Tell Me Your Favourite Job Perks
January 16, 2018 3:16 PM Subscribe
The (very) small company I work for is hiring in a competitive tech market, and I'm hoping to mine the hive mind for job perk ideas.
While we pay well and have flexible hours, we realise that throwing in with a new company can be concerning to people. In order to help improve our attractiveness as an employer, we are looking for ideas about creative and interesting "Job Perks" people have had, or heard of.
Some examples (although not super creative) of ones we already offer include:
- Monthly Cell Phone Credit
- Subsidized Insurance
- Reduced Fare Bus Passes
- Gym Membership at our onsite gym
- Two work from home days per week, with flexible hours the rest of the week
Things of that nature, but obviously less mundane.
Thanks in advance, all!
While we pay well and have flexible hours, we realise that throwing in with a new company can be concerning to people. In order to help improve our attractiveness as an employer, we are looking for ideas about creative and interesting "Job Perks" people have had, or heard of.
Some examples (although not super creative) of ones we already offer include:
- Monthly Cell Phone Credit
- Subsidized Insurance
- Reduced Fare Bus Passes
- Gym Membership at our onsite gym
- Two work from home days per week, with flexible hours the rest of the week
Things of that nature, but obviously less mundane.
Thanks in advance, all!
- Reimbursement for x number of massages per year
- Subsidized Lyft/Uber rides between work and home (if not during normal work hours, then at least for when people have to work late at night)
- employer contribution to student loan payments
- supplemental insurance program specifically for robust mental health services
- on site haircuts, manicures, waxing, etc (employee still pays out of pocket) provided by a mobile salon service biweekly
- employer paid egg freezing
- monthly free consultations with a financial planner who comes onsite during office hours
posted by joan_holloway at 3:30 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
- Subsidized Lyft/Uber rides between work and home (if not during normal work hours, then at least for when people have to work late at night)
- employer contribution to student loan payments
- supplemental insurance program specifically for robust mental health services
- on site haircuts, manicures, waxing, etc (employee still pays out of pocket) provided by a mobile salon service biweekly
- employer paid egg freezing
- monthly free consultations with a financial planner who comes onsite during office hours
posted by joan_holloway at 3:30 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Can you offer a retirement plan match? I find this to be an especially attractive benefit since I don't think it is taxed. I would consider this more of a "benefit" rather than a "perk" (along with insurance, which you mentioned in your list of perks). If I were a potential employee, I would want to see things framed as a benefits package (health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, PTO) and then with a separate list of "perks" such as onsite gym and a bus pass. Mostly because I would worry that if a company views things like health insurance as a "perk," they may be more likely to get rid of it if the hit hard times (and stability would already be a question with a startup). I view stuff like health insurance and retirement benefits as a core part of my compensation, not a "perk," and I would react a lot differently to my employer getting rid of those things as compared to if they changed the way they handle bus passes (which are certainly nice, but not a make-or-break of whether I would take a job).
Things I'd put more in the perk category:
--Nice, free coffee and tea in a convenient place in the office
--Free on-site classes happening during the lunch hour -- one of my favorite ever workplaces brought in a trainer to do a stretching/relaxation class during lunchtime twice a week. My current workplace has a free yoga class during lunchtime a couple of times a week (slightly less convenient location but still really cool). Obviously you would want to tailor this to the actual interests of your employees, but if you found out some type of class you think people would like, I think this is a great perk
posted by rainbowbrite at 3:32 PM on January 16, 2018 [13 favorites]
Things I'd put more in the perk category:
--Nice, free coffee and tea in a convenient place in the office
--Free on-site classes happening during the lunch hour -- one of my favorite ever workplaces brought in a trainer to do a stretching/relaxation class during lunchtime twice a week. My current workplace has a free yoga class during lunchtime a couple of times a week (slightly less convenient location but still really cool). Obviously you would want to tailor this to the actual interests of your employees, but if you found out some type of class you think people would like, I think this is a great perk
posted by rainbowbrite at 3:32 PM on January 16, 2018 [13 favorites]
- Pantry stocked with milk, milk alternatives and cream, oatmeal, fresh fruit, a variety of coffees and teas, peanut butter, perhaps bread. Somebody has to track that and keep it in stock of course.
- yes to car service especially when working late
- corporate membership at museums and other venues - employees can show their id and get in free or with a discount
posted by bunderful at 3:38 PM on January 16, 2018 [7 favorites]
- yes to car service especially when working late
- corporate membership at museums and other venues - employees can show their id and get in free or with a discount
posted by bunderful at 3:38 PM on January 16, 2018 [7 favorites]
Good maternity & paternity leave - I will never use it again (100% sure I'm done having kids), but I won't work for a company that doesn't have good maternity & paternity leave (at least 12 weeks maternity & 8 paternity - at an absolute bare minimum) because of what it says about how a company treats its employees.
posted by brainmouse at 3:38 PM on January 16, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by brainmouse at 3:38 PM on January 16, 2018 [34 favorites]
Others have mentioned reduced fare transit, and I'd take that one step further. For people who cycle or walk to work, give them the same amount in cash/bike shop credit annually that subsidizes each bus pass.
For example, if the annual transit subsidy is $350/employee, but an employee says "I ride/walk to work", that employee opts out of the transit subsidy but gets a $350 credit once a year at their local bike shop, or can also choose to take cash.
posted by pdb at 3:42 PM on January 16, 2018 [7 favorites]
For example, if the annual transit subsidy is $350/employee, but an employee says "I ride/walk to work", that employee opts out of the transit subsidy but gets a $350 credit once a year at their local bike shop, or can also choose to take cash.
posted by pdb at 3:42 PM on January 16, 2018 [7 favorites]
Nap room
On-site health clinic (maybe a room set up like a Minute Clinic that can be staffed by a nurse practitioner once a week)
Really good, healthy snacks brought in daily
Office arrangements to employees’ liking (standing desks, enclosed offices, view of outside)
posted by lakeroon at 3:43 PM on January 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
On-site health clinic (maybe a room set up like a Minute Clinic that can be staffed by a nurse practitioner once a week)
Really good, healthy snacks brought in daily
Office arrangements to employees’ liking (standing desks, enclosed offices, view of outside)
posted by lakeroon at 3:43 PM on January 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
Tuition assistance
Discounted CSA membership that delivers to the office
Indoor bike storage
The most decent coffee you can afford that doesn’t pollute horribly or rely on a kind individual to make it
Reusable mugs, plates, etc. and a dead easy workhorse of a dishwasher
But...don’t be one of those tech companies with a fridge full of craft beers and expensed lunches but no vision coverage that goes under in a year.
posted by kapers at 3:49 PM on January 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
Discounted CSA membership that delivers to the office
Indoor bike storage
The most decent coffee you can afford that doesn’t pollute horribly or rely on a kind individual to make it
Reusable mugs, plates, etc. and a dead easy workhorse of a dishwasher
But...don’t be one of those tech companies with a fridge full of craft beers and expensed lunches but no vision coverage that goes under in a year.
posted by kapers at 3:49 PM on January 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
Snacks
Coffee/tea/sodas/juices (Two recent places I worked had a machine that would grind fresh beans and make a cup for you. They were amazing.)
Transit benefit that includes/incentivizes bicycling/walking
Tuition reimbursement/student loan assistance
But, mostly, snacks.
posted by General Malaise at 3:54 PM on January 16, 2018
Coffee/tea/sodas/juices (Two recent places I worked had a machine that would grind fresh beans and make a cup for you. They were amazing.)
Transit benefit that includes/incentivizes bicycling/walking
Tuition reimbursement/student loan assistance
But, mostly, snacks.
posted by General Malaise at 3:54 PM on January 16, 2018
While we pay well and have flexible hours
Pay better and have more flexible hours. The only useful benefits are those that have specific tax benefits (ie, 401(k) matching, or, food/coffee at work), and even then, the tax benefits have to be substantial.
What employees are looking for is cash. Employees can exchange cash for coffee. Employees can exchange cash for bus passes. Employees can exchange cash for their cell phone. Employees cannot exchange coffee, bus passes, or cell phones, for cash. Hence, cash has very high utility and why it should form the vast majority of your compensation strategy.
Speaking for myself, I view employers that put extensive money into benefits negatively, as that policy suggests the company knows better how to spend my money then I do. In aggregate, employer benefits that are not tax-advantaged take some amount of effective compensation away from me, since there is always a chance I can't find a use for the benefit. There is never a chance I can't find a use for cash.
posted by saeculorum at 3:58 PM on January 16, 2018 [46 favorites]
Pay better and have more flexible hours. The only useful benefits are those that have specific tax benefits (ie, 401(k) matching, or, food/coffee at work), and even then, the tax benefits have to be substantial.
What employees are looking for is cash. Employees can exchange cash for coffee. Employees can exchange cash for bus passes. Employees can exchange cash for their cell phone. Employees cannot exchange coffee, bus passes, or cell phones, for cash. Hence, cash has very high utility and why it should form the vast majority of your compensation strategy.
Speaking for myself, I view employers that put extensive money into benefits negatively, as that policy suggests the company knows better how to spend my money then I do. In aggregate, employer benefits that are not tax-advantaged take some amount of effective compensation away from me, since there is always a chance I can't find a use for the benefit. There is never a chance I can't find a use for cash.
posted by saeculorum at 3:58 PM on January 16, 2018 [46 favorites]
I'm going to give you anti-advice, because all I have to offer are anti-perks. In italics, the "perks" I've been offered, and in plaintext how they read to me:
we pay for takeout lunches
You'll be working through lunch.
we supply pizza and takeout after work!
And working through dinner too.
free onsite laundry service
You won't be home.
These are anti-perks: things that look good initially, but aren't.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 4:05 PM on January 16, 2018 [38 favorites]
we pay for takeout lunches
You'll be working through lunch.
we supply pizza and takeout after work!
And working through dinner too.
free onsite laundry service
You won't be home.
These are anti-perks: things that look good initially, but aren't.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 4:05 PM on January 16, 2018 [38 favorites]
Just be careful with the low-stakes perks. I won't take a job anymore if I get a hard sell on free snacks, ping-pong tables, and massage therapists. Those are all meant to a) sound pretty b) keep me at work c) be easily terminated when they've done their work as hiring lures. Y'all aren't Google and I'm not 24.
