Comments on: The Best Job Perks & Fringe Benefits

By: Davy

Davy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:54:11 +0000

At my job I get free H20 all day long. OK we do get a cupple of perks but there not much. We close down 2 weeks a year!!! an after a year of working you get a gift card for $75 bucks. I really liking Patrick’s perks the best, perhaps we could get his boss to talk to mine for a few ideas.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 03:36:46 +0000

I work at a university and have loads of perks. My favorites are free health insurance, an old fashioned defined benefit pension plan (I contribute about 6% and so do they), and semester-long check-out privileges at a huge academic library. I also use the free shuttle buses, lots of professional development opportunities, frequent free breakfasts and lunches and birthday cakes (yes, I have gained weight, too), and beautiful grounds to stroll across and museums to visit during lunch. Also, there are all kinds of things going on around the place like poetry readings and musical recitals and health fairs and such. And a local service fraternity brings a bloodmobile to campus three times a year. They’re about to provide a Roth 403(b) (401K equivalent for nonprofits) which I will take at least some advantage of. And they almost never lay anyone off; during financial difficulties they do hiring freezes instead. So long as you can stand being responsible for more than just your job, you get to stay employed.

On the negative side, I was told at my last job that my current employer is the only employer in the city whose salaries she can beat–so it’s definitely one of the lowest-paying large employers around. Also there is not enough parking and it’s far away and expensive in a town with very mediocre mass transportation systems.

By: George

George — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 21:21:04 +0000

I get matches up to 10% on the 401k, free cable, internet (3meg speed), local and long distance, $3000 a year for college (paid before class is attended, with obvious caveats) and it is possible to have all college paid for with approval from the GM.

By: Hawkmoon Nine

Hawkmoon Nine — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:42:26 +0000

Lets see:

I was a bartender in college…free booze!

I worked for a software “etailer” who ended up going bankrupt. I got 5 monitors, 3 desk chairs, software (including Win 2000 and Office 2000) and a bunch more computer related items before I got caught up in the layoffs (I was let go in the 4th of the 6 rounds of layoffs).

I worked for a video game maker… free games, free accessories (i.e. steering wheel for games), free t-shirts, LOTS of free t-shirts.

Not much since then.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:08:59 +0000

At my soon to be old job, I will be giving up free breakfast everyday (6 different kinds of cereal and assorted bagels and cream cheese). It is by far the best perk I’ve ever had! Oh, and you can get the cereal and bagels all day, so you’re not limited to just the breakfast hours!

There’s free soda too…

By: Ty

Ty — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:28:40 +0000

I work at a Credit Union and I get 4.0% loans up to double my annual salary and an interest free loan up to $4000.00 to purchase computer equipment.
I also don’t pay any of the service charges or fees, including ATM fees.

It’s no happy hour, but it all adds up in the end!

Have a good one!

By: FMF

FMF — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:38:08 +0000

Free soda — all you can drink!

By: Chrees

Chrees — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:22:58 +0000

Hey, congrats on getting your Nasdaq 5th-letter post mentioned at TheStreet.com!

link

By: Andrew Flusche

Andrew Flusche — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:02:33 +0000

I don’t think many perks compare to the life of a law firm summer associate. During law school you clerk with firms during the summer. Many of the larger firms take you to free, fancy lunches every day. You get nice dinners several nights per week. Finally, many firms take you on a trip somewhere for a weekend. All this happens in a couple months. Needless to say, I gained 60 pounds this summer. :O

By: Patrick in VA

Patrick in VA — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:14:12 +0000

My current job has a few good things for it:
There’s a built in Sport n Health Club on site
The job will pay for your Masters or Law School
We’re production based, and if you have the time you are allowed to work an extra 50 hours of overtime (w/o supervisor approval) if you choose – great for those who have the time
After you pass some certifications you can apply for the work from home program:-)

By: CK

CK — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 13:31:25 +0000

That’s pretty nice.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 12:59:48 +0000

My favorite perks at my current job are very financially related – 10% of my salary is contributed by my employer to my retirement fund. No matching required. Cha-ching! At a time when most people get 3% (match required), this takes the cake. The other big perk is 30-50% of my child’s college tuition will be paid for by my employer (assuming I still work for them 10 years from now when he is actually old enough to go to college).