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Employees Share 30 Perks Companies Gave Them That Show They Really Care
Interview With Expert
Companies often pretend that keeping employees happy is as challenging as rocket science. “I just don’t understand why workers keep quitting!” CEOs cry as they deny everyone raises, refuse to provide maternity leave and expect workers to commute to the office even when they’re ill.
It’s really not that complicated. And we have a list down below to prove it. Redditors have been discussing the perks that can go a long way in making employees feel appreciated, so we’ve gathered the most popular replies. From paid vacation days to letting staff head home early if all of their work is finished, enjoy reading through these benefits that every company should offer. And keep reading to find a conversation with Lars Lofgren, Founder of HR Advice!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The company that I worked at gave you a week of paid leave if you adopted a dog from a local shelter. It was to help you bond. They called it Paw-ternity Leave.
RELATED:
#2
I'm a pilot for a big global charter company. Last May, my dad was hospitalized and it wasn't looking good. I called the on-duty manager to notify them that my dad was having issues and I may need to leave my 8 day tour shorter in a couple days. 20 minutes later they called with a rental car to denver (I was in the mountains at the time), airlines to tampa where my dad was, and then a rental car in tampa for the rest of the week. All covered by the company, no manager calling me to tell me to make up the time, they just let me go.
Without that cooperation and arrangement, I would not have been able to see my dad in his last few days here and I am forever thankful to my company for doing that.
#3
My mom and I worked together at a restaurant, at the time I was 13 years she was 12 years working at the same place. She unexpectedly passed and the company paid for the funeral, they closed the restaurant the day of her passing and the day of the funeral, most of the workers including 2 corporate managers came and some were even pallbearers. The company told me to take all the time I needed (I only took a full week off because I felt like I was going crazy if I didn't go back to work to take my mind off it) and gave me that weeks pay. When I came back they handed me an envelope with $400 in tips everyone saved up for that week.
The more I tell people this the more I realize how unusual it is for companies to even think of such a thing let alone do it.
To gain more insight into this topic, we got in touch with Lars Lofgren, Founder of HR Advice. He was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and discuss what kinds of perks can make employees feel valued.
"In my opinion, benefits packages have more punch when the company goes above average on the core benefits," the expert says. "Instead of offering a 'good' health insurance plan, offer the best one you can get your hands on. Then pay the FULL deductible. To really go above and beyond, pay the full deductible for all dependents too. Same with dental/vision."
#4
It’s extremely disheartening to read these comments from what I assume by context to be mostly Americans so far stating ”perks” that are literally the bare minimum legal requirements in most European countries.
#5
My dad was dying and my mother was losing her mind and I needed to be by his bedside. They said, take all the time you need, don't worry about sick time, don't worry about vacation time, don't worry about any aspect of your job, just focus on your family.
And they paid me for it.
#6
Unlimited sick days with managers that encourage using them. Why force people to come in sick and work and get the rest of the team sick?
Colin Matthews 8 months ago
Policy of mine when I ran retail. If you are sick-for heavens sake-don't come in to work. All you will do is make everyone else ill and probably do a terrible job anyway.
Lars also says companies should be generous with PTO/vacation. "We gave a full 2 weeks off over Christmas every year, and people LOVED it. Honestly, no one works during the holidays anyway."
"Or force people to take at least 1 week off every quarter," Lars continued. "Lots of options here. I have a ton on all the nitty gritty of a good PTO policy here. Also good PTO examples here."
#8
My wife was suddenly admitted to the hospital related to her pregnancy. I called work on the way to meet her there and told them I'd be out for at least the next day and had no idea what else to expect.
We had our son two months early, and he was admitted to the CCN until his due date. When I came back from several days of leave, my supervisor had put together a baby shower where everyone gave prepaid debit cards to cover travel to and from the hospital as well as any meals we'd need.
The admin team pulled me aside and set up my parental leave for when we expected my son to come home, and most of my leadership reached out regularly to check on me, my wife, and our boy.
