Author Topic: Job perks (Read 1288 times)

StarOfAfrica2 · « **on:** April 13, 2006, 01:06:21 PM »

Thought this was funny. What kind of perks do you get? Next time I go to the board for a raise I'm tellin em I want the stocked fishing pond or the free beer. Either one will suffice, both would be nice.

Quote

A nice paycheck, a boss who respects you...those things are fine, but how about some free stuff. Can your company match these?

By David Jacobson, MONEY Magazine contributing writer

April 12, 2006: 8:27 AM EDT

NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - Some companies reward their employees with generous vacation time; others keep workers happy with above-average 401(k) matches.

But how about:

Free beer
Employees at New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colo. receive a case of beer a week, which the company does not recommend they drink while riding the bike (like the one on the label of NBB's Fat Tire Amber Ale) that they get after a year on the job. After five years, they go to Belgium to sample the brews that inspired the company's creation.

Free adventure
Brogan & Partners, a Michigan marketer, takes its 60 employees on annual mystery junkets - no one's told the destination (they've hit Amsterdam, Iceland and the Caribbean). At UCG, a Rockville, Md. business publisher, the 1,000 workers (and significant others) are sent on a surprise, all-expenses-paid long weekend every five years.

Pet insurance
Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill chips in a maximum of $30 a month toward veterinary insurance for pet-owning employees.

Free fish -- and weight-loss help too
The Sheboygan, Wis. campus of insurance company Acuity features a stocked pond, and the 850 employees can keep their catch. For those who eat too much fish, the company pays for Weight Watchers. Employees put down $100. If they make their weight goal, they get the money back. If not, Acuity matches the money and gives it to charity.

'Pray' for a raise
HomeBanc, the Atlanta mortgage lender, contracts with Corporate Chaplains of America to provide confidential support to any of its 1,300 workers facing crises. "They will only bring up faith or religion if the employee asks," says v.p. Mark Scott. In January and February, HomeBanc's chaplains were paged 244 times, made 34 hospital visits and participated in five weddings and funerals.

Hug trees, get paid
Outdoor outfitter Patagonia pays employees to work for an environmental group of their choice for up to two months. In the past, workers have monitored wolves in Yellowstone and restored native plants in Hawaii. The privately held Ventura, Calif. company will also, "under certain circumstances," pay bail for workers jailed for civil disobedience related to environmental activism.

Concierge services
At four hospitals in the OhioHealth network, concierges handle every conceivable personal chore for all 15,200 employees, from doctors to housekeeping staff. Bonded concierges on retainer from third-party provider 2 Places At 1 Time will buy a nurse's list of groceries, then take them to her house and put them away. Or go to homes to let repair people in or dogs out. One concierge even stood on line and scored fifth-row seats to a Kenny Chesney concert.

Your portrait: Hangin' with the boss
At the Toledo HQ of Root Learning, which creates visual aids for strategic initiatives, portraits of all 80 employees hang in the lobby. They're not arranged like an org chart - you can't tell by the wall who's an exec and who's an assistant. Visual puns are the norm - a senior v.p. known for her constantly changing hair color gets a Warholian four-panel treatment.

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2006, 01:27:28 PM »

I get a 10% discount at the Wendy's down the street (not all Wendy's, just this particular one).

BlueJ1 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2006, 01:28:47 PM »

I get free buisness cards and Navy pens. ( The cards have my Recruiters name on it but still works.)

Callisto · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2006, 03:24:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by BlueJ1
I get free buisness cards and Navy pens. ( The cards have my Recruiters name on it but still works.)

Gettin free buisness cards with someone elses name?? You rock.

I only get yesterdays newspapers for free.

Curval · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2006, 03:31:14 PM »

In August my wife and I are being flown to Uganda (First Class) to visit a client's operations. We will then fly to Rwanda on their plane to see another factory...then back to Uganda for a safari.

Callisto · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2006, 03:33:30 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval
In August my wife and I are being flown to Uganda (First Class) to visit a client's operations. We will then fly to Rwanda on their plane to see another factory...then back to Uganda for a safari.