I want to hear about:
- How you're going to allow me to keep more of my income (subsidized travel/parking, good benefits)
- Concrete ways your company makes it *hard* for management or company culture to undermine work-life balance or promote sexism and racism
- Training commitments (not "and some training!" but "$5000/year training budget plus travel time for offsite training" and "X hours budgeted for preparing for and obtaining Desirable Industry Certification")
- How you'll help me concentrate and get my work done in the 8 hours allotted daily instead of having to work extra all the time (or pretend to work extra to suit company culture)
- What kind of equipment is provided and what kind of infrastructure support is available (this starts to matter a lot when you work remote)
- General review and raise structure as well as career development resources (mentorship, leadership training that isn't culty and is intersectional, conflict resolution and soft skills training)
- An identifiable management philosophy, and project management philosophy (if applicable to your kind of work)
In my competitive tech market most of us are consultants, and I am zero impressed with the utilization bonuses everyone wants to tell me about. I'm not Sales, pipeline is Sales's problem. Yes, do me some favors if I work at over 80% at length because that means I'm working 60+ hour weeks, but don't incentivize me to work 60+ hour weeks. DO tell me about your Sales department, and tell me they can't throw me under the bus selling shit that doesn't exist. Tell me about how you allocate projects and manage resources. Give me reasons to believe that working for you will be humane and that you're going to set me up for success.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:11 PM on January 16, 2018 [43 favorites]
I want to hear about:
- How you're going to allow me to keep more of my income (subsidized travel/parking, good benefits)
- Concrete ways your company makes it *hard* for management or company culture to undermine work-life balance or promote sexism and racism
- Training commitments (not "and some training!" but "$5000/year training budget plus travel time for offsite training" and "X hours budgeted for preparing for and obtaining Desirable Industry Certification")
- How you'll help me concentrate and get my work done in the 8 hours allotted daily instead of having to work extra all the time (or pretend to work extra to suit company culture)
- What kind of equipment is provided and what kind of infrastructure support is available (this starts to matter a lot when you work remote)
- General review and raise structure as well as career development resources (mentorship, leadership training that isn't culty and is intersectional, conflict resolution and soft skills training)
- An identifiable management philosophy, and project management philosophy (if applicable to your kind of work)
In my competitive tech market most of us are consultants, and I am zero impressed with the utilization bonuses everyone wants to tell me about. I'm not Sales, pipeline is Sales's problem. Yes, do me some favors if I work at over 80% at length because that means I'm working 60+ hour weeks, but don't incentivize me to work 60+ hour weeks. DO tell me about your Sales department, and tell me they can't throw me under the bus selling shit that doesn't exist. Tell me about how you allocate projects and manage resources. Give me reasons to believe that working for you will be humane and that you're going to set me up for success.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:11 PM on January 16, 2018 [43 favorites]
I would suggest spending the money on making the office a good place to work. Too many companies spend money on cheap baubles and then cram employees into a dehumanizing cramped open-office layout and put people who're permanently on the phone next to programmers who need concentration. Invest the money into giving people a decent workspace with enough personal space and either team offices or at least a good number of phone / conference rooms, good chairs, monitors, etc and that'll help your recruiting and productivity much more than bringing in masseuses.
I mostly agree w/ saeculorum about cash (and tax-advantaged compensation) being king but I think that a reasonable exception is providing little conveniences in the workspace which make life better and can't (easily) be bought with cash.
The onsite gym is a great example -- while the employee can surely buy a gym membership on his own, having it onsite and having everyone in the company have access makes it easy to go for a workout with coworkers, saving time and encouraging team building.
A decent selection of free snacks / drinks (coffee, soda and beer) is always appreciated.
Things like cell phone credit feel like an anti-perk. That would make my personal cell phone paid for by my employer; I want my phone to be mine. A supplemental insurance program would *definitely* be an anti-perk -- have the actual primary insurance be good instead of optionally making it not suck.
posted by bsdfish at 4:17 PM on January 16, 2018 [10 favorites]
I mostly agree w/ saeculorum about cash (and tax-advantaged compensation) being king but I think that a reasonable exception is providing little conveniences in the workspace which make life better and can't (easily) be bought with cash.
The onsite gym is a great example -- while the employee can surely buy a gym membership on his own, having it onsite and having everyone in the company have access makes it easy to go for a workout with coworkers, saving time and encouraging team building.
A decent selection of free snacks / drinks (coffee, soda and beer) is always appreciated.
Things like cell phone credit feel like an anti-perk. That would make my personal cell phone paid for by my employer; I want my phone to be mine. A supplemental insurance program would *definitely* be an anti-perk -- have the actual primary insurance be good instead of optionally making it not suck.
posted by bsdfish at 4:17 PM on January 16, 2018 [10 favorites]
I am with lakeroon : Office arrangements to employees’ liking (standing desks, enclosed offices, view of outside)
I worked as a programmer in an open office/cubicle environment. I would have stayed there forever if I had 4 walls & a door I could close. I left after 7 months. I work from home now but browse job postings often. If a company brags about their open office environment I can't click away fast enough.
Also, flexible hours... 7 to 3 is my prime time for productivity.
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 4:22 PM on January 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
I worked as a programmer in an open office/cubicle environment. I would have stayed there forever if I had 4 walls & a door I could close. I left after 7 months. I work from home now but browse job postings often. If a company brags about their open office environment I can't click away fast enough.
Also, flexible hours... 7 to 3 is my prime time for productivity.
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 4:22 PM on January 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
Free delivery dinner & cab fare home if people need to work more than 2 hrs past end-of-day
Allowed to bank & flex hours (if you work 2 hours late on Tuesday, you can bank those 2 hours and come in 2 hrs late one day next week)
Free coffee / healthy snacks in the cafeteria
Dogs allowed at work
Employer hosts a good party or treats staff to a fun dinner party every couple months
Periodic staff retreats
Wardrobe budget if public appearances matter
Training budget for classes / skill upgrades
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:27 PM on January 16, 2018
Allowed to bank & flex hours (if you work 2 hours late on Tuesday, you can bank those 2 hours and come in 2 hrs late one day next week)
Free coffee / healthy snacks in the cafeteria
Dogs allowed at work
Employer hosts a good party or treats staff to a fun dinner party every couple months
Periodic staff retreats
Wardrobe budget if public appearances matter
Training budget for classes / skill upgrades
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:27 PM on January 16, 2018
BACKUP DAYCARE through a program like Bright Horizons. Cash is king but a company that understands and offers you options when you’re in a total panic for childcare is one I want to work at. I can buy my own snacks and coffee and clothes and phones but I can’t always buy last minute peace of mind when my normal arrangements fall through.
posted by sestaaak at 4:27 PM on January 16, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by sestaaak at 4:27 PM on January 16, 2018 [13 favorites]
A lot of perks are useless because people would rather have the flexibility of cash, or they are subsidizing behavior that is actually a negative. Examples of the latter are paid parking, beer in the fridge, or unhealthy lunches.
Calling health insurance or working from home a perk will put you wildly out of touch with your industry. Those are table stakes, experienced people will wonder what else you consider "perks".
I would prefer:
- a fixed stipend for training/continuing education, or even just books
- easy to get required / nice to have / necessary equipment
- unlimited sick time (it's really weird to worry about "budgeting" for being sick)
- actual offices with doors and not open space
- more vacation time (because life doesn't revolve around work)
Useful office perks are those which can be obtained/provided more easily in aggregate by the company but poorly by individuals. A gym/daycare center is great. Pizza for those working late is much less so.
posted by meowzilla at 4:30 PM on January 16, 2018 [9 favorites]
Calling health insurance or working from home a perk will put you wildly out of touch with your industry. Those are table stakes, experienced people will wonder what else you consider "perks".
I would prefer:
- a fixed stipend for training/continuing education, or even just books
- easy to get required / nice to have / necessary equipment
- unlimited sick time (it's really weird to worry about "budgeting" for being sick)
- actual offices with doors and not open space
- more vacation time (because life doesn't revolve around work)
Useful office perks are those which can be obtained/provided more easily in aggregate by the company but poorly by individuals. A gym/daycare center is great. Pizza for those working late is much less so.
posted by meowzilla at 4:30 PM on January 16, 2018 [9 favorites]
Some of my favorite things about my job, which is a large corporation and therefore it may not be possible to replicate these things efficiently:
1. Cheap, yet excellent cafeteria
2. A few times a year, they have these food events where they basically make hot chocolate and cookies, or bring in ice cream, for the entire company and have a half-hour treat break
3. Multicultural celebrations. e.g we celebrate Diwali, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, etc. in addition to the usual federal holidays
4. Coffee shop on-site
5. Weekly farmers market on-site
And yeah, a lot of these things subtly imply that we get them at work because forget about going home! (In reality most people do typically do something close to a 9-5.) But, the industry is known for its fast pace and seasonally long hours (retail) so as long as we *are* at work anyway, it’s nice that the company makes a point of recognizing its employees during the work day.
For things that make my actual job easier, I would say:
1. A genuinely functional VPN capability and a common sense flexible workplace policy—don’t make people jump through hoops to stay home when they’re sick, have the cable guy coming, there’s a blizzard outside, etc. You will get more productivity and they will be happier employees. Don’t make people have to choose between their jobs and their health and safety.
2. A contract with whoever supplies your technology to have new computers for employees every few years. Don’t make people work on 6-year-old laptops or on 8-year-old software.
3. By the same extension, don’t give people crappy office chairs, crappy desks, crappy lighting, crappy keyboards, crappy working environments full of noise and distraction. Don’t overcrowd the office and try to put two people to a desk or some BS like that. Make sure the break room has a good place to store lunch. Have a no-exceptions policy that the fridge gets cleaned out every Friday so people don’t leave their science experiments in the fridge, or bring in a case of Pepsi for their own personal use. Have a coffee machine, a microwave, a vending machine.
4. A formalized career path and clear metrics on how one can advance. Don’t create a culture where people are vaguely promised promotions or raises that somehow never materialize no matter how well they perform.
posted by Autumnheart at 4:30 PM on January 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
1. Cheap, yet excellent cafeteria
2. A few times a year, they have these food events where they basically make hot chocolate and cookies, or bring in ice cream, for the entire company and have a half-hour treat break
3. Multicultural celebrations. e.g we celebrate Diwali, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, etc. in addition to the usual federal holidays
4. Coffee shop on-site
5. Weekly farmers market on-site
And yeah, a lot of these things subtly imply that we get them at work because forget about going home! (In reality most people do typically do something close to a 9-5.) But, the industry is known for its fast pace and seasonally long hours (retail) so as long as we *are* at work anyway, it’s nice that the company makes a point of recognizing its employees during the work day.