When leave time came my supervisor checked in on my tasks and made sure nothing came up that would interrupt my leave.
Due to my boy's early birth, he had lots of health issues that required random days off without warning to deal with. Every time, every single time, they told me to take care of my family and worry about work later.
Those people have my absolute loyalty.
#9
When my cat was diagnosed with cancer, they let me work from home for over a month (pre-Covid) so that I could be around him as much as possible. He didn't make it sadly, but that flexibility at a time when it was much less common gave me so much more time to be with him and to take care of him than I otherwise would have.
robert copher 8 months ago
I would have given anything for this kindness when my Biscuit (small dog) was sick.
"Solid bereavement and parental leave also goes a long way," Lars added. "Have a true remote work policy. Don't worry about trivial benefits like dogs in the office, gym membership reimbursements, or offering a subpar therapy platform. Focus on the core benefits and do them really well."
And having great benefits isn't just good for the employees. "If your benefits package is good enough, no one will leave," the expert pointed out. "Attrition on my teams, departments, and at my last company have always been ridiculously low. I might have 1 good employee leave in an entire year. That keeps the talent level high and makes for an extremely cohesive team."
#10
This always stuck out to me: my mom was the janitor at a company during my childhood. And every year for Secretaries day, she's be included in the big luncheon the ladies were thrown by the big wigs running the show.
I always thought that was really nice.
robert copher 8 months ago
Very kind people, sadly we've lost this respect for people in this necessary position.
#11
If you work late on a Tuesday, feel free to take off early on Friday.
Scott Rackley 8 months ago
When I was an apprentice we actually filled out our own timecards by hand and this was an option. You could stay the whole day and pick up some overtime or knock off at 40. Then we got bought out.
#12
Don’t make people beg for time off or ask intrusive questions. Believe what people tell you.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
We were entitled to two personal days a year. When you turned in the request, the administrator in charge insisted on knowing the reason anyway. It's personal, dude.
But if you're not a fan of the perks offered by your current employer, Lars says it's probably time to find a new job. "I don't believe there's anything workers can do to improve benefits at their company. If your benefits are below average, it's a sign that the priorities of Leadership are misplaced. Your effort is better spent on finding a company that already has that core belief."
#14
A generous PTO policy. I’m a much better employee when I get time to rest my mind outside of work. Far too many do not give people suitable flexibility.
#15
A proper salary.
#16
My old workplace had a ‘summer Fridays’ policy. Every Friday during the summer months the office closed at 1pm so we could make the most of the nice weather.
#17
4 day work weeks. Having Fridays off has been amazing.
#18
Letting them go home early for a half good reason.
#19
Flexibility with WFH, generous bonuses, and consistent raises. Keep the pizza and donuts.
Tabitha 8 months ago
I can’t eat their stupid pizza and doughnuts anyway (gluten sensitivity, it makes me sick), so I got NOTHING from them, except a hard time. Glad my husband and I started our own company, so we can run it differently than the rest—-we run our company equitably and ethically. We give decent raises and generous pre--Christmas bonuses (based on profits), like every company is supposed to do, if they value their employees.
#20
Back when my dad was still working, he paid 100% of the costs for healthcare and daycare for his employees.
Onan Hag All 8 months ago
Back when...everybody... was working in the UK the NHS took care of their health.
#21
…it sure isn’t a pizza party.
#22
My wife has 'life days' along with her 25 days of PTO during the year. She's turning 40 this year so will get a day off if she requests. First day of school for the kids, my birthday last year etc.
She used a lot of time off during my illness in 23/24 and she took tons of PTO and they reimbursed her the days citing 'family emergency'.
That's the kind of company that you want to work for.
Niamh Gallagher Kerr 8 months ago
This is why I'm glad I live in the UK, the minimum is 28 days holiday. The company I work for now it's 28 days holiday and 13 bank holidays. If I work a BH I get the time back as TOIL and the hours paid
#23
Good health benefits with low premiums because the company pays most of the insurance costs.
