Employee benefits can make headlines in America. They are often discussed at bars and other informal gatherings across the country.
The conversations often start like this, “Did you hear (or read) that so-and-so company now provides such-and-such?”
The benefits are discussed with envy and astonishment.
How does anyone get any work done if they have a mechanical bull in the break room? Okay, so maybe I made that one up. But it would be awesome, right?
Every year Glassdoor, the website where employees and former employees anonymously review companies and their management, releases their list of top employee benefits and perks.
Here’s how Glassdoor opened their post listing this years top perks:
“Unlimited vacation? Been there, done that. Work-from-home Fridays? Par for the course. Ping-pong table? So 2008. There’s no doubt that companies have increased their focus on benefits and perks (and with 57 percent of job seekers counting them among their top considerations before taking a new job, it’s no wonder), but in their efforts to outpace each other, many once-hot perks have become passé.”
Everyone should check out the complete list, if only to mock offices that are obviously not getting any work done because they have stuff like on-site pet daycare. Here is the top ten as compiled by Glassdoor.
- IKEA offers up to four months of paid parental leave to both part-time and full-time employees with at least one year of experience at the company, regardless of whether they work at a retail store or the corporate headquarters.
- Reebok encourages employees to reach their personal fitness goals by providing an on-site gym with Crossfit classes.
- Bain & Company, the Best Place to Work in 2017, holds an annual two-day, global “Bain World Cup” soccer tournament open to all employees. Last year’s event was in Brussels. The 2017 tournament will be held in Los Angeles.
- Goldman Sachs offers coverage for gender reassignment surgery, a benefit the company has offered since 2008.
- Facebook provides healthcare coverage and free housing for interns. Known for its competitive benefits package, many Facebook interns report earning more than $7,000 per month.
- Scripps Health cares about the well-being of its employees’ furry family members, offering pet health insurance for cats and dogs.
- Starbucks provides full tuition reimbursement for its employees, covering an online bachelor’s degree program through Arizona State University.
- American Express’ parental leave policy offers up to five months of fully-paid leave for both mothers and fathers. Birthing mothers generally receive an additional 6 to 8 weeks under salary continuation for medical leave. Parents are also given access to a 24-hour lactation consultant, and mothers traveling for business can ship their breast milk home for free.
- Eventbrite helps keep employees healthy by offering a monthly $60 wellness stipend, which can be used on everything from gym dues to juice cleanses.
- Whole Foods Market offers a 20% store discount to all employees, including full-time and part-time employees.