For things that make my actual job easier, I would say:
1. A genuinely functional VPN capability and a common sense flexible workplace policy—don’t make people jump through hoops to stay home when they’re sick, have the cable guy coming, there’s a blizzard outside, etc. You will get more productivity and they will be happier employees. Don’t make people have to choose between their jobs and their health and safety.
2. A contract with whoever supplies your technology to have new computers for employees every few years. Don’t make people work on 6-year-old laptops or on 8-year-old software.
3. By the same extension, don’t give people crappy office chairs, crappy desks, crappy lighting, crappy keyboards, crappy working environments full of noise and distraction. Don’t overcrowd the office and try to put two people to a desk or some BS like that. Make sure the break room has a good place to store lunch. Have a no-exceptions policy that the fridge gets cleaned out every Friday so people don’t leave their science experiments in the fridge, or bring in a case of Pepsi for their own personal use. Have a coffee machine, a microwave, a vending machine.
4. A formalized career path and clear metrics on how one can advance. Don’t create a culture where people are vaguely promised promotions or raises that somehow never materialize no matter how well they perform.
posted by Autumnheart at 4:30 PM on January 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
Flexible hours, more money (in any real, tangible form: salary, retirement matching, better/paid benefits). Remote work too, but that's more of a binary requirement.
That's 100% of what I evaluate (besides the team and the work). It's cynical, but going overboard with other things just highlights that you could pay people more.
posted by so fucking future at 4:39 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
That's 100% of what I evaluate (besides the team and the work). It's cynical, but going overboard with other things just highlights that you could pay people more.
posted by so fucking future at 4:39 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
My office bought us standing desks and chairs with good ergonomics, and that was huge.
I'd also recommend including seltzer water among your drinks. We had LaCroix, though there was a push for a SodaStream too.
Also, bring your dog to work.
Also, plants.
posted by alphanerd at 4:45 PM on January 16, 2018
I'd also recommend including seltzer water among your drinks. We had LaCroix, though there was a push for a SodaStream too.
Also, bring your dog to work.
Also, plants.
posted by alphanerd at 4:45 PM on January 16, 2018
On-site child care; private offices for pumping.
Paid volunteer time.
Maximum work hours, so they can count on not spending their whole life at work.
posted by metasarah at 4:48 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
Paid volunteer time.
Maximum work hours, so they can count on not spending their whole life at work.
posted by metasarah at 4:48 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
Just be careful with the low-stakes perks. I won't take a job anymore if I get a hard sell on free snacks, ping-pong tables, and massage therapists. Those are all meant to a) sound pretty b) keep me at work c) be easily terminated when they've done their work as hiring lures. Y'all aren't Google and I'm not 24.I came in to say exactly this. The best perk you can offer is to respect and treat your employees like human beings who have full and varied personal lives that don't revolve around your company.
Make sure you're clear and consistent about what "flexible schedules" means. ("Hey, if you need to take a long lunch once in a while to run some errands that's fine" is a great way for a company to be. "Hey, you're expected to come in on a Saturday afternoon when we call you at home with no notice" is a shitty way for a company to be.)
Make a 40 hour week the norm. If employees get X number of sick days/personal days/vacation days, make sure that they are genuinely allowed to use them and not passive-aggressively discouraged to take time off under threat of petty punishment by management.
But, having worked as a web dev/programmer in a number of different office environments, I have to agree with lakeroon and i_mean_come_on_now. The single best possible thing you could offer employees is the respect and dignity of individual offices, where they can go and close the door to hear themselves think and get actual work done.
posted by Funeral march of an old jawbone at 5:01 PM on January 16, 2018 [13 favorites]
My current company has sit-stand desks as standard, and I can't imagine going back to a regular desk. I only stand about an hour a day, but I really like it. (And they're the kind that adjusts with the push of a button, no cranking required.)
posted by radioamy at 5:06 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by radioamy at 5:06 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm not even going to make the argument for actual offices, because that just seems to not happen anymore. But if you're going with regular desks, make sure they're big enough. My company moved to a new office and they're trying to pack us in to make room for growth, and the desks are much smaller. I don't spread out a ton, but I barely feel like I have enough space for my stuff, let alone a little bit of personalization.
That said, we now have a few "phone booths" (both 1- and 2-person), and they're great for calls or meetings. The ones we have are practically soundproof.
posted by radioamy at 5:12 PM on January 16, 2018
That said, we now have a few "phone booths" (both 1- and 2-person), and they're great for calls or meetings. The ones we have are practically soundproof.
posted by radioamy at 5:12 PM on January 16, 2018
heath insurance should be fully subsidized, not even a small token employee monthly pay-in to the premiums, and it should absolutely not be something considered for discontinuance if the boss ever wants to save a few bucks. (i say from furious bitter experience)
posted by poffin boffin at 5:13 PM on January 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 5:13 PM on January 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
There are a lot of subtle ways companies discriminate and create unnecessary hierarchies, undermining productivity and morale in their own offices. A clear transparent commitment to avoiding these pitfalls makes for happier workers, a more stable workforce, and better productivity. If you are loyal to your employees, nearly all of them will be equally loyal to you. Thus:
* Don't pit parents against nonparents: So don't offer paternity/maternity leave, offer family leave, instead: to be used for newborns, adoptive children, and caretaking leave for elderly family members or close friends.
* Don't make nonparents do the work of parents: This means, do offer back-up childcare, to alleviate parental worry, and help them complete their own work, rather than lob it off on one of the singletons who doesn't have children.
* Don't make women and minorities compete to be paid the same salary as their white male peers: Study after study shows, across the board, that women, and even more minority women, are paid less than white men. Make your grade levels transparent, and applicable to all. Similarly, pay everyone of the same grade level the same salary. It's been well-documented that women are at a negotiating disadvantage every time they negotiate, even if they negotiate well, and even if they're negotiating with a female hiring manager. Pay people of the same rank the same, and make sure that is open knowledge.
* Don't get crazy rich off of your employees backs. Investigate a decent earnings ratio between the executive and founding staff in cultures more sane than ours, and make it a goal for your company. In a good year, the executives get bonuses and so do the staff. In a bad year, when employees are expected to take a cut, or forgo a raise, do the same.
* Don't make it hard for your employees to do your work. Rental space is expensive, but it's even more expensive if productivity sinks because it's too noisy to work. Give your employees a little space and a little privacy. Let some of the work part-time at home. Don't give them earphones, no permanent space at work, or a desk next to someone who won't let them concentrate.
* Don't defang HR: HR does work for the company, but it should really be empowered to mediate between the company and its employees on those, hopefully, rare occasions when a worker needs them.
* Encourage employee feedback, from the lowliest to the highest employees: It's mind-blowing how often corporate makes decisions without input from those actually performing the labor. Ask for feedback. Offer an anonymous suggestion box. Listen before you impose unilateral change.
* Write down company policy: Keep it simple, clear, and transparent. Give employees time to read it and offer feedback. Revisit it once a year. Do it on the Web, and allocate an hour for everyone to read it. Whatever you do, don't be muddy about things. Explain how things work, concisely and concisely. Don't bury that information where no one will ever see it.
Thanks for asking this question. People's jobs determine the quality of their lives, and it's important that people doing the hiring understand what that means, especially if they've been out of the employee-level workforce for a long time.
posted by Violet Blue at 5:18 PM on January 16, 2018 [20 favorites]
* Don't pit parents against nonparents: So don't offer paternity/maternity leave, offer family leave, instead: to be used for newborns, adoptive children, and caretaking leave for elderly family members or close friends.
* Don't make nonparents do the work of parents: This means, do offer back-up childcare, to alleviate parental worry, and help them complete their own work, rather than lob it off on one of the singletons who doesn't have children.
* Don't make women and minorities compete to be paid the same salary as their white male peers: Study after study shows, across the board, that women, and even more minority women, are paid less than white men. Make your grade levels transparent, and applicable to all. Similarly, pay everyone of the same grade level the same salary. It's been well-documented that women are at a negotiating disadvantage every time they negotiate, even if they negotiate well, and even if they're negotiating with a female hiring manager. Pay people of the same rank the same, and make sure that is open knowledge.
* Don't get crazy rich off of your employees backs. Investigate a decent earnings ratio between the executive and founding staff in cultures more sane than ours, and make it a goal for your company. In a good year, the executives get bonuses and so do the staff. In a bad year, when employees are expected to take a cut, or forgo a raise, do the same.
* Don't make it hard for your employees to do your work. Rental space is expensive, but it's even more expensive if productivity sinks because it's too noisy to work. Give your employees a little space and a little privacy. Let some of the work part-time at home. Don't give them earphones, no permanent space at work, or a desk next to someone who won't let them concentrate.
* Don't defang HR: HR does work for the company, but it should really be empowered to mediate between the company and its employees on those, hopefully, rare occasions when a worker needs them.
* Encourage employee feedback, from the lowliest to the highest employees: It's mind-blowing how often corporate makes decisions without input from those actually performing the labor. Ask for feedback. Offer an anonymous suggestion box. Listen before you impose unilateral change.
* Write down company policy: Keep it simple, clear, and transparent. Give employees time to read it and offer feedback. Revisit it once a year. Do it on the Web, and allocate an hour for everyone to read it. Whatever you do, don't be muddy about things. Explain how things work, concisely and concisely. Don't bury that information where no one will ever see it.
Thanks for asking this question. People's jobs determine the quality of their lives, and it's important that people doing the hiring understand what that means, especially if they've been out of the employee-level workforce for a long time.
posted by Violet Blue at 5:18 PM on January 16, 2018 [20 favorites]
Big things:
- Stop limiting working from home to 2x/week. There's a huge difference between having specific constraints and just telling people to be reasonable. (Note that vacation time is one of the few places where "be reasonable" is bad unless you have a very strong culture around people taking enough time off.)
- Make sure the flexible hours are really flexible. If I work late a few evenings one week, I can take a half day the next week without my boss batting an eye, and without needing any kind of pre-approval. This is only feasible because a) we track hours worked and b) my team's culture is supportive of 40 hours/week being fine.
Little nice to have things:
- In general I agree that employees want money, but I used to work somewhere that we were given a nominal amount of cash each year that *had* to be spent on something at the office. It was a pretty cost-effective way to improve morale, since it would have been negligible as a salary increase but people ended up making the office more tolerable for themselves (noise-canceling headphones, SAD lamps) and sometimes fun for others (a couple people went in on a 3D printer).
