What perks are companies offering in 2011?

  • Subsidized training or education (33%)
  • Flexible work hours/telecommuting (27%)
  • Mentoring programs (25%)
  • Matching gift programs for charities (15%)
  • Onsite child care, dry cleaning, fitness centers and cafeterias (11%)
  • Sabbaticals (8%)
  • Housing or relocation assistance (7%)

Source: Robert Half survey of executives, January 2011.  As reported in Knowledge@Wharton, June 2011.

 

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Pet health insurance? Free haircuts? A review of outside-the-box benefits

In the competition for talent, some companies are going well beyond the typical benefit offerings of health, life, dental and vision insurance. Aware offers a review of some of the more unusual extras.

Home Depot

Offers discounted backup dependent care for employees’ children and elders.

  • The daily cost of childcare drops to $25 a day from the current typical cost of $85. The same goes for elder care, at a low $35 a day compared to $240.
  • Home Depot also offers a discounted pet health insurance program, called “Nose to Tail Coverage” – for any type of pet.

Franklin International

Gives out $50 gift cards to employees who take a health-risk assessment.

  • The adhesive and sealant manufacturer also reimburses 50 percent of the cost of college textbooks for employees returning to school (up to $500 per employee per year).

Ben and Jerry’s

Makes a nap room available for workers who may not be quite ready to face the day.

  • About 10 percent of employees take advantage of the perk.
  • At the end of the day, employees can take home three free pints of ice cream. The well-known ice cream company wants workers to become ice cream experts.

Google

Employees receive free haircuts, free gourmet food (at any time of day) and use of the company swimming pool and gym.

  • Not enough time at night to get your laundry done? Bring it to the company’s in-house laundry and dry cleaning facility.
  • Stressed out by the daily commute? Google provides a shuttle bus to employees free of charge.
  • Sick at work? A doctor is on site to address urgent needs, and massages are offered for a small fee.

Securian Financial Group

Offers a host of options, from adoption assistance to cellular phone discounts to sending flowers at the death of an employee’s loved one.

  • The St. Paul, Minnesota financial services provider promotes sports and group activities to encourage employees to stay active and help new employees get to know others in the company.

Does your company offer an outside-the-box benefit? We’d like to hear about it. Contact Aware newsletter.

Sources
Google Benefits.
Richard, Rothschild. Some employers are thinking outside the box, Workforce Management, December 2010.