Work perks

[Girlofgold]

I'm looking for cost effective ideas/ good ways to provide perks to employees. What kind of perks do people either provide or enjoy as part of their work packages. If you are an employer, which ones do you rate? Thanks!

Bean to Cup coffee machine (and that’s a bit greener too). Plus nice herbal teas.

On big days we will have cup cakes from the swanky bakery (Pride cupcakes, International Woman’s Day Cupcakes etc).

The best - and cheapest - is we can Dress for the Day ahead. We can wear jeans if we aren’t going to see clients. It is great in the school holidays being able to meet DC from school and go do stuff without having to change etc.

Also work in Advertising. We get extra day off for birthday, the days off between Xmas and new year, half day fridays in summer. Long service awards. Flexible working..Money on year anniversary of company plus an extra half day off. A month paid leave after 10 years. Summer and Christmas parties. And then coffee, tea, soft drinks.. booze trolley.. we also have a social committee which organises events through the year!! Also decent pension, and healthcare.. think that's everything!! (Yet we all still moan )

Tea, coffee and biscuits.
Lunch and afternoon tea.
Free parking.

Health: various levels of dental and medical insurance
Flexible benefits scheme which allows you to "buy in" a selection of benefits: eg computers, bicycles, childcare vouchers
Financial planning: matched pension (they'll match your pension contributions up to a limit), death in service/Next of Kin benefits etc
Food: subsidised restaurants and cafes onsite plus a daily "cash" allowance to offset lunch costs
Vacations: more than 20days plus the three days between Christmas & New Year"free"
Semi-flexible start/finish time, Part time working and working from home as necessary
Incentive schemes and Bonus
Annual "personal" gift from partners at Christmas (eg John Lewis or Selfridges gift card)
Company social events: eg lunch or dinner, weekends away, Christmas party
New joiners: structured induction and "Buddy/Mentor" assigned to help navigate the company/policies for a few weeks
Misc:onsite lockers for personal use (eg cyclists), Dress down Friday, Friday afternoon sweetie or Pimms etc trolley 😄
Onsite shower facilities

(I've had some generous employers)!

Oh yes, above stat paid leave.

Equal pay for females and males.

We get really well looked after: good pension and annual leave, life insurance, health insurance, professional training, volunteering days, company Christmas and summer events, wellness initiatives.

But the thing that really wins for me (and means it would take a lot to tempt me/drive me away) is very flexible working.

Our boss is really laid back with us starting late/finishing early. As long as we get the work done.
We get quite nice company cars too but appreciate that isn’t cheap...
we have a coffee machine as well as being provided with soft drinks and snacks (nothing too exciting, vimto, orange squash, nuts, dried fruits, crisps)
Close between Xmas and new year

There’s also a subsidised gym I don’t use
On site city centre parking we can use at weekends
Loads of wellness/volunteering initiatives.

We are on the times top 25 companies to work for

The best company I ever worked for (would still be there if I could!!) ensured the team got on well together.
We had occasional Paid for social events, sometimes during the working day. A Xmas do, boss brings in brunch once a month etc..
Also leaving at 3pm throughout the summer months was a great perk (and incentive to get work done quickly) so we could enjoy the sunshine.
Occasional working from home / flexi time - not always possible but they wouldn't say no unless good reason.

Small things that made me feel like I was appreciated.

Thank you everyone. There's some great ideas and general themes here. It's the care sector but a lot of these could apply. Thanks!

So a lot of the usual work perks came about as a way of reducing tax liability however, due to changes to perks in lieu of payment taxation this has limited relevance today. So you need to really look at things that will make your employees happy while saving your business money. So fruit baskets and coffee machines may not be worth it. But offering flexible or remote working are definitely a win win if you can fit it into your business model.

Good quality Tech is important to me. A light laptop for carrying around, good modern screens, light touch keyboards. I've changed jobs and my last place had all the fun perks, Lego room, music space, table tennis, free coffee, fruit etc. And what I miss most is my properly ergonomic desk, as it impacts every minute of my working day. I've had to buy my own mouse and keyboard! But I'm refusing to buy a monitor.

Nhs- good pension, flexible working, good annual leave 33 days plus 8bh
Free coffee and tea but strangely have to pay for milk and sugar
Car lease scheme
6 months full sick pay, 6 months half pay- never had to use until now having been in hospital for 2 weeks. It’s reassuring to know it’s there

Mine are great.

Free flights to pretty much anywhere.

I get to hang out with a lot of interesting people.

We have endless real coffee, from a proper coffee machine.

I get the meet the odd celebrity. Despite what you read in the media most are quite lovely. John Travolta is one of the most educated, experienced and passionate pilots I have ever met. What that guy doesn't know about flying isn't worth knowing. I was stunned by his knowledge. He is a pilot who does some acting on the side, not an actor who has a pilots licence. He is hugely underestimated.

I have my own chair, which has my name stuck on the back with tape.

I wouldn't consider a job that didn't have free parking and tea/coffee what a privileged life I've lead!

A friend worked for a business that allowed 2 "duvet days" a year. Basically a paid sick day but you don't have to be sick, just don't fancy coming in. Apparently it cut absences down a lot.

I get a work day out once or twice a year (theme park kind of thing), free biscuits/crisps and soft drinks. Very flexible working times and my boss has been amazing with my DD, when she started nursery and was constantly sick, he allowed all time off paid as I kept on top of my work load.

Flexible working will be the best I can think of, which we have but I take little advantage of.
Depending on location, discounted or free travel to and from work.
The other one that is more difficult is good IT.

I get a decent car, new one every 4 years, but I pay a personal contribution and need to do about 10k + business miles every year. It means I get to drive a nicer car than I could afford otherwise.

NHS so good maternity/ sick pay etc. Flexible working in terms of shift restrictions but no chance of early/ late starts or finishes. Occasionally get socks at Christmas 😂

Nothing, not even water! ☹️ And I'm not joking.

NHS-so nothing really. Ok pension, but not what was promised. Flu jab. But only so you don’t miss work with flu.

My DPs employer does some fun ones: every birthday off or an alternative day within a week of your birthday without coming out of holiday allowance, free beers on a Friday afternoon, and free fruit/tea/coffee throughout the week, plus a pool table

We have free teas, coffees, cereal, milk (including plant-based) and fruit. Flexible working and work from home. Very heavily subsidised yoga, pilates, massages, nutritionist and gym membership. Good discounts from major retailers, particularly clients. We're FTSE100.

The wellness stuff and benefits are really nice, but it wouldn't sway me in taking or keeping a job. I wouldn't take a job without the flexible working through and I'd be out of the business like a shot if they took that back! Considering I still put in 40 hours a week minimum, I think that's the most cost-effective perk a company can offer.

We have really good health insurance that gives perks (Vitality)
Afternoon cinema trips
Flex hours
Lunch bought for us evry so often

Nice coffee machine etc

We go out to supermarket 2/3 times a week to get stuff for our lunches- we have a nice kitchen to make food in. This is nice as it just breaks the day up a bit!

@DizziLizzy - are you in the UK? That’s illegal if you are, and I imagine in other countries too.

Google the “Workplace Health Safety and Welfare Regilations”.