- Charitable contribution matching. My old employer also used to do larger donations to charities that were proposed by, advocated for, and then voted on by employees.
- Is there any expertise your company has access to that you could offer employees? My current employer has relationships with some travel consultancies and we can use them for personal trips, plus we can sometimes get free travel insurance for personal trips.
- Kitchen appliances: toaster oven + hot plate allow for much better breakfast and lunch options than microwaves.
posted by orangejenny at 5:24 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
- Stop limiting working from home to 2x/week. There's a huge difference between having specific constraints and just telling people to be reasonable. (Note that vacation time is one of the few places where "be reasonable" is bad unless you have a very strong culture around people taking enough time off.)
- Make sure the flexible hours are really flexible. If I work late a few evenings one week, I can take a half day the next week without my boss batting an eye, and without needing any kind of pre-approval. This is only feasible because a) we track hours worked and b) my team's culture is supportive of 40 hours/week being fine.
Little nice to have things:
- In general I agree that employees want money, but I used to work somewhere that we were given a nominal amount of cash each year that *had* to be spent on something at the office. It was a pretty cost-effective way to improve morale, since it would have been negligible as a salary increase but people ended up making the office more tolerable for themselves (noise-canceling headphones, SAD lamps) and sometimes fun for others (a couple people went in on a 3D printer).
- Charitable contribution matching. My old employer also used to do larger donations to charities that were proposed by, advocated for, and then voted on by employees.
- Is there any expertise your company has access to that you could offer employees? My current employer has relationships with some travel consultancies and we can use them for personal trips, plus we can sometimes get free travel insurance for personal trips.
- Kitchen appliances: toaster oven + hot plate allow for much better breakfast and lunch options than microwaves.
posted by orangejenny at 5:24 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Offer a credit (% or flat amount) for personal development courses, loosely defined -- cooking classes, dance, lessons, etc.
I like this perk because it encourages employees to have hobbies. The opposite of this perk would be a monthly credit towards a personal assistant, since that encourages you to outsource parts of your personal life.
posted by batter_my_heart at 5:37 PM on January 16, 2018
I like this perk because it encourages employees to have hobbies. The opposite of this perk would be a monthly credit towards a personal assistant, since that encourages you to outsource parts of your personal life.
posted by batter_my_heart at 5:37 PM on January 16, 2018
I have a lot of "perks" and some of them are definitely anti-perks. EG, work a twelve hour day and get a cab ride home and dinner, if you do the expense report within two weeks without any errors because you know the approver isn't going through that stuff until at least a week later. I no longer bother. Snacks: would be nice but healthy snacks (or fresh ones) are way more expensive than cheap garbage like corn nuts. Fresh snacks require a lot of worker overhead to keep it sanitary. There is NEVER coffee or fruit but garbage beer and corn nuts? Go to town. 15% off the nearby wine store that costs at least 20% more than any other store. Employee-only retail site offering $7-30 off computers ... Cell service subsidies that require me to give IT remote wipe access to my personal device for maybe 20% off. "Flex time" that means a day or two off extra after working 80+ hour weeks for months.
I do occasionally use the free museum type stuff and try to sign up for free fitness classes. I was the only employee to use one of the museum options (there's only 5-6 museums, it's not a long list or anything) in as long as they offered it- the person who helped me work out how to do it was really surprised/confused since no one else had ever bothered to use it in years.
401k matches, insurance, these are benefits, but as a crappy insurance haver, paying more for the good stuff is a nice perk to me.
Review cycles are not a perk, it's just how normal places operate. Also, often a total joke.
Offices would be the #1 perk I would look for (and yet, never expect to find). I am expected to operate and maintain two laptops at my job yet my new desk does not fit two laptops. My standing desk is really janky and I can't find a good standing mat to 'borrow' from someone who doesn't use theirs, and who knows when more will be in stock (mine is a really crappy $20 amazon type model, and the floors are concrete). More regular vacuuming would be nice - pretty sure they vacuum twice a month and I have a sinus headache almost every day. I would definitely use an on-site cafeteria if it were "google quality" but this is highly unlikely to be affordable.
posted by love2potato at 5:41 PM on January 16, 2018
I do occasionally use the free museum type stuff and try to sign up for free fitness classes. I was the only employee to use one of the museum options (there's only 5-6 museums, it's not a long list or anything) in as long as they offered it- the person who helped me work out how to do it was really surprised/confused since no one else had ever bothered to use it in years.
401k matches, insurance, these are benefits, but as a crappy insurance haver, paying more for the good stuff is a nice perk to me.
Review cycles are not a perk, it's just how normal places operate. Also, often a total joke.
Offices would be the #1 perk I would look for (and yet, never expect to find). I am expected to operate and maintain two laptops at my job yet my new desk does not fit two laptops. My standing desk is really janky and I can't find a good standing mat to 'borrow' from someone who doesn't use theirs, and who knows when more will be in stock (mine is a really crappy $20 amazon type model, and the floors are concrete). More regular vacuuming would be nice - pretty sure they vacuum twice a month and I have a sinus headache almost every day. I would definitely use an on-site cafeteria if it were "google quality" but this is highly unlikely to be affordable.
posted by love2potato at 5:41 PM on January 16, 2018
My two favorite perks (after numerous jobs) have been:
1) I worked at a well-known email marketing platform that put upwards of 20% of our salary into our 401k at the end of the year. I worked there two years and have as much in my retirement account as my husband does after 13 years working for one airline.
2) My current job allows me to work from home whenever I want, and as long as the work gets done they don't care when I'm around (within reason--I'm reachable from 9-5 and handle everything immediately, but I work only in email). Being able to just go to long lunch, see a friend, visit a park, take the dogs out, etc etc during the regular day has improved my life SO MUCH. I can't imagine ever going back to an 8 or 9-5, in the office every day job. It will kill me.
posted by masquesoporfavor at 5:43 PM on January 16, 2018
1) I worked at a well-known email marketing platform that put upwards of 20% of our salary into our 401k at the end of the year. I worked there two years and have as much in my retirement account as my husband does after 13 years working for one airline.
2) My current job allows me to work from home whenever I want, and as long as the work gets done they don't care when I'm around (within reason--I'm reachable from 9-5 and handle everything immediately, but I work only in email). Being able to just go to long lunch, see a friend, visit a park, take the dogs out, etc etc during the regular day has improved my life SO MUCH. I can't imagine ever going back to an 8 or 9-5, in the office every day job. It will kill me.
posted by masquesoporfavor at 5:43 PM on January 16, 2018
A no jerks hiring rule. That is a definite selling feature for me.
posted by clawsoon at 5:45 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 5:45 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
I work at one of those companies with a zillion perks and benefits and the ones I actually care about/use are:
* Snacks/coffee nearby (yeah I can exchange $ for coffee, but I'd have to walk a couple blocks or get in my car to do it, which is insanely inconvenient).
* Meals onsite --- same as above, I don't use as frequently as some but its super convenient not to go out to lunch/dinner (combined with the flexible schedule you mentioned, this means I can leave work earlier / get to work later since my at-work time is reduced). Even if I had to pay some reasonable amount this would be a useful perk (doesn't have to be free lunch/dinner).
* 401(k) match (aka extra money)
* On-site flu shots (otherwise I'd never get around to it, good for employer too!)
* Unlimited sick time (otherwise people feel forced to come into work and get everyone else sick)
* Charitable donation matching (basically also extra money)
Like others, my actual dream perk would be to have a private office again (as a developer). I had one at a large employer previously famous for this, and it was glorious. Sadly I've all but given up on this, and the economics are probably against small companies offering this in most markets. But I would take a decent salary cut for it.
My company has an absurd number of lesser perks (get discounts on this random service! we'll reimburse this weird not very expensive thing!) that I don't really pay attention to and would rather just get cash.
posted by thefoxgod at 5:52 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
* Snacks/coffee nearby (yeah I can exchange $ for coffee, but I'd have to walk a couple blocks or get in my car to do it, which is insanely inconvenient).
* Meals onsite --- same as above, I don't use as frequently as some but its super convenient not to go out to lunch/dinner (combined with the flexible schedule you mentioned, this means I can leave work earlier / get to work later since my at-work time is reduced). Even if I had to pay some reasonable amount this would be a useful perk (doesn't have to be free lunch/dinner).
* 401(k) match (aka extra money)
* On-site flu shots (otherwise I'd never get around to it, good for employer too!)
* Unlimited sick time (otherwise people feel forced to come into work and get everyone else sick)
* Charitable donation matching (basically also extra money)
Like others, my actual dream perk would be to have a private office again (as a developer). I had one at a large employer previously famous for this, and it was glorious. Sadly I've all but given up on this, and the economics are probably against small companies offering this in most markets. But I would take a decent salary cut for it.
My company has an absurd number of lesser perks (get discounts on this random service! we'll reimburse this weird not very expensive thing!) that I don't really pay attention to and would rather just get cash.
posted by thefoxgod at 5:52 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Take all that money you would otherwise use for perks and put up some damn walls. I am so over the open office / bullpen setups. I can supply my own caffeine and food and get my own butt to work without help. Assuming i have to be in the office I would happily trade every damn perk for walls and a door.
posted by cgg at 5:59 PM on January 16, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by cgg at 5:59 PM on January 16, 2018 [13 favorites]
I'm going to be a grump, and say no to dogs. My workplace smells like dog, there was a poop incident, and it alienates those with allergies.
I'm also against beer. I'm pro coffee, pop, sparkly water, etc, but adding alcohol adds to the boys club atmosphere.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 5:59 PM on January 16, 2018 [16 favorites]
I'm also against beer. I'm pro coffee, pop, sparkly water, etc, but adding alcohol adds to the boys club atmosphere.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 5:59 PM on January 16, 2018 [16 favorites]
Please no dogs in the office. Some people are allergic, some people have phobias, and some people just don’t want to work with dogs. And if you ask employees if it’s ok, you put them in the position of seeming anti-dog, which is a pretty uncomfortable place to be.
I’m grateful for spectacular health insurance and retirement matching, but agree that these should not be called perks. I’d be thrilled if training and conference budgets per employee were spelled out in advance.
And if there’s going to be food, be mindful of dietary restrictions and general interest in health - e.g., you can bring in fruit baskets rather than just pop tarts.
posted by FencingGal at 6:03 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
I’m grateful for spectacular health insurance and retirement matching, but agree that these should not be called perks. I’d be thrilled if training and conference budgets per employee were spelled out in advance.
