Who offers perks for logo wear?

December 8, 2004 2:45 PM

Does anyone work for (or know of) an employer who offers "credits" for good performance that can then be redeemed in the company e-store for logo wear? Any info is good info. Thanks!
posted by clever sheep to Work & Money (10 answers total)

That would piss me off. I do a good job and I am rewarded by being helped to become advertising for the company?

Awesome!!!!

Sounds like something Microsoft might do. They are a cult over there.
posted by xmutex at 2:51 PM on December 8, 2004

Response by poster: Additional context: credits would not replace monetary spot awards, raises, bonuses, free lunches, and sundry other goodies. This is only a wild-hare consideration aimed at softening the blow for working joes who are facing a tightening of the corporate dress code. So if you're a good employee, one of the ways you can be recognized is with credits that add up to free logo wear that management will accept as being just as respectful as a coat and tie.

I'm just trying to find out if anyone has stories to share on either a) how to make it work or b) how it's working (or not working) for them and their coworkers.

I do NOT want to make everyone wear a coat and tie all the time. Like Marie Antoinette said, let 'em wear polos.
posted by clever sheep at 2:59 PM on December 8, 2004

My company does that.

The more common reward though comes as "Merit Points" which are as good as money and can be used on non-logo stuff. Apparently a tonne of merchandise is available with these points (though I've never gotten any).

Merit points are awarded for referring someone who gets hired on, perfect attendance for a year, being awesome, etc.

They've just increased the reward for referrals, presumably because they need more people. I hear good things about the program.

As for the logo wear. One month we were offered a gift-certificate to use at the company logo store if we met goal. Honestly, I have enough fleeces. I don't think it provided much of a boost.
posted by ODiV at 3:19 PM on December 8, 2004

I've received gift certificates to the company store for good behaviour, or maybe less intolerable behaviour than usual. I make sure that what I buy doesn't go a dime over the certificate. Why should I pad the companies coffers to publicize them, especially given that the execs are draining the same coffers while simultaneously running the place into the ground?
posted by substrate at 3:22 PM on December 8, 2004

I worked exceedingly briefly at an ad agency with such a program. The woman whose position I took actually printed her resignation letter on her sheet of bonus points. That some in the office took it amiss shows that, for some employees at least, such an incentive is valued.
posted by stet at 4:13 PM on December 8, 2004

This has been done, although without a formal incentive program, at my place of employment. It is very widely regarded as completely worthless and de-motivating. The company logo schwag is especially crappy, and in the catalog is overpriced by about 80%.
posted by majick at 4:46 PM on December 8, 2004

This seems weird to me. Are you saying that "Management" is no longer going to allow people to wear polos/khakis *unless* they are logo-wear? This sounds especially asinine. It's like "you can dress comfortably if, and only if, you dress like a corporate tool." And if that was the case and I was a working professional, I would at least expect the company to provide me the tool-wear for free. I understand you're trying to find a way to do that, but framing it as part of a "bonus" for doing a good job is just going to piss people off - no matter how good your intentions.
The bigger and more important question is why have they decided to change the dress code? No one, I mean, really hardly no one, wears coat and ties every day anymore. I work in several large law firms, and unless the attorneys have client meetings or are in court, even they wear polos. Unless one is in sales or an extremely conservative industry like investment banking, the idea of switching back to coats and ties from polos just seems freaky. If your company has brought in new management that's decided cubicle monkeys will look more "respectful" in coats and ties, that's a really bad sign. I'm afraid you're going to face bigger problems than how to get your people some free logo schwag.

^{I'm guessing some old fat white exec saw a programmer in the hall one day who had thrown on a logo polo from an old gig with a competitor and decided "by gum - they will wear OUR logo or none at all! Why, back in my day we wore coats and hats at all times! And socks with garters!"}
posted by sixdifferentways at 5:35 PM on December 8, 2004

The idea of getting points for good behavior feels very condescending. How many bonus points is a person's dignity worth?

Opening up the dress code to include logo shirts is a great idea, though. Maybe there could be a monthly drawing for a free one?
posted by 4easypayments at 5:40 PM on December 8, 2004

This is only a wild-hare consideration aimed at softening the blow for working joes who are facing a tightening of the corporate dress code. So if you're a good employee, one of the ways you can be recognized is with credits that add up to free logo wear that management will accept as being just as respectful as a coat and tie.

So you're going to tell me what to wear, then OMG!, if I'm good, I can *earn* a free uniform? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP. SHIT YEAH.

The woman whose position I took actually printed her resignation letter on her sheet of bonus points.
She rules.

Regarding bonuses and spiffs: Cash is King. Advertising your company and getting a free uniform YAY is so, um.. not king. Interesting, the logo stuff="respectful," not "respectable."
posted by mimi at 6:00 PM on December 8, 2004

Response by poster: I'm grateful for all these responses, both pro and con, because believe me, the folk working at my company are not mindless drones, and will have a wide range of opinions on anything that's implemented. Thanks, all, for the perspectives.
posted by clever sheep at 8:59 AM on December 9, 2004