Are you for real?

Anything you do there.. stay safe.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2006-03-22-eu-blacklist_x.htm

Sandman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2006, 03:36:10 PM »

One of my highschool classmates works for Patagonia. They expect their employees to "live the lifestyle" so when they leave the workplace to go hike or surf or whatever, they do so on the clock.

Curval · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2006, 03:47:07 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Callisto
Are you for real?

Anything you do there.. stay safe.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2006-03-22-eu-blacklist_x.htm

We are flying British Airways from Bda to London to Uganda.

The flight to Rwanda will be on the client's plane.

Obviously it isn't the safest place on earth but we will have armed escorts everywhere we go.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2006, 03:54:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval
We are flying British Airways from Bda to London to Uganda.

The flight to Rwanda will be on the client's plane.

Obviously it isn't the safest place on earth but we will have armed escorts everywhere we go.

You sure Armed escorts will be safe? Maybe they should only be able to carry cricket bats!!

RTSigma · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2006, 04:09:29 PM »

I got two jobs with perks:

Cook at Hooters = 50% food and mechandise

EiC at GamePlasma = free games, hardware, etc

indy007 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2006, 04:09:40 PM »

I get a trip to Freemont, CA early next month I think. Being sent to Oregon, then Ontario next. It's usually about a half day or so of work, then play time. Headed to the SEMA & NADA in Vegas this year, staying for 6 days (3 for meetings, 3 for play)... can't remember if it's September or November.

A Fully stocked kitchen is about 30 feet away(mozarella & proscutti rolls... omg)... but I keep a mini-fridge, microwave, & sandwitch maker in my office. The food is but, and lately I've been living on a diet of grilled cheese, pizza rolls, and cream soda.

I have 4 guard dogs, and a 9mm in my desk. Most places won't let you do that.

Cell phones, insurance (health/optical/dental/life), travelling expenses, sprint wireless broadband for the laptop.. all that stuff is paid by the company.

I only have an 8 minute commute, and I'm about a year or so from switching to being a telecommuter.

I don't think I could handle ever going back to call centers and the rat race of big companies.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2006, 04:12:03 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by indy007
I get a trip to Freemont, CA early next month I think. Being sent to Oregon, then Ontario next. It's usually about a half day or so of work, then play time. Headed to the SEMA & NADA in Vegas this year, staying for 6 days (3 for meetings, 3 for play)... can't remember if it's September or November.

A Fully stocked kitchen is about 30 feet away(mozarella & proscutti rolls... omg)... but I keep a mini-fridge, microwave, & sandwitch maker in my office. The food is but, and lately I've been living on a diet of grilled cheese, pizza rolls, and cream soda.

I have 4 guard dogs, and a 9mm in my desk. Most places won't let you do that.

Cell phones, insurance (health/optical/dental/life), travelling expenses, sprint wireless broadband for the laptop.. all that stuff is paid by the company.

I only have an 8 minute commute, and I'm about a year or so from switching to being a telecommuter.

I don't think I could handle ever going back to call centers and the rat race of big companies.

Not much to do in fremont... lol

indy007 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2006, 04:20:43 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GtoRA2
Not much to do in fremont... lol

lol, at least there's money to be made there

wish I had more time to look around the places I end up. After waking up at 4am for a flight, hopping off the plane and going straight to meetings, getting to tour the cities doesn't happen very often

Hangtime · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2006, 04:24:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval
We are flying British Airways from Bda to London to Uganda.

The flight to Rwanda will be on the client's plane.

Obviously it isn't the safest place on earth but we will have armed escorts everywhere we go.

LOL!

Assume nothing.... stay alert and keep yer missus and yerself safe, Curvie. Wouldn't be a bad idea if you had your guards show you how to use those weapons... (saftey, actuation/loading) just in case.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2006, 04:25:38 PM »

I can tell you where to find a great Mexican place. I can also tell you how to get to the best burger joint in the area too but its in hayward two towns away.