And if there’s going to be food, be mindful of dietary restrictions and general interest in health - e.g., you can bring in fruit baskets rather than just pop tarts.
posted by FencingGal at 6:03 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
I am a state employee, so we don't have a lot in the way of perks. What is appreciated:
- cheap gym membership (in this case, the campus rec); it's close and convenient and I'm more likely to use it
- free tuition for three classes a year - so I'll echo the above re: money for professional or personal development
- a decent comp time policy (which we don't have: my wife can't deliberately accrue comp time - for example, staying half an hour late a night for a week so we can bounce at noon on a Friday; she can only get comp time if it happens more or less accidentally, like having to work a late event)
- a decent inclement weather policy - don't charge your employees leave if you tell them they can't come to work
posted by joycehealy at 6:16 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
- cheap gym membership (in this case, the campus rec); it's close and convenient and I'm more likely to use it
- free tuition for three classes a year - so I'll echo the above re: money for professional or personal development
- a decent comp time policy (which we don't have: my wife can't deliberately accrue comp time - for example, staying half an hour late a night for a week so we can bounce at noon on a Friday; she can only get comp time if it happens more or less accidentally, like having to work a late event)
- a decent inclement weather policy - don't charge your employees leave if you tell them they can't come to work
posted by joycehealy at 6:16 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
The studio I'm currently at closes up shop about 5 business days before Xmas and reopens after the new year. This year that amounted to just over 2 weeks of additional paid vacation....with nothing falling behind/messing up during your absence.
The best perk and best employer ever.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:19 PM on January 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
The best perk and best employer ever.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:19 PM on January 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
I consider coffee, beer, sugary snacks, and anything that subsidizes private motor vehicles to be anti-perks.
Best recent perk: annual pass to the usable public bus system.
I typically choose jobs based on perks of the field, not perks of the individual workplace. Eg, food service for food.
posted by aniola at 6:20 PM on January 16, 2018
Best recent perk: annual pass to the usable public bus system.
I typically choose jobs based on perks of the field, not perks of the individual workplace. Eg, food service for food.
posted by aniola at 6:20 PM on January 16, 2018
adding alcohol adds to the boys club atmosphere.
- as a woman who has never worked a job that wouldn't have been more tolerable if I had been intoxicated all the time, I disagree in the strongest possible terms. beer does have an unfortunate boy vibe so please fill the company taps with a fine scotch instead, apologies to women beer drinkers but symbolism is important.
- the number one thing that makes a workplace feel like a boys' club -- or makes a woman feel uneasy about teen-style playground perks and booze -- is wall to wall boys. this is the main thing to watch out for and it can't be perked away. or, rephrased, a hiring policy that doesn't artificially pack the place with men isn't a perk that women should be grateful for, but in practice, it is.
- the free onsite gym access is huge because you can shower and change before going out after work without going home first, or walk in and shower before work, even if you don't do gym things. this really is a nice thing.
- the best insurance, paid for entirely, exclusively by you. no "employee contribution" bullshit. no optional cheap garbage insurance for 20 year olds who aren't afraid to die. the best, for all. screw everything else. except the vats of free whisky, keep those.
and NO OPEN PLAN. PRIVATE OFFICES FOR ALL. let people have officemates if they want or if they need to collaborate. but make your workplace a thousand isolated pods of splendid solitude. please.
posted by queenofbithynia at 6:22 PM on January 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
- as a woman who has never worked a job that wouldn't have been more tolerable if I had been intoxicated all the time, I disagree in the strongest possible terms. beer does have an unfortunate boy vibe so please fill the company taps with a fine scotch instead, apologies to women beer drinkers but symbolism is important.
- the number one thing that makes a workplace feel like a boys' club -- or makes a woman feel uneasy about teen-style playground perks and booze -- is wall to wall boys. this is the main thing to watch out for and it can't be perked away. or, rephrased, a hiring policy that doesn't artificially pack the place with men isn't a perk that women should be grateful for, but in practice, it is.
- the free onsite gym access is huge because you can shower and change before going out after work without going home first, or walk in and shower before work, even if you don't do gym things. this really is a nice thing.
- the best insurance, paid for entirely, exclusively by you. no "employee contribution" bullshit. no optional cheap garbage insurance for 20 year olds who aren't afraid to die. the best, for all. screw everything else. except the vats of free whisky, keep those.
and NO OPEN PLAN. PRIVATE OFFICES FOR ALL. let people have officemates if they want or if they need to collaborate. but make your workplace a thousand isolated pods of splendid solitude. please.
posted by queenofbithynia at 6:22 PM on January 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
Transit stipend and facilities to support it, like showers and rain gear checkouts or “call to get to from station” (tri rail in Florida has employer discount programs with emergency ride home vouchers)
Space to think and collaborate (two/three person conf rooms).
Health insurance health insurance health insurance/ mat/pat leave.
Documentation specialists EARLY ON
posted by tilde at 6:30 PM on January 16, 2018
Space to think and collaborate (two/three person conf rooms).
Health insurance health insurance health insurance/ mat/pat leave.
Documentation specialists EARLY ON
posted by tilde at 6:30 PM on January 16, 2018
IP incentives. I paid for a years worth of movies by putting IP suggestions in the system at one place, got payments and my name on patent apps that sprung forth.
posted by tilde at 6:31 PM on January 16, 2018
posted by tilde at 6:31 PM on January 16, 2018
This may sound silly, but if you could basically make terms of employment include no email access or no expectation to check email during off hours, that would be a huge perk for me.
Equal maternity and paternity leave, paid family leave which includes adoption and surrogacy.
A written commitment towards representation of female voices in leadership.
Onsite gym with shower facilities.
posted by honeybee413 at 6:37 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Equal maternity and paternity leave, paid family leave which includes adoption and surrogacy.
A written commitment towards representation of female voices in leadership.
Onsite gym with shower facilities.
posted by honeybee413 at 6:37 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
When I worked in TV, TV stations did trades (services for advertising time) so we were always getting interesting, if occasionally weird, perks. The ones I liked best:
Car detailing in the company parking lot (so you could see your car wasn't being joy-ridden)
Free gym/Y memberships
Free dry-cleaning
Dry-cleaning pickup/return at no cost (even at stations where we had to pay for it)
Free long-distance calling (because I'm old)
Free tickets to motivational speaking events and educational presentations (like speaker summits and those Franklin Planner classes (again, I'm old) -- sometimes, the entire staff could just partage of what was available; other times, you could bring management's attention to something you wanted to attend, and they'd reimburse you for tickets
Others I'd want:
Superior health insurance at no cost to the employee (I had crummy-but-free and great-but-not-entirely free)
Car service when employees have to say late (and car service in the morning back to work where your car was left)
Onsite massages, yoga and fitness classes
Personal in-house chef
Concierge doctor/nurse/Minute Clinic
Stocked feminine hygiene products in the restrooms
Smoke-free ingress/egress for people who want smoke-free fresh-air breaks
Tool library -- need a carpet cleaner/shop vac/electric drill, thingiebobber? Request it to be added to the tool library from which you can borrow anything for 4 days.
I love the free financial planner idea! Other concierge services: travel arrangement researcher, car-buying service, etc.
FWIW, I'm terrified of dogs and highly allergic to animals. Personally, I wouldn't work in an office where animals (aside from fish) were regularly brought in. In the 80s/90s, there was often drinking at work by the sales/managerial people, and it always made the environment worse for women.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 6:41 PM on January 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
Car detailing in the company parking lot (so you could see your car wasn't being joy-ridden)
Free gym/Y memberships
Free dry-cleaning
Dry-cleaning pickup/return at no cost (even at stations where we had to pay for it)
Free long-distance calling (because I'm old)
Free tickets to motivational speaking events and educational presentations (like speaker summits and those Franklin Planner classes (again, I'm old) -- sometimes, the entire staff could just partage of what was available; other times, you could bring management's attention to something you wanted to attend, and they'd reimburse you for tickets
Others I'd want:
Superior health insurance at no cost to the employee (I had crummy-but-free and great-but-not-entirely free)
Car service when employees have to say late (and car service in the morning back to work where your car was left)
Onsite massages, yoga and fitness classes
Personal in-house chef
Concierge doctor/nurse/Minute Clinic
Stocked feminine hygiene products in the restrooms
Smoke-free ingress/egress for people who want smoke-free fresh-air breaks
Tool library -- need a carpet cleaner/shop vac/electric drill, thingiebobber? Request it to be added to the tool library from which you can borrow anything for 4 days.
I love the free financial planner idea! Other concierge services: travel arrangement researcher, car-buying service, etc.
FWIW, I'm terrified of dogs and highly allergic to animals. Personally, I wouldn't work in an office where animals (aside from fish) were regularly brought in. In the 80s/90s, there was often drinking at work by the sales/managerial people, and it always made the environment worse for women.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 6:41 PM on January 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks to everyone for all the awesome suggestions.
A couple items of note -
- We hate the "open floor" concept. Everyone gets an office.
- We're in a large office building and have all the amenities that come with it (coffee/tea/cocoa machines, conference rooms, gym, shower facilities for cyclists)
- We reimburse for any certifications/classes that are relevant to your job (ie MS Certification)
- We pay 50% of very awesome insurance - our goal is to pay 100% by 2019
- We offer a 401k but no match yet
- We have unlimited sick time and 3 weeks paid vacation per year
- We have a corporate Lyft account that employees can use as they see fit - we don't micromanage it
- Due to the nature of the job, on-site hours are a necessity, but we limit them to 4 hours per day, 3 days per week
- Paid federal holidays
- Lots of room for advancement with several clearly defined paths to promotions
- No dogs - our office building doesn't allow it, and some people are allergic
Again, thanks to everyone for the awesome suggestions - hopefully this addendum will help people think of more ideas. And I'll stop threadsitting now!
posted by dotgirl at 6:44 PM on January 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
A couple items of note -
- We hate the "open floor" concept. Everyone gets an office.
