While many employers are looking to cut labor-related costs wherever possible, some others are taking a longer range view and actually adding perks despite the current challenges of running a business, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Among the added perks are adoption benefits, backup childcare, child-care centers, concierge services, expanded health care services, and academic scholarships for children of company employees.
"Your knee-jerk reaction is, 'Why in the world would you add something like this now?'" Carol Sladek, a principal at consulting firm Hewitt Associates, told the Journal.
The answer, according to Ms. Sladek, is that many companies have added perks to help reduce the stress on employees who may be working in leaner organizations. The Harvard Business Review cited a study showing voluntary quit rates at companies increase an average of 31 percent following a layoff.
Jeff Henderson, chief financial officer at Cardinal Health, told the Journal, "Anything companies can do to reduce that stress level for employees is something you have to look at."
Discussion Questions: What added perks do you think are most helpful at this point in time? Will these benefits increase productivity, reduce turnover and foster any other benefits for employers that offer them? Are there any unique programs in retailing or consumer goods manufacturing companies that you believe are worthy of emulation?