To ask your work 'perks'

[WhoTookTheChristmasCookie]

I've read a story this morning about the employees of a company being up in arms that their 'free, unlimited beer' perk has been limited.
Due to noise complaints and a concern for the working environment they've been 'rationed' to four glasses between 5 and 7pm on Thursday and Friday.

I'm gobsmacked!!!

Before that they were able to drink as much as they wanted whenever they wanted throughout the working day - how was any work getting done?

Are job perks like this normal? I was lucky enough to get a free tea in my last job and that was subject to conditions
Does your job give you good perks? If so, where do you work? I'm on the hunt for a new job!

We also got summer party and free massages, didn't do that.

Fantastic pension (not DB sadly, but the high contributions were a big reason I took the job), flexible working, a kitchen full of chocolate biscuits and fruit. I love my workplace.

I'm a teacher. We have to buy our own tea and coffee and pay VAT on the price of a school dinner if we have one, even though it's the same size portion the kids get.
We also buy a lot of resources for the classroom out of our own pockets.
At the end of term the head and some of the parents send in tins of Quality Street. That's the only perk I can think of. We might get 2 each if we are lucky!

Yes the holidays are good though.

Tap water available from the tap during a 10 minute morning break or a 25 minute lunch break. That’s the lot.

Tea and coffee is done by paying in to a kitty in our department. I also have to provide my own stationery.

In the office there’s free tea and coffee (espresso machines), free breakfast, subsidised staff restaurant, free fruit and chocolates. There’s a gym with a personal trainer and classes, also all free.

When I’m not in the office there’s a very generous expenses allowance covering 3 meals and drinks throughout the day.

Hampers at Christmas as well as an excellent bonus scheme (up to 20% of your salary), good pension, flexible working hours.

Concessionary day - an extra day off after bank hols

Lunchtime close the day before we break for Xmas

Discounted private health care

Decent pension

That’s about it but I’m grateful, I knew someone who worked in one of these techy companies with stocked kitchen, beer and pizza Friday’s, lots of away days etc and they never once paid her in full and quickly went bust. I’m sure not as a direct result of the perks but it speaks for the company priorities that people were expected to enjoy thier beer and pizza having only recieved half thier pay....

Oh and bonuses and pay rises (assuming you can demonstrate performance) too, which is lovely.

Postgraduate study (MSc not phd). Part time. Value up to £20k or value of the degree. Although you are tied in for two years. Some onsite free fitness classes.

Ok so current employer (government) not a lot.

Amazing pension I pay 5% they put in almost 30%, it's crazy but amazing.

Flexi time and great holidays 28+ 8 bank holidays.

Have to buy own tea coffee and milk, don't get anything at Christmas not even a contribution towards Christmas party 🙄 and sometimes it's easier to buy own stationery as the stuff they buy is rubbish.

Worked for a private sector company previously in financial services. Got 34 days holiday, usually around 12% annual bonus, fantastic salary, share save schemes, fully paid for nights out, Christmas party with free bar and lunches out from time to time. Before I joined they used to pay a mortgage allowance for anyone that had a mortgage 😮

I work for the NHS, we get tea and coffee......that’s it

free gym membership

Flexitime
Work from home
Annual Bonus
Annual pay increase
Free Train tickets
Free lunches here and there
Free tea and coffee

Nhs - good holiday entitlement, pension, sick and mat leave. Nothing else. Buy our own tea/coffee/milk. The heating is awful so we have to use fan heaters and we roast in the heat of summer. The hospital canteen has a slight discount for staff.

I posted:
Great pension
On-site gym with instructors
On-site, heavily subsidised restaurant (ie, full main course for c. £3)
Free teas and coffees (and £1 cappuccinos/lattes etc from the restaurant)
Can work from home and set own hours
Annual bonus
Annual pay increase
Lots of budget dedicated to further education and CPD
Generally a nice culture where people work hard and are happy to get stuck in to help others out
Annual Christmas party and summer party. Staff have to pay a very nominal amount but then the bar is free until midnight and the food is good
Never have to argue to get expenses paid etc- if you’re out of pocket, you will be reimbursed. Good common sense approach to this. A colleague became ill a few years ago and I ended up taking her to A&E in a taxi. I was able to claim the cost back.

But thought of more:

Company iphone, ipad, and laptop that you can use for personal use, within policy/reasonable usage. So I can watch Netflix on my iPad at home in the evening or use my phone for personal calls.

Fully paid maternity leave for 26 weeks (then you can take 13 weeks unpaid but that's a status Tory entitlement here; the original 26 weeks doesn't have to be paid for by the employer).

I get to wear other people’s bodily fluids, work unpaid overtime and buy my own equipment to do my job. Now don’t all jump at once to apply!

What is a 'good' NHS pension?

Will it be the same as your salary, for example?

Sorry, just wondered what that it is, as between me and my company, we make a 6% contribution to my pension. I'm guessing public is a lot more generous?

We get free entry to the zoo and other visitor attractions in the city, which is really nice. :)

On slow days, I get to go and play with lemurs and other animals.  The pay isn't excellent but my job is a fab place to work!

We get free biscuits once a week, although it's a bit of a fight for the nicer ones.

Free dental care, the odd free tube of toothpaste/ floss/ toothbrush. Reduced cost electric toothbrushes.
That’s about it!

Bugger all.

I'm a nurse. No perfume apart from
A lot of chocolate!

Up to 6% matched pension,
5 x salary death in service ( 2 x for non management)
Xmas party with accommodation including partner - not free bar,
tea& coffee including special teas - green, mint etc, just tell the office manager and it will be available after the next delivery
Mobile phone - role dependant
iPad - role dependant

Taxable benefits (management only)
Healthcare
1% profit share
Company vehicle- role dependant

I used to work for an even management agency and the perks were incredible.

We'd always be sent tasty treats form catering agencies wanting us to use them for events. And we'd often be given free hotel stays to try out hotels to recommend to clients, drinks and dinner at fancy venues so we might use them for events. Lots of showcases.

Loved it - don't know why I left !!!

Free tea and coffee, some sort of insurance thingy that gets small refunds on dental care, podiatry, physio (£30 on my last course of dental treatment, which was £380), subscription to Perkbox which never has deals on anything I might want, £12 towards a meal out at Christmas. Leave is 25 or 30 days, depending on length of service, but you can "buy" an extra week, mat pay is legal minimum.

They also have a scheme where you can get an interest-free loan of up to £1,500 for car repairs, season tickets or help with moving. (This was introduced when a staff member had to go to the council for a loan for rent in advance/deposit, which is something we do with clients, and then extended to car repair/replacement when someone thought they would have to leave because their car died, we have to provide a car for work and she couldn't afford to replace it).

However, they are very flexible if you have domestic or family issues that mean you need time off at short notice and also great at staff development. The best perk of all is that staff with more than 5 years service can get a year's unpaid sabbatical to study, travel, do voluntary work overseas etc.