#24
I know a company that gives a $500 allowance every year for "healthy lifestyle expenses" like gym memberships, dog food/grooming, athletic clothing, etc. .
quentariel 8 months ago
$500 is quite a huge amount. We get 200€ per year for health and entertainment. The money is on an app and let's you pay in almost every ticket service and health related things like gyms and massage. What makes it more impressive that our mother company pays it for all 2600+ employees. In addition to decent salary. Sometimes it irritates us a bit that we can't use those money for food and other bills, but I also understand why it's made that way.
#25
2-ply T.P.
#26
Paying a living wage.
It's truly the one perk to rule them all. Corporate hates this one little trick to get employees to feel valued.
#27
High pay. Don't care when you work, rather you hit deadlines/results. Don't care where you work. Let mistakes slide.
#29
My company throws parties for peoples' birthdays. They'll buy lunch for the office and cupcakes/ a dessert of the persons' choice.
Sodas/ tea/ drinks and snacks provided for free
Very loose PTO and remote work policy.
robert copher 8 months ago
Treating employees like people an celebrating important days with them and making them feel special!? Amazing!
#30
We give 15 days vacation, 12 paid holidays on top of that, 12 sick days a year, 3 personal days, fully employer paid health, dental and retirement benefits, competitive wages with 5-10% annual raises (though we could only do 2% 2020-2023). Remote work where possible. I’m bumping it up to 20 paid vacation days next year. We only have 28 employees, but we’ve only had 1 person quit, 2 people retire, and 1 person I had to let go in 15 years. Admittedly most of our staff are less than 5 years on the job as we grow.
April Pickett 8 months ago
Is this that guy in California who halved his salary to pay his employees' salaries?
#31
I work for a small brewery that is unlike anywhere else I’ve ever worked…We get paid for 40 hrs whether or not we work 40 (usually we’ll put in anywhere from 33-45, just varies with the work) and we also get OT if we go over 40 hrs. Our boss also puts $200/month towards our health insurance premiums, bringing individual insurance plans down from about $280/month to about $80/month. We are also provided a gym membership, we just have to use it 4 x’s a month. Our company also pays for 6 cognitive therapy visits a year. Occasionally the boss breaks out the grill out back and throws down on some burgers and dogs. Even my worst days are incredible and I will forever be thankful I found this place.
#32
Not fighting a union’s existence.
Riley Quinn 8 months ago
CEO's who are afraid of unions and go out of their way to stop their existence have horrible policies they want hidden from consumers. But it's mainly keeping salaries low and investor dividends high.
#34
Money. I have never been interested in a single thing that a company has to offer me other than cash.
#35
I work in software start ups so I’ve been a bit spoiled, but **minimum** vacation time taken. Requiring employees to rest and recharge
That and profit sharing is one I’m still hunting.
#36
Work from home as an option if your job doesn't require you to do it in an office. Granted MY company doesn't provide that option, but it definitely would be a perk to me if they did. (Three years of surveys in a row that WFH has been the #1 request and they still ignore it).
April Pickett 8 months ago
They have to have someone to micromanage; otherwise, why have office managers? That lease on the office space still has to be paid.
#37
The way things have been lately... just a simple check in "how are you doing, what can i help with?" from management or leads. it just feels like everyone is going at it alone these days, no team building, no onboarding, no mentorship, no compassion.
#38
Good maternity leave. Employer has 6 weeks paid, non consecutive, for new fathers, fathers adopting, and mothers adopting as well. Mothers giving birth get 12 weeks. Time for bonding, appointments, etc to be used within the first year with the kid.
#39
Stock options*, and the highest pay for that type of work in the area. You get people who have a vested interest in seeing the company succeed, and you have people vying for a position with you. They will feel lucky to be your employee.
Become known for being good to your employees. Celebrate their successes, even in their private lives, like giving new parents and newlyweds an extra bonus, celebrating birthdays, helping out when someone is sick or injured, etc.
