'Perks' at work

Skint_Catt

What would you consider a perk at work. Right now we're sitting here thinking about our company - and I can't think of anything they give us other than a lunch hour.

I'm not complaining nor trying to say its my 'right' to anything, but we don't get a Christmas Party, a Christmas card from the boss, no annual pay increase (rate of inflation or not), no bonuses, no free or consessionary parking/travel, no flexitime, minimum holiday, no sick pay (as of 2008) etc etc.

Just wondered what others thought!

misscomickat

How is a lunch hour a perk?!

In my old job I got travel expenses, sick pay (up to 5 days a year), and a Christmas bonus. Now I'm a temp and all I get is a Christmas dinner, not complaining though.

Skint_Catt

Because at my last job (less than 12 employees) we weren't entitled to a lunch break (to be fair they brought sarnies in for us) but they didn't have to give us any break. Apparantly they now have more than 12 employees so give them 1.2 hour but have extended the day til 6pm!

davetrousers

Free Tea and Coffee?

[Deleted User]

Our perks:
Free tea/coffee/cookies
Company mobile phone and laptop
Private health insurance
Free eye tests
Money towards gym membership
Christmas party
Annual team outings (usually meals)
Stayed in lots of nice hotels and ate at good restaurants on expenses
Annual Pay rise (performance dependent)
Tax free travel loan (only introduced a few months ago)
Private pension payments (we put in X, work put in 2 X up to 5%)

However, we don't get a free lunch break (40 hour working week, you're in from 8.30 till 5.30)
You have to be flexible.. i've had calls at 8pm telling me I've got to be in X city in the morning
I've had to work 22hrs solidly with no overtime/time in lieu.

It's all swings and roundabouts. I do wish we got annual bonuses, but you can't get everything

save-a-lot

I suppose I get alot of perks in my job, but I think I have become so used to getting perks that they feel like the norm now... listed below

pension 12% me / 12% from company
pension 5% me / 5% from company (additional matched contributions)
private healthcare
Save As You Earn
Partnership Shares
50% cash / 50% shares for annual bonus
market rated salary and good annual increase (performance dependent)
subsidised tradional pub onsite
ability to work from home if necessary
onsite gym, sports hall
the list goes on...

I suppose my greatest perk is the ability to work from home rather than going to the office, this means I do not have to take holiday for all of those times when you just need to be at home, i.e. if one of our kids is ill, or if the weather is on the snowy side. However, work gets more out of me as I often log onto the network from home in the evening to catch up with things.

jhxmt

Skint_Catt - sounds like you work at the same place I do!

Not even a Christmas card from the boss. And it's not like we're even in a huge office with dozens of employees - there's less than half a dozen of us!

Skint_Catt

They've suggested working from home but I can't see it materialising. Tea and coffee only if you can find it - I generally bring my own in inc milk - same with toilet roll!

We do get eye tests, but you can get them for free from D&A anyway.

We only get pension after 5 years service (no-one ever stays that long)

Ok our lunch break is unpaid and not a 'perk' as such but I didn't want to sound like I was moaning!!!!!!!!!

ckerrd

Skint_Catt wrote: »

Because at my last job (less than 12 employees) we weren't entitled to a lunch break (to be fair they brought sarnies in for us) but they didn't have to give us any break. Apparantly they now have more than 12 employees so give them 1.2 hour but have extended the day til 6pm!

Had you all opted out of the Working Time Regulations? (To be fair they are very badly written in places)

Where I used to work, we had a Xmas party - but we paid for and organised that ourselves. We did have a good HR department who were flexible if people had problems and needed time off but outsourcing put paid to that.

Interesting that working form home is considered a perk. It should be about allowing the flexibility to get the best out of staff. Whether that is working from home, working flexible shifts or something else that is of benefit to staff and employer.

Gemmzie

We get 25% discount on stock after a year, 2 weeks sick pay after a year, erm...two parties a year so far, teeny pay increases, oh and extra Nectar rewards now too.

save-a-lot

ckerrd wrote: »

Interesting that working form home is considered a perk. It should be about allowing the flexibility to get the best out of staff. Whether that is working from home, working flexible shifts or something else that is of benefit to staff and employer.

Where I work it is a perk really because the standard issue is a desktop computer for those that are office based. So, for me having a laptop feels like a perk as it means I can stay cosy and warm at home when the weather takes a turn for the worse rather than having to take holiday.