- We're in a large office building and have all the amenities that come with it (coffee/tea/cocoa machines, conference rooms, gym, shower facilities for cyclists)
- We reimburse for any certifications/classes that are relevant to your job (ie MS Certification)
- We pay 50% of very awesome insurance - our goal is to pay 100% by 2019
- We offer a 401k but no match yet
- We have unlimited sick time and 3 weeks paid vacation per year
- We have a corporate Lyft account that employees can use as they see fit - we don't micromanage it
- Due to the nature of the job, on-site hours are a necessity, but we limit them to 4 hours per day, 3 days per week
- Paid federal holidays
- Lots of room for advancement with several clearly defined paths to promotions
- No dogs - our office building doesn't allow it, and some people are allergic
Again, thanks to everyone for the awesome suggestions - hopefully this addendum will help people think of more ideas. And I'll stop threadsitting now!
posted by dotgirl at 6:44 PM on January 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
We also get our birthdays off with pay (or nearest day if it’s a weekend/holiday). That’s a fun perk.
posted by FencingGal at 6:48 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 6:48 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Put the money into making the roles accessible to people who would otherwise be disadvantaged in the current job market. What's your disability access like? Are you thinking beyond wheelchair users and considering people with other needs, such as visual impairment or chronic health conditions? Do you have facilities for breastfeeding parents? How about childcare? Could the jobs be reformulated to be part-time, or can you adjust the requirements to meet the strengths of neurodiverse people? Do you have policies and training in place to support LGBTIQ inclusivity? Can you assertively hire more women or people of colour, with whatever mentoring and support is needed to enable them to succeed in your industry? I agree with the commenters above saying cash and flexibility are what employees want most. But no matter how competitive the hiring market, there almost certainly is a hidden pool of talent that other employers are not adequately supporting. Hire those people, and put money into genuinely meeting their needs; your organisation will be better for it. Even as a person who doesn't personally need all of the accommodations I've listed, I would think better of you as an employer for having them in place.
posted by embrangled at 6:48 PM on January 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by embrangled at 6:48 PM on January 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
Oh! I just remembered one: I am in California so non-compete clauses are against the law, but you can ask for a no-poaching agreement and customer confidentiality agreement without turning it into a non-compete. Do that and say so before they have to ask.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:01 PM on January 16, 2018
posted by Lyn Never at 7:01 PM on January 16, 2018
Looking at your list of benefits I would:
Start matching employee contributions to 401k
Offer another week of paid vacation
Look into your family leave policies: maternity / paternity / adoption / bereavement etc.
posted by peacheater at 7:04 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
Start matching employee contributions to 401k
Offer another week of paid vacation
Look into your family leave policies: maternity / paternity / adoption / bereavement etc.
posted by peacheater at 7:04 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
A clear explanation of how you're going to thwart subconscious gender and age discrimination in your workplace.
No dogs/cats/furry things.
An upfront guarenteed severence package for when the VC money disappears.
posted by ethical_caligula at 7:19 PM on January 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
No dogs/cats/furry things.
An upfront guarenteed severence package for when the VC money disappears.
posted by ethical_caligula at 7:19 PM on January 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
A salary that allows employees the option of buying a house within a 40 min radius of work.
posted by ethical_caligula at 7:21 PM on January 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by ethical_caligula at 7:21 PM on January 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
Another woman (in tech, no less) who appreciates free alcohol (though I see it as the cynical ploy it is!!!!)
posted by stoneandstar at 7:22 PM on January 16, 2018
posted by stoneandstar at 7:22 PM on January 16, 2018
Perks I get and actually use/appreciate:
- Free fruit & veggie snacks that aren’t depleted by noon,
- Free gym and showers
- 100% 401k marching
- Unlimited sick days (obviously you are expected to be reasonable about it)
posted by stoneandstar at 7:25 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
- Free fruit & veggie snacks that aren’t depleted by noon,
- Free gym and showers
- 100% 401k marching
- Unlimited sick days (obviously you are expected to be reasonable about it)
posted by stoneandstar at 7:25 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
I like periodic employee recognition ceremonies (i.e. buy a cake for everyone to eat) where you recognize an employee who recently went above and beyond, or who always does a great job, etc. Give that employee an extra day off as a reward.
posted by gatorae at 7:26 PM on January 16, 2018
posted by gatorae at 7:26 PM on January 16, 2018
Apologies if this was mentioned already, but if it's possible, close your offices for a week or two at the end of the year. People are traveling for the holidays already and it allows them to do so without taking their vacation hours. Bonus: they'll start the year actually refreshed from the break!
posted by too bad you're not me at 7:27 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by too bad you're not me at 7:27 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Follow up on my earlier comment, focusing more on 'perks':
The most interesting perks would be related to your company or industry, or something that your company is uniquely positioned to offer. They would be things that would be beneficial both to you as an employee and as a non-employee.
Bad personal example:
I used to work for a real estate web design company. One of the perks was that the company would pay for classes and the tests for you to be come a licensed real estate agent. Of course, no one took advantage of it because that would be like getting a second job (that paid worse), but it makes a lot of sense:
None of the employees had any experience with real estate.
Real estate agents were the vast majority of our customer base.
None of us understood anything about what we were designing or who we were designing for.
This perk in theory would make us better employees but also give us a knowledge when we set out to buy our own homes.
posted by meowzilla at 7:32 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
The most interesting perks would be related to your company or industry, or something that your company is uniquely positioned to offer. They would be things that would be beneficial both to you as an employee and as a non-employee.
Bad personal example:
I used to work for a real estate web design company. One of the perks was that the company would pay for classes and the tests for you to be come a licensed real estate agent. Of course, no one took advantage of it because that would be like getting a second job (that paid worse), but it makes a lot of sense:
None of the employees had any experience with real estate.
Real estate agents were the vast majority of our customer base.
None of us understood anything about what we were designing or who we were designing for.
This perk in theory would make us better employees but also give us a knowledge when we set out to buy our own homes.
posted by meowzilla at 7:32 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
One of the nicest things my current employer does is eliminate formal, daily co-ordination meetings. Instead we just walk to the coffee shop twice a day, and get anything that needs talking about out of the way on the walk. Since this is an expected thing the company gives everyone a gift card to the coffee place with $100 on it every month.
posted by Dr. Twist at 7:36 PM on January 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Dr. Twist at 7:36 PM on January 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
Allow your employees to have packages shipped to work, so they don't miss home deliveries during the work week. Oh how I wish I could have this, especially around Christmas time!
posted by just_ducky at 7:52 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by just_ducky at 7:52 PM on January 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
Paid conference attendance is a good one. Both paid as in you don’t need to use your vacation time, and the company will cover tickets and travel. One that would appeal to me is the option to host Tech meet ups or related events in the office after hours - I’m involved with a couple of non-profits and meetup groups and finding space is often a hassle.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 8:10 PM on January 16, 2018
posted by the agents of KAOS at 8:10 PM on January 16, 2018
-We pay 50% of very awesome insurance - our goal is to pay 100% by 2019
- We offer a 401k but no match yet
Until you solve those two issues, I wouldn't worry about what other perks to offer. If you're going after high tier tech candidates and not covering most or all of health insurance and at least a 3% match, unless you're offering equity or a really high salary, you're shooting yourself in the foot.
Do you have a high deductable plan option for people with simple needs that don't want an expensive health plan?
And in general, offering more money is better than perks that cost money but may not please everyone. On-site catering may not cover the needs of religious people with restrictions, people with celiac, etc. Covering childcare doesn't impress the childless. And so on.
How about the corporate ethos? Some people would really like to work for an ethical company.
posted by Candleman at 8:49 PM on January 16, 2018 [9 favorites]
- We offer a 401k but no match yet
Until you solve those two issues, I wouldn't worry about what other perks to offer. If you're going after high tier tech candidates and not covering most or all of health insurance and at least a 3% match, unless you're offering equity or a really high salary, you're shooting yourself in the foot.
Do you have a high deductable plan option for people with simple needs that don't want an expensive health plan?
And in general, offering more money is better than perks that cost money but may not please everyone. On-site catering may not cover the needs of religious people with restrictions, people with celiac, etc. Covering childcare doesn't impress the childless. And so on.
How about the corporate ethos? Some people would really like to work for an ethical company.
posted by Candleman at 8:49 PM on January 16, 2018 [9 favorites]
My company offers a ridiculously awesome first anniversary gift: reimbursement of a round-trip plane ticket (up to a certain very generous dollar amount) to wherever you want to go--and the encouragement to take the time you need to enjoy the trip. We already have flexible time off, but this helps foster a culture of making people like it's truly OK to take the time.
Slightly less extravagant but still super awesome is the gift for subsequent anniversaries: $500 reimbursement to spend on a fun experience or thing. I've seen folks use it toward travel, a spa day, concert tickets, a bike, camera gear, and even a tattoo (OK that one was me).
Other perks I personally have truly appreciated at this and other companies:
-Free or subsidized bike maintenance. I've seen this work well two different ways: at one company, they used a local mobile bike mechanic service that would visit the office once a month and anyone who wanted could take advantage of it, and only had to pay for parts if necessary At another, we got to expense up to a certain amount toward bike maintenance and gear twice a year.
-Access to free tele-medicine appointments. This was a previously-underappreciated perk, but the plague swept through the company recently and now we're all thankful for the benefit :)
-Fully-subsidized transit pass
-Wellness subsidy that can be used at the employee's discretion (because maybe I'd rather take what you'd pay toward my gym membership each month and attend yoga classes at a place I'm more comfortable at than the gym, or get bike gear, or visit a nutritionist)
-Lyft/Uber/cab allowance
-Weekly or monthly on-site chair massage appointments (real ones, not just 15-min ones)
-Laundry/dry cleaning pickup on-site
Other perks that people who aren't me seem to have truly liked and appreciated at this and other companies:
-Free or subsidized parking
-Generous parental leave, including an explicit paternity leave policy in addition to the maternity one
-Infertility benefits
-Subsidized or discounted pet insurance
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:11 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Slightly less extravagant but still super awesome is the gift for subsequent anniversaries: $500 reimbursement to spend on a fun experience or thing. I've seen folks use it toward travel, a spa day, concert tickets, a bike, camera gear, and even a tattoo (OK that one was me).
Other perks I personally have truly appreciated at this and other companies:
-Free or subsidized bike maintenance. I've seen this work well two different ways: at one company, they used a local mobile bike mechanic service that would visit the office once a month and anyone who wanted could take advantage of it, and only had to pay for parts if necessary At another, we got to expense up to a certain amount toward bike maintenance and gear twice a year.
