Remote-First Trends: The Rise of Intangible Work Benefits

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2023: Year of the intangible benefits package — and we’re not just talking about healthcare.

Upflex Co-Founder and CPO Ginger Dhaliwal, an honorary member of the Remote-First Institute, shared her insights with the institute as part of their deep-dive into remote-first trends for 2023 and beyond. Her focus: the rise of intangible work perks for employees at remote and hybrid companies.

“Ensuring all employees in a remote-first work environment are on equal footing, no matter where they are, is already a struggle that requires constant attentiveness. This effort touches HR teams’ benefit packages too: benefits and perks can’t be tied to physical spaces anymore, or not all employees will get to benefit from and enjoy them equally,” Dhaliwal told Remote-First. “But, as more businesses around the world are embracing remote work, we’re seeing new companies rise up to fill the growing need for remote-first work perks and amenities. Innovative companies like Gympass and Giftpack are offering solutions to this problem, with global gym memberships and employee gift credits.”

“As more businesses around the world are
embracing remote work, we’re seeing new
companies rise up to fill the growing need for
remote-first work perks and amenities.”

At Upflex, as demand rose in 2022, Dhaliwal explained that her team increasingly saw enterprises leverage Upflex’s global space network as an “amenity” that they could use to please their employees and attract new talent — offering on-demand access to premium workspaces, like WeWorks, around the world.

“The impact that this new era of amenities has on business can also be measured,” she said, “from increasing NPS scores, improving talent attraction and retention and enhancing overall well being in the workplace. As we settle into 2023 I think we’re going to see a lot more creative solutions in this space — and companies that offer remote-friendly amenities will have big opportunities for growth.”

Read insights from 43 other thought leaders in remote work compiled by the Remote-First Institute here.