That's the kind of company I'd like to work for, whether they make cars or sell ice cream or build skyscrapers or anything else. It's possible to treat people well *and* succeed in business, you just have to want it.
*Or profit sharing, if it's not a publicly traded company.
#40
Profit sharing.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
They would just bring in enough book jugglers to staff a three-ring accounting department. That's how people guaranteed a percentage of a movie's profits never see a dime.
#41
Generous PTO, ability to earn comp time. WFH if someone wants.
My last job I had a wardrobe stipend we got as well as a small business professional clothing loan with a limit of $500. We could buy work clothes and they would cover the cost and then took $25 out of every paycheck till it was paid off. It was a nice option that I used to really build my closet.
#42
Survivor benefits for the employee's family should they pass away. Half salary for 10 years, immediate RSU vesting.
Edit: The schedule is over 10 years, but starts at 100% ramping down to 25% at the end giving the survivors time to adapt.
#44
The owner of the company I work for decided that no one who works here should have to pay more than $1500 for a single hospital stay—whether they have insurance or not. I haven’t been here long (4 months after being laid off from my previous job of 17 years…), and haven’t personally experienced this situation, but man, it really blew my mind when it was brought up during my benefits questions while being onboarded. The pay here is 33% less than what I was previously making, but I feel valued in a way I haven’t before.
#46
They have dental and vision insurance available.
quentariel 8 months ago
Now, this one is a perk that is missing from many good work cultures too. Not that people bankrupt themselves with those in here, but it's still weird that eyes and teeth don't seem to belong to the human body in employers' opinion.
#47
Chinese finger cuffs, fun caricatures of you in a work setting, waffle party.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
"Waffle" was one of my last boss's specialties - but as a verb, not a noun.
One of the key factors in ensuring employee satisfaction is offering perks that make them feel valued and appreciated. Similar to the experience described in another account, where an employee's efforts went unnoticed and eventually backfired on the employer, it's critical for companies to recognize the importance of fair treatment and benefits.
To understand how valuing employees' time can positively impact engagement and retention, read more about the repercussions of ignoring an employee's overtime dedication here.
What do you think ?
BTSKY 8 months ago
I teach internationally. My pay package is generous, teaching hours are reasonable, I get $1,000 USD per year for professional development of my choice. I also get 8k USD travel allowance for my family and I annually, about 3 months holiday throughout the year. My favourite perk is that I have a very generous housing stipend that is not taxed. My two kids also have free tuition in a school that would cost more than $30kUSD each year each child. I love my career.
FABULOUS1 8 months ago
The owners of the company I work for are very generous, we get yearly bonuses. We have employee appreciation day and they pay for everyones boat ride to an Island off California, we have family beach parties each year, food truck events through out the year for holidays. We also get a $100 for every year we have been with the company in our anniversary month. They cover 90% of our health insurance for employees and their dependents. We got to remain working from home after covid, and they do a lot of events at different locations to ensure that we stay engaged with each other through out the year. Yearly raises, and our Christmas party is really the best. Its not a perfect place to work but the perks are a great incentive to stay.
BTSKY 8 months ago
I teach internationally. My pay package is generous, teaching hours are reasonable, I get $1,000 USD per year for professional development of my choice. I also get 8k USD travel allowance for my family and I annually, about 3 months holiday throughout the year. My favourite perk is that I have a very generous housing stipend that is not taxed. My two kids also have free tuition in a school that would cost more than $30kUSD each year each child. I love my career.
FABULOUS1 8 months ago
The owners of the company I work for are very generous, we get yearly bonuses. We have employee appreciation day and they pay for everyones boat ride to an Island off California, we have family beach parties each year, food truck events through out the year for holidays. We also get a $100 for every year we have been with the company in our anniversary month. They cover 90% of our health insurance for employees and their dependents. We got to remain working from home after covid, and they do a lot of events at different locations to ensure that we stay engaged with each other through out the year. Yearly raises, and our Christmas party is really the best. Its not a perfect place to work but the perks are a great incentive to stay.
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