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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder if your workplace has better benefits than MNHQ offers?

56 replies

chomalungma · 20/02/2020 09:13

Just from a recent advert for a MNHQ job

"We host team lunches, staff parties and knowledge sessions; we have a book club and a shuffleboard league; and we have our own yoga studio while remaining tolerant of the Lycra-averse. Working for Mumsnet means never having to pretend you don’t have a family (or other commitments) and we promise never to keep you away from the school sports day.

Where we are

We’re based in sunny Kentish Town, where you’re never more than 500 metres away from a sourdough pizza and an elaborately refurbished pub."

Well - certainly sounds like more is available than we have.

We have time off for family comittments so that's good.
Free tea and coffee
And are next door to a great bakery

We don't have a shuffleboard league though!

OP posts:
Tyersal · 20/02/2020 10:44

I think it depends what you see as benefits. Staff parties and team lunches aren't my idea of fun

RedPanda2 · 20/02/2020 10:52

I assume not everyone can be off fir school sports day???

alwaysdancing · 20/02/2020 11:04

Yeah, teacher here - we're not allowed to take time off for our kids' events (assemblies/sports days etc.). Can't use school money to benefit teachers, so no free tea/coffee or parties. Occasionally, the (kind) head will pay for us to all have a piece of cake at the end of the school year, but that's it. Good holidays though!

Catapillarsruletheworld · 20/02/2020 11:07

Having sick pay is a novelty for me! Finally I have a job which offers it!

It’s all relative.

harrietthepie · 20/02/2020 11:17

"We host team lunches, staff parties and knowledge sessions; we have a book club and a shuffleboard league; and we have our own yoga studio while remaining tolerant of the Lycra-averse

Working there would be my idea of hell.

Ronia · 20/02/2020 11:18

We work agile so.can work remotely a.lot - almost as much as we want - and flex hours around sports days or nativities etc. Generous holiday including Christmas shut down. Last Friday of.the month there's an office social in the afternoon but for those working remotely an expectation that you'll just finish up early if you're not at the social. There's book club, and other optional social activities as well as BAME, LGBT+ and working parents groups. Pretty great really.

PooWillyBumBum · 20/02/2020 12:03

My work has (optional) workouts, book club, running club, yoga, free catered lunches, CSR days, mental health support and counselling. I’m not really interested in any of that stuff. What I do like is our private healthcare, pension benefits, subsidised gym memberships and great holidays (currently up to 30 days a year!) I do also like the fancy coffee machine with a ridiculous choice of herbal teas and plant milks. Oh, and that I can work from home and arrive/leave whenever I want without someone clock watching.

DH’s perks include free language lessons and - through sponsorship - free access to most paid art exhibitions in the big London galleries. But best of all he gets 11% pension match and a car allowance (he doesn’t drive!!)

PooWillyBumBum · 20/02/2020 12:04

My ex (DD’s dad) works for Google and their perks are insane, including free tickets to the Harry Potter play and studios! He’s also kind enough to share sometimes!

shinyredbus · 20/02/2020 12:05

Nah - my workplace is alot better.

blahnlah · 20/02/2020 12:07

All the schools I've worked in have allowed teachers time off for nativity, sports day, weddings, etc & in most circumstances paid.

blahnlah · 20/02/2020 12:15

DB has the best perks I know, a good pension scheme, the option to wfh a couple of times a month, gym with classes, bar, restaurant, cafe (food delivered to your desk if working late & taxis home if late) in house dentist & doctor, beautician & 3 months paid paternity leave.

TheMemoryLingers · 20/02/2020 12:19

We host team lunches, staff parties and knowledge sessions;

Yes, we get those.

we have a book club and a shuffleboard league;

No (not sure what shuffleboard is!)

and we have our own yoga studio while remaining tolerant of the Lycra-averse.

We have a company gym but don't know if yoga is on offer as I am 'Lycra-averse.'

Working for Mumsnet means never having to pretend you don’t have a family (or other commitments) and we promise never to keep you away from the school sports day.

No idea as I haven't tried to attend a school sports day!

QuietCrotchgoblins · 20/02/2020 12:22

I work in the NHS. I would have said job security, pension, sick pay, maternity pay, occupational health, childcare vouchers were the best parts but these are slowly being eroded and I doubt the NHS will exist in 10 years which makes me sad.

