins with the whole company, not just with the Board/New business/Sales team.
- 'Walk the floor', daily, asking what people are doing, and what help they might need.
- Give out a 'Going the Extra Mile' (GEM) monthly award.
- Give out a monthly MAD hat award (Made A Difference), with a cash prize.
- Give out a monthly award for 'fanatical service'.
- Ensure staff have a regular one-to-one meeting with you.
- Organise a three person 'flying squad' who step in to cover holidays, illness and heavy workloads.
- Time management training - to create a positive work/life balance.
- Encourage working from home, where appropriate.
- Offer free toast/cereal for breakfast. Also supply free fresh fruit.
- Have a 'feel-good fund' to promote fun in the office.
- Give a Director the responsibility to make the Christmas Party a success (include free transport home).
- Discourage staff from eating lunch at their desks.
- Reward long-servers with bonuses, additional holiday, gym membership, sabbaticals, etc.
- Implement a 'Make yourself more interesting' scheme with a budget to develop a skill.
- Offer everyone a tailormade training programme. Stick to a rigid programme of six monthly appraisals.
- Listen and talk opening (minimise closed door meetings).
- Keep discussions face-to-face - avoid using email.
- Make sure birthdays are properly celebrated
- Implement a 'buddy' and/or Mentoring system.
- Welcome new team members properly (e.g. encourage people to send them welcome emails).
- Consider organising a (voluntary?) team building games weekend.
- Celebrate Pancake day, Beaujolais Nouveau day, etc.
- If they work very late, allow them to put a takeaway/a cab home on expenses.
- Implement a 'Give as you earn' charity scheme.
- Adopt a village in Africa. Support education, supply of fresh water, etc.
- Promote the use of environmentally friendly cars.
- Implement a company-wide paper/card/bottle/plastic/batteries/toner recycling scheme.
- Organise an activity for Children in Need/Red Nose Day/Other Charity days.
- Give staff time-off to work with good causes.
- Set up a Praise Department. 'Well Done', if used sincerely, is more motivating that almost any incentive.
- Give staff a 'Get Out of Work Free' card if they've had a particular success.
- Set up a Staff Company Marketing Committee.
- Give out red baseball caps (to be worn when you don't want to be disturbed).
- Run the business using stated principles and values.