Sweetening the deal with perks
When contemplating a new job, there are a lot of pros and cons to think about. How’s the pay? Do they offer health insurance? What about vacation time? These considerations are fundamental, but what else can a potential employer offer you to sweeten the deal?
Although it may seem like a minor factor, some companies offer some pretty impressive perks to their employees. Tech companies in particular have found creative ways to retain their employees and keep office morale high by offering a little something extra.
Here are ten of the most enticing perks tech companies are offering their employees, according to Unum.com:
1. Creative vacation bonuses
Several companies are going above and beyond normal vacation time policies by offering cold hard cash for you to spend on your travels. Air BNB offers a $2,000 travel bonus, while Moz offers $3,000 and Epic will pay for your flights and hotels on any international vacation. Other companies, like Ask and Yammer, offer “take as you need it” vacation policies, allowing employees to take off as much time as they’d like, whenever they want.
2. Adding a dash of Stanford
Adobe pays for its employees to continue their education via engineering and science courses on the Stanford Instructional Television Network.
3. The perks of parenthood
Thinking about having kids? Some companies want to support you and your little one while helping you maintain a healthy work/home balance. Both Microsoft and Facebook employees are allowed paid parental leave, while Facebook throw in a $4,000 bonus for a new baby. Facebook also reimburses parents for daycare, and will also cover fees for parents hoping to adopt a child.
4. Caregivers for your elders
Maybe it’s not a newborn you are caring for, but an aging relative. Consulting company Deloitte provides caregivers to back you up when you’re caring for an elder loved one.
5. Tricking out the home office
Work is easier when you have the right equipment. Web development firm Automattic offers a stipend for employees to trick out their home office with all the tools and equipment they need. Likewise, Asana offers a $10,000 stipend for each employee to purchase computers and desk décor.
6. Cash towards a car
Over half of IAS employees have opted to take the company’s $10,000 subsidy towards the purchase of a new hybrid vehicle.
7. Whiskey, booze, and bagels
Who doesn’t love snacks? Foursquare employees get unlimited beer and snacks, plus a subsidized dinner each day, while Morningstar workers munch on free bagels on Wednesdays and free beverages, all day, every day. At Dropbox, employees enjoy “Whiskey Fridays” in the onsite game room.
8. Here, doggie, doggie
Got a four-legged friend you can’t bear to be apart from during your workday? Eventbrite allows pets in the office.
9. Maids and dry cleaning
After a full day of work, most of us stay busy maintaining our households and taking care of personal business. Some tech companies want to help make life in general easier for their employees by offering assistance for these personal tasks. Google offers a concierge service to run errands for employees, while Twitter pays for your laundry and dry cleaning. Meanwhile, Evernote pays for a housecleaner to visit your residence twice a month.
10. Ponying up to charity
When employees raise funds for charitable causes, Qualcomm backs them up by matching the donation.
The takeaway
Tech companies are showing that sometimes throwing in a few extras can go a long way towards keeping your employees healthy and happy. Your brand may not be able to afford all of these perks, but to retain top talent, this list should inspire improved treatment of your very important staff.
