SavvySugar

Why Everyone Wants to Work at Google

Emily Co — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:07:07 PST

It didn't surprise me that Google was rated the best company to work for this year by Fortune. The tech giant has consistently been in the top five firms to work for in the last few years. Although the interview process is grueling, many will say it's well worth their efforts. Here are some of the reasons people want to work at Google:

Free lunch and dinner by gourmet chefs.
Convenient on-site services like oil change, car wash, dry cleaning, massage therapy, gym, hair stylist, eyebrow maintenance, doctor visits, fitness classes, and bike repair. Some of these services like laundry are actually for free!
WiFi-equipped shuttle buses that pick up employees from several locations.
Gym, swimming pool, rock climbing wall, bowling alley, outdoor volleyball court, and bocce court.
Up to 18 weeks maternity leave with full pay.
Full benefits for the partners of lesbian, gay, and transgender workers.
Bringing your dog to work.
Tuition reimbursement is up to $12,000 every year as long as you keep your grades above a B.
Donation matches up to $12,000.
401(k) match.

Which perk are you interested in?

Google Work Perks: Which One Would You Love to Have?

Emily Co — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 03:05:12 PDT

I was talking to a friend who was extolling the many perks Googlers get to enjoy at their company. The tech giant has consistently been ranked as the one of the best companies to work for by Fortune and it's easy to see why so many of their employees are satisfied when you scroll through their benefits page.

Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman at Google, explains the reasoning behind these amazing perks, "The goal is to strip away everything that gets in our employees’ way. We provide a standard package of fringe benefits, but on top of that are first-class dining facilities, gyms, laundry rooms, massage rooms, haircuts, carwashes, dry cleaning, commuting buses - just about anything a hardworking employee might want. Let’s face it: programmers want to program, they don’t want to do their laundry. So we make it easy for them to do both.”

Which one of these Google perks would you want to have?

Maternity Leave Around the World: How Money Are You?

SavvySugar — Sun, 08 May 2011 00:15:11 PDT

Happy Mother's Day! It's one day that all moms should have off, and not just because it's a Sunday.

One of the things to find out before having a baby is how much leave you'll be granted and how much you'll be paid for that time off. It will vary from company to company, but the differences are extreme when comparing leave policies in different countries. What do you know about maternity leave around the world? Take the quiz!

Take the Quiz

Where Do Workers Receive the Most Vacation Days?

SavvySugar — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:25:21 PDT

Ah, vacation. There never seems to be enough time away from it all, but that's not necessarily the case for workers everywhere. In some places there's no pining for days off because they are plentiful. Wondering where they're most generous with days off? Take the quiz!

Take the Quiz

Reality Check: Working at Starbucks, Just For the Health Care

SavvySugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:30:52 PDT

Health insurance has become an invaluable benefit - if an accident were to occur and you didn't have coverage, you could be paying off a mountain of medical debt for years to come. A Reuters article highlights just how important insurance is for Americans when considering employment opportunities, and profiles a mother of three in Texas who has taken a part-time job just for the medical benefits.

That's right, full-time real estate agent Lisa DeWaal spends the first four hours of her days serving coffee at a Starbucks before heading to her office. DeWaal sought out employment with Starbucks solely for the affordable health insurance the company offers. Private insurance plans are burdensome for most households, and health experts say they've met plenty of people like DeWaal who are motivated to take or stick with a job because of the health benefits.

DeWaal begins her daily Starbucks shifts at 5 a.m, but those early mornings are worth it. The 20-hours a week at serving coffee allows her to rest easier at night because, for $180 a month, her family is insured. She commented, "Health insurance is exactly the reason why I have taken the extra job. It's company health insurance, which is a lot better than a private plan. I would put these extra hours into real estate if I had affordable health insurance."

Your Two Cents: Do You Have Health Insurance?

SavvySugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:23 PDT

Big changes could be in the future for health insurance. Are you currently insured?

I'm Asking: How Much Paid Time Off Do You Get Per Year?

SavvySugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:00:41 PDT

It's always interesting to look at how many paid days off employees receive at various companies, because the numbers are all over the place. Vacation days are often skewed according to the time an employee has been with the company, but it can take a while to acquire additional days. How much paid time off do you get every year?

Source

Vacation Days Around the World: How Money Are You?

SavvySugar — Sun, 31 May 2009 08:30:29 PDT

A travel bug has gotten me thinking globally lately, and wishing that I had more vacation days to satisfy the urge to get away. If I were employed internationally, the shortage of available time off wouldn't be much of an issue. Other countries allow employees generous time to "go on holiday" - do you know how much time workers are allowed off around the world? Take the quiz!

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Take the Quiz

I'm Asking: Do You Keep Up With Routine Dental Care?

SavvySugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:30:00 PDT

Fresh off the news that dentists have noticed an uptick in client visits, a new study suggests many Americans forgo routine dental care because it is considered a "luxury item."

A consumer adviser for the American Dental Association warns (just like your mother!) that prevention is always cheaper than fixing problems later, so anyone attempting to skimp out on routine visits is only hurting herself down the road.

I happen to be a little compulsive about dentist visits and take advantage of my dental coverage every six months, but I know many people don't have coverage and struggle to make room in their budget for routine work. Have you let it slide?
Source

Employers Experimenting With a 24-Hour Work Week

SavvySugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:15:44 PST

The four-day work week has been a popular option for employers looking to save money without losing employees, and some companies have started slashing hours even more, going as low as 24-hours per week. A three-day work week means part-time pay, making it harder for many workers to make ends meet.

The difference in maintaining health benefits at some companies is a mere eight hours - a 32-hour week could mean continued coverage, while a 24-hour week could mean you're out of luck. New York employers cutting hours may have more incentive to keep health benefits in tact. A state program allows employees to collect unemployment benefits to help cover the difference resulting from reduced salaries, but their employers must not have cut benefits in order for them to qualify for the program.

Some workers are embracing the three-day work week, particularly if they have kids at home, but others struggle with the financial hardship it causes and are having trouble adjusting to a choppy schedule. I would definitely need to find additional work if my salary were slashed by 40 percent. How would you handle a huge pay cut?

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