Tech companies are hiring ‘perks managers’ in a fight to woo talent

The fierce competition for top talent in Silicon Valley is giving rise to a new job category — the perks manager — as tech companies scramble to be the best at keeping their employees happy.

The Wall Street Journal, in chronicling companies’ growing reliance on these perks providers, reported on Friday on workplaces such as the Pinterest headquarters, where a team of employees provide their colleagues with perks ranging from martial-arts classes to an event where employees make Jell-O shots.

Whether they are startups looking to gain a foothold in the tech industry or members of the old guard, tech companies keep raising the stakes when it comes to talent-attracting perks, the Journal says. An employee at Adobe Systems ADBE 1.21% is planning a whiskey tasting and software company Asana gives employees several thousand dollars each in an allowance to go toward personalizing their computers and workspace.

Google GOOG 0.38% , which topped this year’s Fortune list of the Global Best Companies to Work For, is a well-known purveyor of perks. The tech giant offers a wide range of food options, all for free, to its employees, along with meditation and fitness centers. Coming in right behind Google on the list is software company SAS, which offers employees access to an in-door pool and yoga classes.

Other tech companies, such as eBay EBAY -0.06% and design software company Autodesk ADSK -0.42% , are also known to allow employees to take weeks-long paid sabbaticals every few years.

Obviously, all of these companies believe the cost of such perks is worth spending if it keeps their employees happy and productive. Now, tech companies may also be more willing shell out money to the perks managers who dream up those perks and put them into action. At Pinterest, the Journal reports, such a coordinator could make anywhere from $40,000 to $80,000 annually.

via Tech companies are hiring ‘perks managers’ in a fight to woo talent.

Tech companies are hiring ‘perks managers’ in a fight to woo talent

6 Outrageous Job Perks—and the Companies that Offer Them

Take a second and pretend you’re not in that cubicle. Pretend you’re working for one of those insanely popular companies whose main goal in business seems to be to make their employees happy. Facebook, Google and Zappos are always in the spotlight for their employer brand, but here are a few perks that you may not have heard of.

Cisco Offers Acupuncture

Cisco’s state of the art fitness center in San Jose, California has taken corporate gyms to a whole new level. Not only does the Cisco’s LifeConnections Health Center offer acupuncture, this fitness center also offers primary health care and physical therapy. Their emphasis on a healthy work-life balance also includes top of the line telecommuting technologies that provide a stellar work-from-home experience.

Boeing Offers 12 Paid Holidays

Not only do all employees get 12 paid holidays per year, they also receive a “winter recess” that lasts between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It sounds like Boeing really understands the totally necessary business practice of encouraging employees to take time off. Some are catching on slower than others, but leaders in employee engagement see the benefits of cutting employees some slack.

Johnson & Johnson Offer a Concierge Service

While this awesome perk isn’t offered to every employee, it is offered to a whopping 12,000 of them. This concierge service is meant to relieve the stress of everyday life and ensure that Johnson & Johnson employees are enjoying an above average work-life experience. You name the chore, and this service can take care of it. They also offer childcare and paid sabbaticals.

Microsoft Offers above Average Maternity and Paternity Leave

New parents often struggle with taking time off of work, healing and balancing their new lifestyles. Microsoft isn’t following suit with the rest of the major U.S. corporations by offering paid leave for new parents. It is also the first major corporation to offer healthcare coverage for Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy, which treats autism. Microsoft is actually doing something for its employees about two major concerns in America today.

3M Offers Benefits to Same Sex Couples

Global innovation company 3M’s employees don’t have to fight for their rights to a fitness center, pharmacy, programs to stop smoking, weight loss incentives, stress management programs and awesome benefits. They are also one of the only major corporations to offer benefits to same-sex couples in domestic partnerships.

SAS Offers On-Site Massages

A small area of the 66,000 square-foot recreation and fitness center is dedicated to classic Swedish and orthopedic massages. After a large and healthy breakfast from the cafeteria, employees can grab a massage and then take a hike through the 300-acre Raleigh, NC campus.

It takes a long time to get where these companies are –on the “Best Places to Work” lists. These perks aren’t cheap and they certainly aren’t offered to so-so employees. Successful companies know that their success rests on the shoulders of their workforce—that’s why massages are so important!

via 6 Outrageous Job Perks—and the Companies that Offer Them.

6 Outrageous Job Perks—and the Companies that Offer Them

Looking to Attract Top Talent? Offer This Perk

Companies looking to attract top talent should be offering a flexible work environment, new research shows.

