Why Concierge and Errand Running Perks are Trending

The pace of commerce is speeding up and employees’ time is increasingly not their own. To complicate matters, few employees have a stay-at-home partner that can take care of personal responsibilities. In preparation for the 2025 Workforce, many companies are embracing a full suite of personal service offerings that align with the needs of modern families, from pet parents to multigenerational caretakers.

Concierge and errand running services have been around for over 20 years, but have only recently become highly sought-after perks. Programs like ACI’s Leverage Concierge support employees through professional assistance, taking both day-to-day and more unusual tasks off their hands and allowing more time to focus on work. The range of activities addressed by concierge and errand-running services is often limited only by the employee’s imagination (within certain practical and legal boundaries) and can include everything from prescription pick-up and grocery shopping to pet-sitting and home maintenance. These benefits boost employee loyalty and productivity, improve employers’ recruitment and retention efforts, and help companies achieve best place to work recognition.

Here are explanations for four common employer concerns about errand running programs.

1. Why should the employer subsidize errand running?

In most locations, if the employee pays for a local errand running service out of pocket, they can expect to be charged $50-$75/hour. This high fee is a deterrent for many employees. Rather than outsourcing this task, most employees will opt to run the errand themselves, taking time away from the office and work-related activities. Employers should subsidize errand running to encourage employees to utilize the service and maximize their productivity.

2. Why don’t employees use Task Rabbit or delivery services instead?

Leverage Concierge handles the entire errand running process directly and through a network of vetted service providers. If there are any complaints or issues, the Leverage Concierge customer service team is available to address the concerns and fix issues. Leverage Concierge also provides utilization reporting to employers to provide insight into workforce trends and demonstrate program effectiveness.

3. Can the errand runners be trusted?

Leverage Concierge vets all errand runners in their network. This includes insurance minimums, bonding, Better Business Bureau and reference checks. In addition, Leverage Concierge maintains umbrella liability insurance policies to protect employers and employees.

4. What are the restrictions of an errand running program?

Errand running programs generally will not transport people. There are typically also weight restrictions for items, as the errand runners are not to be used for manual labor, and limits on the dollar value of items transported.

What are Leverage Concierge customers saying?

“I had an errand runner pick up and deliver DMV forms to my office. Excellent service! Saved me time at the DMV!”

“I worked with a Leverage Concierge errand runner to return an item for a refund. He was professional and punctual. I look forward to working with him again in the future.”

“The errand runner was very prompt and professional. This service saved me almost three hours of my time, which is great. Looking forward to using this service again in the future.”

By fully understanding how concierge and errand running services can improve your workplace, and by setting appropriate expectations, these types of convenience programs can reduce employee stress and increase the bottom line.

ACI Senior Vice President of Concierge Services Cathy Leibow is a frequent writer on LinkedIn. This article was originally published on LinkedIn.