Perks at Work

[Ashartus]

No really unusual perks, but a good salary, flexible hours (and the option to work from home some of the time), my own office, admin rights on my computer, phone, financial support for continuing education, and perhaps most important I actually like all my coworkers.

[CaramonLS]

Variable start times is nice for me - I'm usually in at work between 7 am and 9 am. Kinda nice when you need that extra 15 minutes.

We're allowed to work from home.

Time off - boss is fine if you have to leave at 2 for an appointment or something, doesn't care if you take a little longer lunch to pick up dry cleaning.

Usually everyone puts in ~50 hours per week, so he figures it all balances out.

Honor system/trust - given that there is a lot of travel in my job, my boss gives us TONS of leeway, which I could take advantage of. However, he isn't the type of guy to do bed checks and is really good about it. (Not a true perk in the sense of it, but very nice).

[Titan]

Originally Posted by GGG

My wifes office has a complimenery fruit bowl. I think that is an awsome benefit.

Now if only they would put some fruit in it!!

[Julio]

Originally Posted by DFO

Fresh fruit, snacks, and beverages in the kitchens
A friday off every month
One massage per week from the in house masseuse

Happy ending?

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by V

My drafters all make over $85k. There's nothing wrong with that.

What do they draft? I should have got into a different discipline by the looks of it.

[Calgary '89]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Three months of paid vacation each year, apartment provided and utilities paid, free use of facilities like swimming pool and ice rink, the ability to send myself to far off workshops when I see fit, return international airfare up to $1,500 to be used however I like once/year and free meals.

Even with those nice things I'm still not a big fan of the job and will be leaving at the end of this contract year.

Edit: I suppose to add to those, I live in what I think is a much more interesting place than North America and I make over 16 times the average salary where I am, which allows me to live a very carefree lifestyle spending wise and still bank 70% of my income each month while taking vacations to Hong Kong or having weekends in Shanghai.

Dude unless you're in your 40's, tough it out.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Calgary '89

Dude unless you're in your 40's, tough it out.

The most important factor in my leaving, which supersedes all the perks for me, is that this job keeps my wife and I apart from each other as there aren't good career opportunities for her in the place where I live now. That sucks and I just won't do it anymore.

Also, whereas if my wife were to move to where I am she would probably suffer a 60% decrease in salary, I could potentially get as much as a 100% increase in salary by getting a similar job in a better city where we can be together and she can maintain at least 90% of her salary.

Either way, I don't like working for money. The best situation for me is just knowing that I don't have to stress money and I can just go to work for fun because it's interesting. My current workplace isn't fun anymore and doing it for money just leads to me becoming really depressed and hating it.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

You only work 30 minutes a day? Wow!

Typical city employee.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Typical city employee.

How many city employees does it take to change a lightbulb?

None. They can drink coffee in the dark!

[Clarkey]

Originally Posted by fotze

Because there are plenty of companies with better perks than them.

Which ones, they are the best I've heard of out of the majors?

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by pope04

How many city employees does it take to change a lightbulb?

None. They can drink coffee in the dark!

Five- one to change the bulb, three to check to see if it conforms to policy and one to hold the ladder steady.

[PIMking]

I work at a Hotel while I'm in school. It only pays 9/hr but that is better than Min wage. Plus I get to do homework while I'm at work and when I don't have homework to do I just goof off on the internet. Plus I get killer deals on hotel rooms at other places.

[Kybosh]

I am unfamiliar with these so-called "perks".

[Calgary '89]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

The most important factor in my leaving, which supersedes all the perks for me, is that this job keeps my wife and I apart from each other as there aren't good career opportunities for her in the place where I live now. That sucks and I just won't do it anymore.

Also, whereas if my wife were to move to where I am she would probably suffer a 60% decrease in salary, I could potentially get as much as a 100% increase in salary by getting a similar job in a better city where we can be together and she can maintain at least 90% of her salary.

Either way, I don't like working for money. The best situation for me is just knowing that I don't have to stress money and I can just go to work for fun because it's interesting. My current workplace isn't fun anymore and doing it for money just leads to me becoming really depressed and hating it.

Sounds like you're an Expat in a backward country. If you can get transferred, ask for South America. Money doesn't seem to be a problem for you so may as well live somewhere nice.


Beware of hot and aggressive women though.

[bc-chris]

i'm self employed and i LOVE it!!!

yea - i set my own hours... but you don't get anywhere unless you actually work!

i've got 2 employees so it is nice that when i'm not at work i'm still making $$

being self employed the write-offs are also sweet and the provincial government (bc) announced a week or so ago that starting in 2011 income tax for people with small businesses/self employed would be 0% on the first $250,000 (i think)... so that's sweet

my biz is an embroidery company... so the perks with that are HUGE!!!
- my mens hockey team is the best dressed team on the ice
- i can make all kinds of custom designs for hoodies/jackets/etc.
- i get to purchase name brand clothing at a wholesale rate... do you realize the crazy mark up on clothes - it's nuts!!!
- one of my machines is a laser cutter - and it can etch - so i've made some cool stuff with that too

[drewboy12]

-Go to work and eat breakfast and take a two hour nap
-Can choose to work inside or outside
-Decide my own schedule and can easily change it
-take vacation at least once a month
-fly pretty much for free
-full health benefits
-free travel insurance
-Discounts with about 1000 different companies with my company id
-Discounted travel on 195 airlines
-only have to work 1300 hours a year (if I choose to)

[Clarkey]

Originally Posted by fotze

What are their perks, maybe I'm mistaken. They sound similar to everywhere else.

Most oil companies offer 8-15% matching of retirement type plans, most have flex days or the 2 fridays per month thing. Most offer some sort of allowance for health or gym memberships, most have bonuses and stock options etc. They may be better on the vacation thing but who knows since you really only hear a story here and there.

Suprising there isn't some sort of public benefits website that publishes this. I know ours does not write them down and likes to keep them as confidential as they can. If they were all out there it would surely better for the emplyees.

Hey Myden, can you create a site for this?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by PIMking

I work at a Hotel while I'm in school. It only pays 9/hr but that is better than Min wage. Plus I get to do homework while I'm at work and when I don't have homework to do I just goof off on the internet. Plus I get killer deals on hotel rooms at other places.

And you see interesting guests?

[Young-Sneezy]

free dental floss...

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Calgary '89

Sounds like you're an Expat in a backward country. If you can get transferred, ask for South America. Money doesn't seem to be a problem for you so may as well live somewhere nice.


Beware of hot and aggressive women though.

Yep, pretty much. And my wife and I do plan on being in South America a few years down the road. We'll probably be back in Shanghai, or Hangzhou or Hong Kong until then though as my wife is jumping through some career hoops along the way. I would also be very happy living in Shanghai, Hangzhou or Hong Kong for a few years before that.

I've heard much about the hot and aggressive women in South America (particularly Brazil) from one of my colleagues who has spent a lot of time there. He raves about it in fact.

Although I love Canada and think it's a great country to live in, I don't expect to settle back there any time soon. My wife and I plan on living in many different places before we settle.