What Nonmonetary Perks Does Your Employer Offer?

June 8, 2009

With salary and hiring freezes that have most employees doing more work for less money, little extras can make a big difference. Some employers are known for unique work perks that keep workers from wishing they were someplace else.

Here's an example of an employer with perks: Daxko, a Birmingham-based software vendor, keeps its employees happy by providing a work/play lounge equipped with a Wii and 52-inch plasma TV, offering free YMCA memberships, giving workers $1,500 annually to spend on any kind of professional enrichment, and supplying a weekly free lunch.

What work perks does your employer boast?

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12 Comments

Advah 3 years 49 weeks

I work for an art gallery, and get to see all national exhibitions for free in the country.

CoralAmber 3 years 49 weeks

I work at a college library so we can use the fitness center for free, we get tuition waved on one class a semester, and I get the occasional free pre-published review copy of a book.

muchacha 3 years 49 weeks

weffie - yummy free lunch!! I think I mentioned before on another post that we get to keep our air miles/hotel reward points, which some companies do not allow. My company also pays for or subsidizes continuing education, offers a healthcare plan/life insurance plan, and is flexible in terms of work schedule (ie, if you need to leave for an appointment, it's okay as long as the work gets done). My company also accommodated me when I took 4 days off when my aunt died. Normally we aren't supposed to get bereavement leave for such a situation, and I didn't have any vacation time left, but my employers were understanding. We also get free coffee. Yay!

c4rolin3 3 years 49 weeks

bigestivediscuit- i would clean toilets at a publishing company to get a shoe in! there are just no opportunities x you are so lucky to have a fab job and 100 perks!!! any chance you could get me a job! ha :)

Meike 3 years 49 weeks

Google'esque perks are awesome, awesome, awesome! I've been fortunate to be at a company that had so many non-monetary perks, so many, in fact, that I've never been able to take advantage of all of them. It made work as pleasant as my personal life. I have only ever stayed at work longer when an important task came up. The company really propelled my career and growth as a young adult and I came out of it with co-worker/friends I intend to keep for a lifetime. My favorite perk was anything involving food - free catered lunches in the cafeteria, free lunches/dinners and happy hours in restaurants. (although I never drank alcohol, I could always order my favorite virgin daiquiri). We also played movies regularly during work when there wasn't any urgent work to do.

bigestivediscuit 3 years 49 weeks

I work for a publishing company and we get two free books a day, free tickets to private viewings at museums, plays and theatre and quite a lot of discounts to restaurants and salons in the surrounding area, so I'm pretty grateful for those perks!

bengalspice 3 years 49 weeks

We're allowed to spend up to $2,500 on education [as long as the HR department approves the classes].

Spectra 3 years 49 weeks

I work at a hospital, so we get a few perks too. We have an employees-only pharmacy that has a ton of OTC meds and vitamins for about 1/2 of what you'd pay for the generic stuff at Walmart or Walgreens. You just have to show your employee badge to be let in to buy stuff. We also have an onsite gym for employees only that is very reasonably priced and open 24-7. Also, if we ever need to take a pregnancy test for any reason, we can take one from the lab and save the $8 that they cost at the drugstores...although, I personally would feel uncomfortable taking advantage of that last one.

supercoolnat 3 years 49 weeks

I always get a little creeped out by those Google type perks that give you all kinds of at-work comforts. Definitely a sneaky way to keep you at work longer, and ensure that your life revolves around work. I personally am not into it. 5:00, I'm out of here, I don't care what kind of TV they have in the break room.

weffie 3 years 49 weeks

My boss just bought me a veggie burger with roasted red peppers, it's no massage or car wash but it was delicious :)

3 years 49 weeks

Um, none.

colleen stg 3 years 49 weeks

Our HR department has a company come in once a month to give chair massages. And, every other Friday, a car wash service is on-site to wash, detail and wax your car. I think both are pretty cool perks.

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