-Access to free tele-medicine appointments. This was a previously-underappreciated perk, but the plague swept through the company recently and now we're all thankful for the benefit :)
-Fully-subsidized transit pass
-Wellness subsidy that can be used at the employee's discretion (because maybe I'd rather take what you'd pay toward my gym membership each month and attend yoga classes at a place I'm more comfortable at than the gym, or get bike gear, or visit a nutritionist)
-Lyft/Uber/cab allowance
-Weekly or monthly on-site chair massage appointments (real ones, not just 15-min ones)
-Laundry/dry cleaning pickup on-site
Other perks that people who aren't me seem to have truly liked and appreciated at this and other companies:
-Free or subsidized parking
-Generous parental leave, including an explicit paternity leave policy in addition to the maternity one
-Infertility benefits
-Subsidized or discounted pet insurance
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:11 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
One thing that isn't really a perk, but people do notice - how does the company react to things like school or youth activity fundraisers? People seem to look much more favorably at those who make a point of donations to local / employee family fundraisers, and are open about it. (And can be quite harsh about those companies that are set in the mindset of "donations are only done in large, entire corporation-size quantities that get us maximum tax benefits but no positive relationships in the community".)
posted by stormyteal at 9:49 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by stormyteal at 9:49 PM on January 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
My very very favorite perk of my (nonprofit, so benefits mattered a lot!) job is that the company culture is explicit and all employees are expected to live by it. Among other things, it means that they don't just allow us to flex our time, but management will actively encourage their supervisees to flex. Upper management takes regular and completely-offline (or at least mostly offline) vacations, and nobody expects me to answer my email on Saturday night. I've worked for other companies with "generous PTO policies" but a culture of never using time off, such that I once left a job with 4 weeks accrued PTO...I got 10 days a year plus comp time because we worked on holidays, and I worked there just about 25 months. You have to visibly walk the walk to compete.
Being open about these things during an interview will get you just as much buy in, and maybe more, than snacks and a gym. I would rather eat my damn snack in my bed by myself, and I have no interest in workday ping pong, so it's important to me to have my personal time respected.
posted by assenav at 10:12 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Being open about these things during an interview will get you just as much buy in, and maybe more, than snacks and a gym. I would rather eat my damn snack in my bed by myself, and I have no interest in workday ping pong, so it's important to me to have my personal time respected.
posted by assenav at 10:12 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
I work in a very different industry and overseas, but I haven't seen dental coverage mentioned yet. Many people I work with have never had dental coverage as good as my office provides, and it has been both life-changing for a few colleagues who were in real pain for decades and a real morale booster for everyone else.
Also, on the vacation time thing - is your office healthcare worldwide? My work insurance covers any injury or problem anywhere on Earth.
posted by mdonley at 11:42 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Also, on the vacation time thing - is your office healthcare worldwide? My work insurance covers any injury or problem anywhere on Earth.
posted by mdonley at 11:42 PM on January 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Money, money, money, money.
I am in complete agreement with those above who say money, although coming from a UK perspective perhaps some 'perks' are considered essentials here (flexi time, maternity leave etc.)
I don't want gift vouchers or discounts at any point - I want acknowledgement of my work by being paid for it - even a small bonus is better than nothing.
That said, we do have corporate membership to museums/activities that I have used.
posted by sedimentary_deer at 2:21 AM on January 17, 2018
I am in complete agreement with those above who say money, although coming from a UK perspective perhaps some 'perks' are considered essentials here (flexi time, maternity leave etc.)
I don't want gift vouchers or discounts at any point - I want acknowledgement of my work by being paid for it - even a small bonus is better than nothing.
That said, we do have corporate membership to museums/activities that I have used.
posted by sedimentary_deer at 2:21 AM on January 17, 2018
We have unlimited vacation with a minimum of five weeks and that is the solid perk—along with 401(k) money (not matching, which discriminates against folks who may have more responsibilities, just outright contribution) and 100% paid healthcare—that keeps me at my tech company.
Other perks I care about: Stipend for any classes we want to take, not just job-related. Gym subsidy instead of claiming your on-site gym, which definitely does not support my exercise, is sufficient.
posted by dame at 6:30 AM on January 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
Other perks I care about: Stipend for any classes we want to take, not just job-related. Gym subsidy instead of claiming your on-site gym, which definitely does not support my exercise, is sufficient.
posted by dame at 6:30 AM on January 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
It has been mentioned a couple times, but not emphasized enough. GENEROUS PAID FAMILY LEAVE. And the explicit encouragement to take it.
This is the one thing that I value about my workplace the most. When I got pregnant, my supervisor sat me down and explained all the terms and how we were going to patch together the best maternity leave possible. (Even better would have been this being clear from the start and promoted as a benefit to the position.) Once the kid(s) arrived, there is a workplace culture of "the kids come first" so if my kid is sick or I have a sitter emergency, there's no question, I leave to take care of it. No stress, no question.
Whether you have kids or not, this is a benefit because working parents won't have to stress about this factor in their lives, and removing stressors benefits everyone. Also, FAMILY leave for the reason VioletBlue mentions above. Not just maternity/paternity leave, but leave to take care of any family or like-family member.
posted by Liesl at 6:43 AM on January 17, 2018
This is the one thing that I value about my workplace the most. When I got pregnant, my supervisor sat me down and explained all the terms and how we were going to patch together the best maternity leave possible. (Even better would have been this being clear from the start and promoted as a benefit to the position.) Once the kid(s) arrived, there is a workplace culture of "the kids come first" so if my kid is sick or I have a sitter emergency, there's no question, I leave to take care of it. No stress, no question.
Whether you have kids or not, this is a benefit because working parents won't have to stress about this factor in their lives, and removing stressors benefits everyone. Also, FAMILY leave for the reason VioletBlue mentions above. Not just maternity/paternity leave, but leave to take care of any family or like-family member.
posted by Liesl at 6:43 AM on January 17, 2018
BONUSES!
If you don't have the capital yet to offer employer-match 401k then just distribute the $ to employees in the first or last check of the year as a bonus. Even something like $100 is really nice when you're not expecting it and it shows employees that "surplus" is for them.
posted by kapers at 7:20 AM on January 17, 2018
If you don't have the capital yet to offer employer-match 401k then just distribute the $ to employees in the first or last check of the year as a bonus. Even something like $100 is really nice when you're not expecting it and it shows employees that "surplus" is for them.
posted by kapers at 7:20 AM on January 17, 2018
My favorite perk-perk at my old job was on-site oil changes. As best I understood it, you dropped your keys off in the morning, the company that they contracted with drove your car to their nearby garage, did the oil change, and then drove it back to the parking garage where it was waiting for you at the end of the day. They were not free, but definitely cheaper than going to Jiffy Lube, and way more convenient.
What would have made me want to stay at my old job, however, was more vacation and better family leave policies, as many people have noted above.
posted by coppermoss at 7:49 AM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
What would have made me want to stay at my old job, however, was more vacation and better family leave policies, as many people have noted above.
posted by coppermoss at 7:49 AM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
Fully paid health, dental and vision, not just for your employee, but pay for 100% of partner/spouse and dependent coverage too. Choose good plans, platinum with strong networks, not Oscar or that sort of nonsense.
Paid sabbatical after X years - this will help you keep good people who are just burned out and need a month or two off. Otherwise they're likely to find a new job just to get a break from working for a while.
401k contributions - contributions are better than a match, but you really should at least do a 3% match to be competitive (I mean, I work for a tiny non-profit and we can manage it...).
And yes to more money/bonuses, more vacation (starting at 3 weeks is better than starting at 2, but starting at 5 and topping out at 7 or 8 would be really attractive), and clear, generous flex time and leave policies that assume people are adults and can manage their lives and work appropriately.
posted by snaw at 8:41 AM on January 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
Paid sabbatical after X years - this will help you keep good people who are just burned out and need a month or two off. Otherwise they're likely to find a new job just to get a break from working for a while.
401k contributions - contributions are better than a match, but you really should at least do a 3% match to be competitive (I mean, I work for a tiny non-profit and we can manage it...).
And yes to more money/bonuses, more vacation (starting at 3 weeks is better than starting at 2, but starting at 5 and topping out at 7 or 8 would be really attractive), and clear, generous flex time and leave policies that assume people are adults and can manage their lives and work appropriately.
posted by snaw at 8:41 AM on January 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
an option for part time employment as an actual employee with benefits (Amazon's teams that work 30hrs a week are a well known example). I think there are a lot of talented people sitting on the sidelines b/c they can't/won't make a traditional work week (+ commute) work with their other commitments. I'm am example of that person, I took the position at my current employer b/c the job that was offered was part time, but with a real wage + benefits. Before then I freelanced for years in exchange for the flexibility it provided, particularly after we had our children. That was almost 3 years ago and I know I'm valuable to the company so their bet to do something non traditional paid off. (I'm not part time anymore, but that's a decision I made, I've moved from my original position, but it still exists).
posted by littlerockgetaway at 9:44 AM on January 17, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by littlerockgetaway at 9:44 AM on January 17, 2018 [6 favorites]
My programmer spouse loves that he got to pick his keyboard and mouse and he gets to take them when he leaves. He got a Corsair strafe rgb with cherry mx red silent switches, it makes a huge difference when you're typing for 10 hrs.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 10:08 AM on January 17, 2018
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 10:08 AM on January 17, 2018
As a government employee of less than a year who cannot imagine going back to the private sector I echo a few things that have already been said: Public pay scales, clear promotion paths, specific title requirements, etc.
I imagine it's completely out of the question but I love my defined benefit retirement, in contrast to the fluctuations of my several 403Bs (yeah, yeah, I'm going to merge them eventually).
posted by Octaviuz at 11:11 AM on January 17, 2018
I imagine it's completely out of the question but I love my defined benefit retirement, in contrast to the fluctuations of my several 403Bs (yeah, yeah, I'm going to merge them eventually).
posted by Octaviuz at 11:11 AM on January 17, 2018
I work for government and not in tech, but here are the things I enjoy/take advantage of:
Bus/Transit Pass
Nearly 5 weeks PTO/yr.
Parental leave (we only allow FMLA, but knowing you can take 12 weeks and not get fired is something)
No expectation of responding to emails or calls after hours
Support for conference attendance (full reimbursement, no need to take PTO, coverage of office duties while away, allowance for extending the trip on my own dime)
Kitchenettes
Office with a door
Flexible work hours
401k match (we actually have a pension option, but I realize that's not feasible for, well, just about anyone)
posted by craven_morhead at 11:34 AM on January 17, 2018
Bus/Transit Pass
Nearly 5 weeks PTO/yr.