BossAssBitch · 20/02/2020 12:29

Yeah and I bet the pay is shit Hmm

I work in finance, we don't have any 'flowery' benefits, which is fine by me, I'd rather my firm put the funds they might use for (crap) like that towards important stuff, like, you know, decent pay, pension, medical and dental insurance and plenty of holiday (currently 35 days)

Fortunately, we don't have staff who think they can swan off at any time because they have kids (expecting others to bear their workload), that would definitely not be seen as a benefit by me.

And WTF is shuffleboard Confused

Blackandgreenteas · 20/02/2020 12:32

Can't use school money to benefit teachers, so no free tea/coffee or parties.

We have this in the civil service - or at least the bit where I work . It isn’t a big cost, obviously, to provide our own tea and coffee, but it does feel very weird for a workplace not to provide it.

We do have flexible work which is good though so I can’t complain.

blahnlah · 20/02/2020 12:37

The school I work in provides tea & coffee & one I used to work in had a subsidised canteen

ChasingRainbows19 · 20/02/2020 12:40

NHS: Good holiday entitlement especially after so many years service. Sick pay. Pension was really good not as good now tho but better than a lot of people I'd imagine! Free germs! Some companies offer discounts for NHS staff. We get bought chocolates or biscuits from grateful patients/ families. We have a 'gym' onsite but have to pay for it and it's hardly great.

ChasingRainbows19 · 20/02/2020 12:41

Have to provide own tea and coffee/meals etc as we should. We get 10% discount from the hospital restaurant which is expensive! Free tap water tho.....

Alarae · 20/02/2020 12:52

My job is agile working, so while a person normally has the same hours they work we can flex these across the week if needed should we need time off for any reason. As long as we hit our hourly target, realistically it doesn't matter how those hours are made up.

We have various sports teams (nationwide football tournament near the last office winners), summer and Christmas socials, along with smaller office socials (covered by the firm), free tea, coffee, hot Choc, fruit etc, generous pension and pay...

I don't think I'll be applying Grin

Babybel90 · 20/02/2020 12:53

I get a free funeral if I die in service, beat that! Grin

JanewaysBun · 20/02/2020 12:58

I prefer private healthcare and good pension. Holidays not great which is a shame, flexibility not great. We do get free cake on Pride Day.

Free funeral babybel, don't work at am undertaker do you?

goodwinter · 20/02/2020 13:00

None of those really sound like benefits to me. I'd be interested in pension contributions, enhanced sick pay, mat/pat leave, flexible working/WFH, etc etc.

I have struck gold with my current employer. Few bells and whistles (except free tea/coffee and occasional fruit) but the actual benefits, flexibility and working culture are beyond anything I could have hoped for. I'm only 27 and I'm already fairly sure I'm gonna stay with this company until I retire or get made redundant!

thunderthighsohwoe · 20/02/2020 13:01

@blahnlah Really? Our head (small village school, caring atmosphere) tries her best but we just can’t afford to pay to cover teachers for their children’s Sports Days etc. She will try and juggle PPA where possible, so we can use our PPA to attend.

We don’t get any ‘benefits’ as such - not even tea or coffee, BUT I do get to spend 12 weeks a year at home looking after DD which I consider a benefit (even if I have to work hours every evening in the holidays to keep up with work!)

fleamadonna · 20/02/2020 13:04

Free funeral babybel

Had to scroll up to see if funeral babybels are a thing Blush

PeterPanGoesWrong · 20/02/2020 13:05

Meh!
My boss (editor) has sent me to..........

lunch with Sting, to party with Noddy Holder, to dance with someoneRupert Young, to drinks with the cast of Benedorm, to giggle with Mica Paris, to party with Louise Redknapp, to have a fag (back in the day, three years clean) with Keith Allen, to be insulted (in the nicest possible way) by Keith lemon, to flirt with Raymond Blanc, to simper to James Martin, to marvel at the rudeness of Nick Owen (he was once famous about 30 odd years ago apparently, he’s now a local newsreader but is very conceited) to marvel at artists, to swoon with Nigel Havers to fall in love with Dennis Lawson to cuddle Steve Spears to kiss Jamie Hensley and to hug Jimmy Osmond. Everywhere I go I get complimentary wine or cocktails.
I work for less than 6 hours in an average week, I get treats like lunch at the Ivy as a regular reward, and I can afford David Lloyd gym membership. I think my job is awesome.