As you probably know, there is a cost of living crisis in Australia and worldwide. Inflation is negatively affecting people’s disposable incomes and making it difficult for the average joe to make ends meet.
Though the Australian government has put a few actionable items in place to help solve the issue, it’s clear this problem won’t be solved overnight.
How You Can Help
Here are a few things that you can do to support your employees through this crisis:
Pay Fairly
It goes without saying but all businesses are legally obligated to pay their workers the award wage. We recommend holding annual pay reviews, so your employees feel valued and understand the award they are paid under.
Beyond regular pay, there are other ways that you can offer financial assistance – like one-off bonuses or helping them access loans or government assistance.
Be Supportive
Even in 2022, there is still a stigma that exists around mental health and opening up about financial stressors. But if management at your service station is open and communicative, employees will feel confident to talk about their challenges. This will help you understand their struggles and think of ways that you can help and resources you can provide.
Implement Accurate Payroll
People depend on their income as their livelihood, so make sure they receive it when they expect it. Your payroll should always be on time.
Examine Benefits
Review your benefits to see what people need during this cost of living crisis. You might consider implementing mental health days, increasing your fringe benefits, or exploring benefits that might be available to your employees.
Offer Financial Wellbeing Assistance
Not everyone is educated surrounding financial matters, so helping your employees develop money management skills can be very helpful. Offer tips on budgeting, managing mortgages and debt, investing, and saving for retirement.
Transport Assistance
Since service station owners can’t offer the option of working from home, there are other ways that you can help combat the rising costs of transport. You can organise carpools, provide bike storage, or offer your staff a fuel discount.
Additional Perks
Small things tend to add up for employees, like free on-site food, free lunches/snacks, and restaurant vouchers. You can also offer staff discounts on your products, as this helps with employee retention and attracting new employees.
Support at Your Service Station
Your employee’s matter, so use these helpful tips to get them through the cost of living crisis in Australia. If you need further help and advice on how you can support your employees contact us.