Parental leave (we only allow FMLA, but knowing you can take 12 weeks and not get fired is something)
No expectation of responding to emails or calls after hours
Support for conference attendance (full reimbursement, no need to take PTO, coverage of office duties while away, allowance for extending the trip on my own dime)
Kitchenettes
Office with a door
Flexible work hours
401k match (we actually have a pension option, but I realize that's not feasible for, well, just about anyone)
posted by craven_morhead at 11:34 AM on January 17, 2018
Gotta say, I love the plates/bowls/mugs/silverware and the fully staffed dishwashing responsibilities that my current office provides. Not only is it so convenient that I never need to bring in a fork or a spoon or a plate for heating something up, but I appreciate that the kitchen cleanliness is treated like the job it is rather than "everyone, pitch in!" (which we all know will fall inequitably).
posted by mosst at 1:02 PM on January 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mosst at 1:02 PM on January 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also pretax transit should be a no-brainer. More and more cities are requiring it, but if you're in one that doesn't - it's important. And employees can't participate in it if their employers don't.
posted by mosst at 1:03 PM on January 17, 2018
posted by mosst at 1:03 PM on January 17, 2018
A friend is consulting and they put $50/month on a Starbucks card, so that she can always invite someone out for a cup of coffee and treat them. It's little, but I thought it a nice touch.
If you are talking about "in house" staff, then offering water and decent coffee & tea is the baseline. Also: more time off; health & dental insurance (with some damn eye coverage!); parking and/or transit pass; and offices with doors.
After that, it's all gravy. Like having a reasonable amount of office supplies, choice in computer platform & mouse/trackball/keyboard/whatever, access to buying books or subscribing to training sources (PluralSight, etc.), kitchenette access, place to park a bike, transparent processes for sharing & reviewing work, and a schedule for reviews.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:23 PM on January 17, 2018
If you are talking about "in house" staff, then offering water and decent coffee & tea is the baseline. Also: more time off; health & dental insurance (with some damn eye coverage!); parking and/or transit pass; and offices with doors.
After that, it's all gravy. Like having a reasonable amount of office supplies, choice in computer platform & mouse/trackball/keyboard/whatever, access to buying books or subscribing to training sources (PluralSight, etc.), kitchenette access, place to park a bike, transparent processes for sharing & reviewing work, and a schedule for reviews.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:23 PM on January 17, 2018
Speaking as a non-coffee drinker, I feel compelled to note that about 17% of adults don't drink coffee, so spending money to get them coffee is not entirely useful and is, in fact, somewhat annoying.
posted by saeculorum at 4:21 PM on January 17, 2018
posted by saeculorum at 4:21 PM on January 17, 2018
Re sabbaticals: the company I used to work for offered employees who hit the 5-year mark a 1-month sabbatical with flight and hotel paid for employee+guest to a country that the employee had never been to. It sounds great on paper, but logistically, it didn't work out so well. Many employees had partners who couldn't take a month off work to travel with them, or had kids for whom they could not secure childcare/afford to bring them with. Then you had the people who simply weren't interested in being away from home for that amount of time. Instead, if you're interested in providing perks for retention, I'd suggest offering extra vacation + a cash bonus to people who hit a certain milestone. That way, they can figure out how to make their treat work for their context.
posted by coppermoss at 8:53 PM on January 17, 2018
posted by coppermoss at 8:53 PM on January 17, 2018
the only perks I care about are:
1. flexibility and understanding of work life balance, the more the better
2. nice working atmosphere with good people and good management because otherwise I will quit
3.
4.
5. money
6.
7.
8.
9. aesthetically pleasing workspace that is NOT open
10. food in the kitchen
a lot of workplace perks make me feel suspicious, like I'm being distracted from how awful the company is at 1, 2, or 5. The only ones that don't really have that effect on me are 9 and 10.
posted by Cozybee at 10:22 PM on January 17, 2018
1. flexibility and understanding of work life balance, the more the better
2. nice working atmosphere with good people and good management because otherwise I will quit
3.
4.
5. money
6.
7.
8.
9. aesthetically pleasing workspace that is NOT open
10. food in the kitchen
a lot of workplace perks make me feel suspicious, like I'm being distracted from how awful the company is at 1, 2, or 5. The only ones that don't really have that effect on me are 9 and 10.
posted by Cozybee at 10:22 PM on January 17, 2018
Hi dotgirl - I'm very late to the party here, but I recently wrote my Master's thesis on perks, so I feel that this AskMe is for me! I have lots of thoughts on perks in general (particularly outside the tech field), and I'm happy to MeMail with you about it if you'd like - too long to include here. However, I think this Mercer study from 2016 is particularly relevant to your question - it shows what tech companies are currently offering, to give you an idea of the competition.
In terms of what people across all sectors actually are willing to leave their jobs for, it comes down to this:
- better compensation
- better PTO
- more flexible time arrangements
- more flexible workplace arrangements
Everything else has basically been shown as nice to have and useful in recruiting, but will not make people stay in their jobs. Interestingly, the worst perk to spend a lot of money on is onsite gym/wellness programs, because most people don't participate after the first month (just like gym memberships) and they definitely don't stay for them - and they're quite costly. YMMV, of course, and if your company is in a wellness-adjacent field, then this is moot. As I said, happy to discuss if you'd like.
posted by widdershins at 11:12 AM on January 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
In terms of what people across all sectors actually are willing to leave their jobs for, it comes down to this:
- better compensation
- better PTO
- more flexible time arrangements
- more flexible workplace arrangements
Everything else has basically been shown as nice to have and useful in recruiting, but will not make people stay in their jobs. Interestingly, the worst perk to spend a lot of money on is onsite gym/wellness programs, because most people don't participate after the first month (just like gym memberships) and they definitely don't stay for them - and they're quite costly. YMMV, of course, and if your company is in a wellness-adjacent field, then this is moot. As I said, happy to discuss if you'd like.
posted by widdershins at 11:12 AM on January 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks to everyone for responding!
I reviewed a number of these with the company owners, and we'll be instituting several of them. (And to be honest, some of them were so .. odd .. that I was a little bemused, and we will not be adding those to our benefits package.)
I particularly loved the "you get a paid day off on your birthday", and so did everyone else - such a fun idea.
As for flexible office and schedule, we already offer a very flexible schedule. And we all hate open floor plans, so everyone gets their own office, with a door - that locks! It's actually pretty awesome.
Anyway, thanks for all the great feedback - it was super helpful.
posted by dotgirl at 12:01 PM on January 21, 2018
I reviewed a number of these with the company owners, and we'll be instituting several of them. (And to be honest, some of them were so .. odd .. that I was a little bemused, and we will not be adding those to our benefits package.)
I particularly loved the "you get a paid day off on your birthday", and so did everyone else - such a fun idea.
As for flexible office and schedule, we already offer a very flexible schedule. And we all hate open floor plans, so everyone gets their own office, with a door - that locks! It's actually pretty awesome.
Anyway, thanks for all the great feedback - it was super helpful.
posted by dotgirl at 12:01 PM on January 21, 2018
I particularly loved the "you get a paid day off on your birthday", and so did everyone else
What did they think about the better option, which is a 0.4% pay raise and the option to "buy" a day of vacation if an employee wants one? Each of these options have equal cost.
posted by saeculorum at 6:12 PM on January 21, 2018
What did they think about the better option, which is a 0.4% pay raise and the option to "buy" a day of vacation if an employee wants one? Each of these options have equal cost.
posted by saeculorum at 6:12 PM on January 21, 2018
Cookie Tuesday. Literally every Tuesday they had cookies brought in from a nearby store. Easily one of the best minor perks I've ever had!
posted by icebourg at 6:34 PM on January 21, 2018
posted by icebourg at 6:34 PM on January 21, 2018
I particularly loved the "you get a paid day off on your birthday", and so did everyone else - such a fun idea.
Not to be a wet blanket, but not everybody enjoys birthdays or celebrates them, and then what happens if a birthday falls on a Saturday, holiday, in the middle of a critical work phase, etc?
But I have worked many places that gave an extra day off, variably called a "floating holiday" (and notably, the two places I've worked that called it that did not offer a company holiday for Good Friday or Pioneer Day (which is not unusual to be a company holiday in Utah), but that was what a majority of employees actually used it for and there was an understanding that nobody was going to balk at too many people being out at once), "extra holiday", or "personal holiday" with a note that you could take this on short notice more like a sick day rather than a requested vacation day, so long as you weren't urgently needed that day.
That might be a more diplomatic way to go.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:25 PM on January 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Not to be a wet blanket, but not everybody enjoys birthdays or celebrates them, and then what happens if a birthday falls on a Saturday, holiday, in the middle of a critical work phase, etc?
But I have worked many places that gave an extra day off, variably called a "floating holiday" (and notably, the two places I've worked that called it that did not offer a company holiday for Good Friday or Pioneer Day (which is not unusual to be a company holiday in Utah), but that was what a majority of employees actually used it for and there was an understanding that nobody was going to balk at too many people being out at once), "extra holiday", or "personal holiday" with a note that you could take this on short notice more like a sick day rather than a requested vacation day, so long as you weren't urgently needed that day.
That might be a more diplomatic way to go.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:25 PM on January 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Birthday day off is when you realize that you have no friends outside of work and begin your spiral into depression. I'd go with Cookie Tuesday instead.
posted by clawsoon at 4:16 PM on January 22, 2018
posted by clawsoon at 4:16 PM on January 22, 2018
Wet blanket on Cookie Tuesday here. Sweets make me crash and ruin several hours of my day, but they are incredibly tempting anyway. I swear to god my management team is in league with the insulin industry. Cakes, cookies, donuts, candy, etc etc. And it's easy to say "well but you don't have to have any if *you* don't want them" but I'd like to be part of the fun with everyone else. And it's hard to keep ignoring the cookies when it's a stressful or boring day and you know they're right in the kitchen. It's like being a recovering alcoholic where every birthday, holiday, "you made the deadline" day and "just because!" day will be celebrated with booze and when you try to explain how hard this makes your life you are always shrugged off.
I wish they'd do fresh fruit, bagels, pistachios, savory scones ...
posted by bunderful at 5:58 PM on January 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
I wish they'd do fresh fruit, bagels, pistachios, savory scones ...
posted by bunderful at 5:58 PM on January 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
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My coworkers look for employer-paid training programmes, sabbatical leave rights after x years, and time dedicated to working on their own projects. Not so creative, I suppose.
posted by frumiousb at 3:29 PM on January 16, 2018 [4 favorites]