Business is made by people, and scaling a business in the Polish market without a good team is quite difficult. In most cases, motivation for employees in Poland means good working conditions and timely salaries. However, non-standard motivation is available to large corporate structures. In this article, we will debunk this myth and show you tools, beyond salary, that will make your staff loyal, committed, and motivated.
Watch the video on this topic or read the article below.
Employees in Poland: Non-Standard Motivation
1 | Leadership Bonus or “13th Salary”
Today, salary alone is no longer a surprise, but an unexpected payment or leadership/team bonus can become a non-standard motivation for doing extra work or exceeding KPIs. For example, if an employee closes a client this month, they receive an additional bonus.
2 | Fix + Flex Method
Instead of a static salary, a flexible one. The salary amount depends on the employee’s efforts. The person understands they are not in a rigid structure with a ceiling on earnings. In Poland, employees can make extra efforts in the middle of the month and earn extra money, thus influencing their salary and life.
3 | Fines for Unfinished Work
This is a common situation. Employees in Poland can be fined for unfinished work, missed deadlines, etc. Consider offering rewards for those who do extra work and penalties for those who truly fail.
4 | Bonus/Allowance for Not Smoking
In Poland, there is a significant problem with long smoking breaks at work. Colleagues gather in groups, chat, and this takes up a lot of time. Think about offering bonuses to employees who don’t waste their work time smoking.
5 | Non-Standard Motivation – Recognition
In Poland, there are intangible methods of motivation. Poles show achievements, recognition, certificates, awards, new reviews about work, and deals with big brands. Be careful with this. Headhunting works well here. If you start publicly praising an employee, there is a high chance that other companies will steal them from you.
6 | Position Change or Promotion Perspective
Motivation for employees in Poland can be a change of position or a promotion. This doesn’t necessarily need to be tied to a salary increase or more responsibilities. For example, we had a junior designer and after a certain period, we made them a designer. We felt the person’s motivation grew. Sometimes the position itself is a recognition, a status. When it’s not embarrassing to say what you do and who you work for.
7 | Provide a Company Car
In Poland, you can rent a car cheaply (both new and used, in leasing). For an entrepreneur, this costs around 300 PLN per month, and the employee gets to use a company car. They don’t need to save up or buy one. As long as they work for you, they get to use it. This is a huge incentive and comfort zone, and it’s difficult to part with.
8 | Bonus Gadgets from the Company
Similar to the car. Modern gadgets, laptops, paid mobile connection, internet are also a way to motivate employees in Poland. A person earns a salary to buy these things for themselves, but you can buy them for the company, sign an agreement with the employee for material responsibility, and they can use them. They don’t need to spend their personal money on these things.
9 | Pay for Gym Membership or Multisport
Fitness, sports, and various memberships are important in Poland. The culture of sports is high. From running in the street and cycling to gym memberships. For an entrepreneur, a membership might cost 15-20 euros, but for the employee, it’s a value. They will appreciate that you gave them this opportunity.
One nuance — before choosing a method of motivation, talk to the person and understand their values, hobbies, and interests. Maybe they don’t need a gym membership but love painting.
10 | Food Delivery to the Office or Catering from the Company
Catering is popular for employees in Poland. Ordering food to the office or home can be written off as company expenses. This could be an incentive for an employee to stay late and finish tasks for the day.
11 | Trips or Vacations for Employees in Poland
A business owner can write off an employee’s trip abroad as a business trip. Be careful with this point so that it doesn’t appear as manipulation — consult with an accountant.
12 | Employee Education and Development
Books, discs, training, consultations with a specialist in their field. This helps a person grow and become a specialist in their area. It’s a win/win situation: by investing in people’s education, you get a specialist and additionally foster motivation and gratitude in them.
13 | Unplanned Days Off
Poles are generally considered quite relaxed people. Non-standard motivation for employees in Poland can be additional days off.
14 | Ability to Work from Home
Especially relevant now, in the context of the pandemic, is giving employees the opportunity to work in comfortable conditions from home.
15 | Care for the Employee’s Family
Poles have strong family values. If you think about and care for their loved ones, it’s even more valuable. This is no longer taken for granted. The person will definitely notice that the employer consciously does something for them — buying flowers for holidays, expanding insurance to cover all family members. For the entrepreneur, this doesn’t cost much, but for the employee, it’s a huge relief. The employee understands that the company cares about their whole family.
16 | Joint Employee Workouts
Returning to the mentality of Poles who are actively involved in sports, joint workouts, competitions, team marathons, Friday soccer games, boxing. Group sports activities foster team spirit.
17 | Team Parties and Corporate Events
Organize team bonding activities for employees in Poland outside of work once a month or several times a year. This is common for large companies, but not for small businesses. Sometimes meeting in an informal setting can lead to many new ideas, set the company’s direction, and find out what the team truly thinks about you. A small remark: it’s always better to maintain proper subordination in any situation.
We hope this article was helpful and that you found a couple of ideas to motivate employees in Poland for your business. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Follow our Telegram channel to stay up to date on the latest news about life and business in Poland.