A study by national talent acquisition and career development firm Mom Corps revealed that nearly three-quarters of the American adults surveyed said flexibility is one of the most important factors they consider when looking for a new job or deciding what company to work for — up more than 10 percentage points from last year.

In addition, 39% of those surveyed have considered leaving or have left a job because it wasn’t flexible enough.

“The main takeaway from this year’s survey is that flexible work trends are gaining attention and momentum,” said Mom Corps founder and CEO Allison O’Kelly. “We see more employees asking for the work situations they need and more companies offering flexibility as a talent management strategy.”

In addition, Americans are willing to give up a lot for a little workplace flexibility. Close to half of the U.S. adults surveyed would be willing to take a cut on their salary in exchange for more flexibility at work.

Despite their desire for flexibility, many workers still are hesitant to ask for flexible work options: The study found that nearly 50% of employees think that asking for more flexibility would hurt their chances of job advancement.

“While the workforce as a whole is seeing an increase in available flexible work options, there is still a considerable disconnect between what is being offered and what employees feel empowered to take advantage of,” O’Kelly said. “Worse, employees still feel susceptible to diminished career opportunities if they ask for alternatives.”

The study found that it’s the younger employees that are leading the charge for a nontraditional work schedule: Nearly 85% of those age 35 and under already have a little flexibility in their current job, compared with just 67% of those age 55 and over.

Additionally, nearly 60% of working adults age 35 and under would consider alternative work options — like temping, contracting, part-time or consulting — in lieu of a traditional full-time job in order to better achieve work-life balance. This percentage is more than 10 percentage points higher than for any other age group.

The study was based on surveys of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, nearly 900 of whom were employed on either a full-time or part-time basis.

via Looking to Attract Top Talent? Offer This Perk.

Looking to Attract Top Talent? Offer This Perk

The 5 Perks That Really, Truly Matter to Employees

Lots of companies have gotten pretty creative with the perks they offer their employees – from daily gourmet meals and beer-on-tap to clothing stipends and on-site basketball courts.

But are these perks what matter most to your employees? And are they making the impact to the bottom line you hoped they would?

While some of these big-ticket perks might be what draw new applicants, some of the shiny perks lose their luster and what should last are those with long-term value.

Here are five perks that will actually keep the right people right where you need them:

1. Great people

The people an employee is surrounded with can make or break a job.

In today’s collaborative work environment, people need to be able to have frank conversations with others, and a high level of transparency will encourage trust and foster great work. In fact, frequent and open communication is important whether it’s with a co-worker, a manager or the CEO. People will feel more valued if leaders share information about what really matters.

And the leaders under those leaders — as well as every employee down to the very last— need to follow in cultivating a culture of open communication.

2. Being invested

People like to feel they’re an integral part of something big. Does each employee understand exactly how and where they fit into the company’s vision?

They should. When your people feel like they’re making a difference, they will be more excited about what they do and more willing to contribute everything they have because they want to keep making a difference and see how their contribution is actually affecting the big picture.

In addition to offering an emotional stake in a company, leaders can also give their people an equity share in the company. Just imagine how invested your people would feel in your company’s success if they owned part of it.

3. A positive work environment

When people feel included and actually enjoy working with the people around them, they tend to stay put and be more productive and creative.

People need to do meaningful work that keeps them feeling passionate about their projects, which in turn contributes to the overall success of the company. People want to connect with the others around them and feel like they’re a part of the team.

When everyone is engaged in their work, others can’t help but adopt those same feelings.

Similarly, leaders need to support this thought process and lead with it always in mind, starting from the top and working its way down so that every single employee feels included and part of the great work you’re doing together.

4. Work-life balance

Sometimes one of the best perks is simple: flexible work hours that allow people to spend time with their family and friends and be present at the next important concert or soccer game.

People need a chance to get away from the office and disconnect. Then when they come back to the office the next day, they’ll be recharged and ready to go.

5. Fair compensation … and then some

Employees need to feel they’re being treated fairly. One of the most obvious ways to do that is compensation.

While salary isn’t the only important factor in choosing whether or not to stay at a job, it has always been — and always will be — important. After all, people need to feed and house themselves.

Of course, additional value is offered in benefits like medical and dental, paid time off, retirement and stock options. Giving your people tangible benefits shows them they and their contribution is valued.

In an ideal world, employees could have all the free on-site massages they want while doing rewarding work with a great boss and inclusive co-workers who appreciate everything they bring to the table, then go home and spend quality time with their loved ones.

