Send us a textA birthday cake, a messy keyboard, and a very pleased office dog set up a sharper question: are your perks pulling their weight or just glossing over deeper problems? We dig into a clear, UK‑focused approach to benefits that actually help people work and live better, starting with the truth that pay must be right before perks can shine.We share a simple framework that keeps teams included and spending tight. You’ll hear why small health wins like flu jabs, eye tests and a real person on the end of a phone beat glossy portals. We talk through time as a benefit, from flexible working where possible to occasional paid life admin, and we focus on modest money support such as late‑shift meals, safe travel home and useful discounts. Along the way we unpack compliance basics most leaders overlook: tax transparency, national minimum wage guardrails, and the risks of changing contractual perks without consent.The heart of the episode is a practical playbook. Start with one short survey asking which three perks people would use. Choose impact over novelty, then pilot one or two perks for three months with one‑click usage and one‑line claims. If a group can’t use a benefit, add an equivalent to keep it fair. Track cost per person per month, measure usage and usefulness, and check sick days and leavers before and after. We also tackle common traps—the empty gym discount, the noisy ping‑pong table, and the surprise tax on pay slips—and offer cleaner swaps like a small monthly wellbeing pot, better coffee and quiet chairs.By the end, you’ll have a one‑page policy you can actually run: what the perk is, who gets it, how to use it, when it ends and when you’ll review it. Start small—£10 to £15 per person per month can work—and apply the same rules to full‑time and part‑time staff to avoid favourites. Fix the basics first—pay, workload and kit—then fund one or two benefits that earn their keep. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a manager who buys shiny toys, and leave a quick review to tell us your best and worst perk. Thank you for tuning in to Buzzing About HR with Kate Underwood!If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review—your feedback helps us grow and reach more people like you. Have questions or need HR advice? Reach out to Kate Underwood HR & Training at www.kateunderwoodhr.co.uk, email us on [email protected] or follow us on social media for more tips, resources, and updates. Until next time, keep buzzing and take care of your people!

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