Saturday, November 23, 2013

The 5 Rules of Work Perks: Lessons from the Bold Italic Panel

On July 22nd, Josh Levine moderated a panel with leaders from some of the Bay Area’s most innovative companies to talk about work perks. From the nice-to-have to the need-to-have, panelists discussed their own organizational perks–and their implications, good and bad.


1. Perks are meaningless unless they are built on an organization’s mission and values.


If people are taking advantage of perks, there’s a problem. When the focus is on perks and not on the mission, something is amiss. Perks are not prizes you win for getting hired or band-aids to fix organizational problems.


2. Perks are extensions of a healthy organizational culture, not an end unto themselves.


Work culture is something you can sense when you walk into an office. It’s what employees do and how they feel–the result of smart hiring–not the extras that employees get.


3. Perks smooth the transition between work life and home life.


Integration of work and life is a reality whether we like it or not. Often, there’s no on/off switch to people’s work days. Perks help employees be more present both in and away from the office.


4. Perks can double as a testing ground for products.


At Square, the on-site baristas use the company’s credit card readers with every (paid) transaction. There’s no better brand advocate than employee-customers who experience their company’s products in everyday life.


5. People are wired to purpose.


People crave the gratification you get from being on a mission. Perks have their place, but it’s purpose that drives people to go above and beyond—through blizzards and storms—back into the office. Not on-site massage or free lunch.


via Great Monday | THE 5 RULES OF WORK PERKS: Lessons from the Bold Italic Panel.


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The 5 Rules of Work Perks: Lessons from the Bold Italic Panel