You couldn’t pull people away from a job like that! But when weighing the options of which perks matter, make sure you’re focusing on perks that will keep your people around for the long run

via The 5 Perks That Really, Truly Matter to Employees.

The 5 Perks That Really, Truly Matter to Employees

Great Perks even at smaller companies

One of the many ways companies keep their hard-won employees around is by keeping them happy through health. Free gym memberships, on-site health clinics, and therapy sessions to combat stress are all a part of the perk parlance for competitive corporations. Well-known names like Google, SAS, Nike, Accenture are a few who pull out the stops, but this HR angle isn’t just for the big guys.

Smaller companies, too, feel the need to ensure employee satisfaction. This was evident from our ‘Tech Bites’ visit with the productivity software company, Asana. The company designs team-oriented product management software which aims to displace clunky and seemingly antiquated email systems. It takes its name from the Sanskrit word for a seated yoga pose (you guessed right: employees get free 1-on-1 yoga sessions), but you won’t find many employees seated at the stylishly minimal SoMa office. Each hire receives a $10,000 stipend to build their ideal standing desk. So, how exactly do you eat over your keyboard standing up, you ask? You don’t. Asana was mindful enough to provide their people with a communal area with banquet-style seating and two chefs to conjure up healthy, succulent dishes.

During our visit with chefs Donnie Thompson and Kim Pak, they busied themselves in the full kitchen downstairs, preparing broiled sea bass filets with grilled asparagus and Israeli couscous. The menus they design for Asana include items and ingredients aimed to keep the staff active and alert with a late afternoon snack (smoothies are popular) that avoids carbohydrate-induced drowsiness. Special dietary needs are provided for so vegans, celiacs, or paleo-dieters can get what they want and need without a fuss or a trip out of the office. There’s plenty of local, organic, and ethically-raised and -harvested ingredients for everyone.

Take a look for yourself. The cooking and plating are enough to make you counterfeit employee badges for all your friends.

via Tech Bites: Asana – Food Focused on Productivity and Employee Health – Forbes.

Great Perks even at smaller companies

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.

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

5 Perks Of Career Advancement

Generation Y is a generation that believes anything is possible! With the combination of their passion and thirst for independence, this is definitely a new generation willing to take risks to make opportunities happen.

A recent Gallup survey revealed 67 percent of young Americans value career advancement. This shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone, because these young Americans still have many years ahead of them to explore their calling. Whether it’s being willing to switch jobs or work independently, Generation Y has the willingness to advance their careers.

If you’re wondering about the benefits of career advancement, check out these five perks of accepting new career opportunities:

1. Your education doesn’t stop when you earn your diploma. If there’s anything you’ve learned from the state of the job market it’s that Generation Y is a group of people who must be committed, continuous learners. Generation Y is the generation that grew up with technology, which is an industry that’s evolving in the blink of an eye. Therefore, when you advance your career, you’ll notice one of the best perks is learning new skills and growing as a professional as your industry evolves.

2. You learn how to trust your gut instinct. Career advancement takes a lot of trust and confidence in yourself. You will learn that, when it comes time to make a career move, the decision will be based upon what feels like the best option for you. Opportunities, good and bad, will come your way and the only way to move forward is to trust your gut instinct and make logical decisions.

3. You get to take risks. When it comes to risk taking, Generation Y should see this as a benefit of career advancement because of the opportunities you can create for yourself. Sometimes, in order to make an opportunity happen, you have to look outside your comfort zone. By taking a risk in your career, you could give yourself the chance to move to city you’ve always wanted to or even discover your dream job. Therefore, you should be open to any opportunity that comes your way to benefit from this perk!

4. You’ll have more money in your pocket. For most career paths, you’ll notice one of the perks of climbing the ladder is the increase in your income. Although having a job you love isn’t always about the money, it is ideal to be able to increase your salary as you advance your career. This obvious perk is why many Millennials choose to advance their careers.

5. Your network will grow. As you continue to advance your career through different jobs and experiences, you will notice your network begin to grow. One of the most valuable things you will gain from advancing your career is the relationships you will build. Remember, as you change jobs throughout your career, the one thing that will always serve as a powerful resource is your network of professionals and colleagues.

Career advancement provides endless perks for young Americans. Through different career advancement opportunities, you will be able to grow and flourish as a professional. No matter where your path takes you, always remember you can only move forward. When you are open to new opportunities and chase after your dreams, you will be able to experience the endless perks of career advancement.

via 5 Perks Of Career Advancement | Come Recommended.

5 Perks Of Career Advancement