Slovakia
The beginning of the year has its own special energy. Employees make resolutions... That they will move more, eat better, stress less, find more time for their family or finally sign up for a course that they have been putting off for a long time. But in February they run out of energy, time, desire, strength... However, the employer has the tools to ensure that this does not happen.
The problem is not that people don't want a better quality of life. Rather, they lack the system, support, and environment that will keep them on track with their decisions. And this is where employers can offer real help in fulfilling New Year's resolutions through well-designed benefits.
Help from your employer
Resolutions tend to fail for three reasons: They are too general (for example, I will live healthier), they rely solely on the will of the person (without a system of support mechanisms), and people often lack the support of those closest to them.
Since employees are at work most of the day, if employee benefits are set up correctly and also take into account the individual preferences of each employee, the chances that employees will stick to at least some of their resolutions increase significantly.
In this context, the Edenred card and the Benefits wallet are powerful tools. In one solution, employees have access to benefits for healthy eating, sports, relaxation, mental well-being, education and leisure activities. And the employer has a powerful tool for building relationships, loyalty and support.
"Employees don't see benefits in isolation. They associate them with company culture, fairness, and whether they feel truly supported at work. When benefits give employees meaning in their daily lives, they become one of the most powerful tools for motivation and loyalty," says Lívia Bachratá, Director of Public Affairs at Edenred,
Most common resolutions
Most resolutions revolve around health, finances, and balance. We want to eat better, exercise more, have less stress, and create boundaries between work and home.
"A sufficiently high meal allowance allows employees to choose a quality lunch, have energy throughout the day, and at the same time save on the family budget. With rising food prices, this is a benefit that is realistically perceived every working day," continues L. Bachratá.
Exercise is another area where benefits can turn an intention (“I’ll start someday”) into a concrete step. The ability to use a gym, swimming pool, or group exercise card reduces the initial barrier because the employee doesn’t have to think about whether they can afford it.
Regeneration and mental health are equally important. Benefits for wellness, massage, rehabilitation, and psychological services send a clear signal to employees that relaxation and mental well-being are not something extra, but a natural part of caring for people. "Benefits that support a healthy and sustainable lifestyle will be even more important in the coming years than they have been so far. Employees perceive them as a sign of genuine interest on the part of the employer in their employees," added the Director of Public Affairs at Edenred.
Five steps to make the journey easier for employees
The beginning of the year is an ideal time to not only remind employees of the benefits, but also to practically show them how they will help them achieve their goals.
The first step is to motivate people to keep their benefits under control – they know what their balance is, when they can use the funds, and that it's a shame to let them lapse. A simple mailing or internal notification can significantly increase their activity.
The second step is to show the breadth of possibilities. Many employees have no idea that they can use the Edenred card not only for meals, but also for sports, regeneration or education. Instead of general lists, specific examples work: "Here you can have a healthy lunch, here is the swimming pool, here is the language school, here is the wellness."
The third step is working with news. "We know from experience that in companies that regularly inform their employees about new partner operations within the Edenred card, about promotions or interesting offers from the Benefits wallet, the benefits are used frequently and effectively. Employees feel that the system is alive, that new opportunities are constantly emerging, and they are happy to benefit from them," L. Bachratá recalled.
The fourth step is to remind employees to take time off. In practice, we often see that employees perceive benefits more as “something to do” – gym, courses, activities. It is good to remind them that benefits allow them to focus on regeneration, mental well-being, or burnout prevention.
The fifth step is simple guidance. A short internal training, video tutorial, or a series of internal posts is often enough to stop employees from feeling that benefits are “complicated.” If they understand the options, they use them much more actively. And resolutions turn into concrete steps and actions.
Benefits restart
The beginning of the year is an ideal time for companies to take a fresh look at employee benefits. Are they helping your people achieve the goals they set for themselves? Are benefits accessible to different generations of employees? Are they understandable and realistically available, or do they remain just an internal guideline?
At Edenred, we are happy to help companies with such an analysis. Together, we will set up benefits so that they have a real positive impact on the everyday lives of employees.
"When people have the support of a company and benefits that make it easier for them to make slightly better decisions every day, resolutions naturally change to a new standard. And that's exactly what we want to be a partner in - helping employers make their benefits a real support for people at work and in their personal lives," concludes L. Bchratá.
