xtcian

this one made me laugh. many years ago i worked for a fortune 100 company. the VP of my dep't decided that for the holidays we would all get a free day off or we could have a christmas party (at some cheesy holiday inn). the decision was put up for a vote and the masses voted overwhelmingly for the damned party. i was so pissed i didn't go to the party.

I work for the state now and it's fascinating to watch. They have recently taken away pens as something we can have. Since we're too 19th century to have electronic medical records we write all day long. I have to provide my own pens for this. It's a little thing, but annoying.

Anyway, for me the bigger issue in job satisfaction is the sensation that you are appreciated. I feel it in my job but I suspect most people in our hospital do not and that leads to complacency, poor morale and what most people see as "laziness" but is really more passive-aggressive behavior to do as little as possible for the "man" who doesn't notice anyway. One little thank you goes so far for most people and really doesn't take much effort. I believe that motivates people much more than good coffee.

As I mentioned yesterday, I have been so beaten down by the corporate workplace that I equate generic coffee and man-made creamer with job stability. Anyplace with a Christmas party or Starbucks or free donuts is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, in my opinion! Christmas party one day, a pink slip the next!

I don't get many tangible perks here at the Insurance Job. We don't celebrate birthdays or holidays in my department, and the yearly Christmas allotment for our department to have a dinner out goes to charity instead.

The two perks I like the best are: working from home 2 days a week. Working in my pjs! Hurray! And, each year, there is a service luncheon which honors people who have been at the company for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 years. I love the service luncheon because it is proof that I am working at a stable company that keeps employees happy enough to stay there 15+ years. To me, the peace of mind I get from this is worth all the Snapple in the world.

Of course, with health reform, it could all implode, but I am happy for now!

We still get free pens and legal pads here at the Relatively Big Bank. But they took away post-it notes in lieu of hand sanitizers everywhere you look (I have one next to me on the trading desk - I doubt it's been touched).

You didn't really just use the word "incentivize."

Yeah, Neva, I agree that thanks and appreciation do go a long way toward keeping people motivated. If, however, positive management strategies aren't in your future (they certainly don't seem to be in mine), you might as well have the good coffee with whatever fat-laden dairy product you prefer in it. At least that will remove the temptation to cover up the crappy job's crappy coffee with a couple of shots of Bailey's in order to get through the day.

I work for the big bad federal government so we don't get much for free, but like LFMD my favorite perk is the ability to work from home 2 days a week and in general a fair amount of flexibility in terms of my schedule.

As for edible perks, I don't drink coffee so even when I've worked at places that supply free coffee it doesn't do anything for me. But my very first job after college was at a nonprofit and in addition to the free coffee there was also free hot chocolate in the kitchen. That rocked my world!

as long as they don't take my stapler.

Our organization has not offered employees free coffee for nearly a decade, never mind any form of cream or creamer. Ever since Stanford U was caught using grant overhead money to buy flowers for the president's house (or something like that), universities have gone entirely no-frills when it comes to any sort of meals, beverages, etc.

The only upside is that we don't have to endure those full-day (or even two-day) off-site "retreats" where we played get-to-know-you games with colleagues we'd known for 15 years and mapped out "strategic goals," "key messages," and "action plans," which were forgotten as soon as everyone returned to work. The locations were sometimes spectacular (oceanfront hotels, etc.) but HOW could we justify that expense? (Well, apparently AIG could.) Glad that's over with.

Though it does not have the comic value of more ridiculous penny pinching, I am shocked at how many owners and managers stop communicating in tough times. Lots of edicts passed down, but relevant contact ceases, during times when it is most needed. Managers and owners would be shocked at how far down the list compensation lies, for many of their employees. Appreciation, Respect,Security (even physical safety), fellowship, loyalty, and basically how they feel about themselves while they are at work, are frequently more important than compensation. There are a lot of folks who only care about compensation. It is especially important that those people remember this. Those who do not share your "compensation only" outlook, are the ones who will row the boat in rough waters. Treat them well, if you haven't already jumped ship.

We get to wear jeans on Friday. Woo!

The penny-pinching at my company started years ago. First it was no more holiday parties, and next it was no more matching charity contributions. This year, it was deli sandwiches and wilted salad instead of turkey for those unlucky enough to work on Thanksgiving. While I thoroughly enjoyed the furlough days I received in exchange for a company-wide pay cut, I'd really like it if they didn't do that again. I'd also like to keep my job, as next week they're laying people off.

But the perks -- all of my bosses have said "thank you," and meant it; one even bought me a red Swingline stapler, just because I wanted it. It also helps that I still believe greatly in the work that we do, even when the criticism is justified.

Also, there's a hot pot in the kitchen. Fastest hot tea in the east!

I was so grumpy when my old employer 10yrs ago got rid of the coffee machine (similar to Keurig but more commercial). Didn't they know I was much more efficient jacked up on caffeine, with added productivity work more than the dollar it cost them. I always had a 2nd cup because it was free. When it became my dime, I only had one.

any free time i can squeeze out to work on my novel. heh.

Saying a little prayer of gratitude to be just a stay-at-home mom after reading all these. Sure, most days my job is both early literacy AND waste management of biohazards, and I'm on duty 24/7, but my tiny dictators dole out the best perks (when they're not on maniacal rampages). And all the Chick-Fil-A I can eat - woo! ;-)

As a public school teacher, I'ma have to go with the every-holiday-and-a-big-chunk-of-the-summer-off perk. Cause that's the only perk.

Amy - can you recommend the ideal teacher gift? I stress over this every year!

The thing that annoys me most about my job is that they really care that your bottom is warming your seat in your cubicle the designated 40 hrs/wk -- more than they care about the quality of your work. When I'm late because of my dawdling preschooler or horrible traffic it's "I noticed you were late today." But when I write work emails at midnight, no comment the next day.

Having just finished 5 straight years of training that involved working almost as many hours in a single call night as I now work in an entire week, plus most weekends and holidays, I find this attitude appalling. Of course I'll do whatever it takes. But if it takes less than that, don't bother me about coming in a little late! It's not an assembly line, people.

My solace is that they haven't blocked gmail yet, though the net nanny blocks Facebook, Twitter, and, sadly, blogs like this one.

After mulling this over last night, I realized a grave error on my part. Even though I technically work for the Regional Big Bank, we were originally a small, trading shop, so there are still some quirky traditions. The best perk of all comes right now during the stress of the holidays. "Santa and Mrs. Claus" make a special "trip" to our office for a couple of hours so that the children can have a private visit with them. No waiting in line, no hassles with the malls, and the kids can go back as many times as they like. It's a blessing and I'm very thankful for that!

Tea, tea, and more tea. Name brand; no generic crap. Made with real boiling filtered water, none of that lukewarm machine-heated shit. And real dairy milk or cream instead of that disgusting powdered crap; unless you happen to work in a fallout shelter, this shouldn't be all that difficult. In a real mug and with a real spoon; no styrofoam cups, no ridiculous plastic stirrers that are about as effective as a discount umbrella. Better for the environment, for one's taste buds, and for employee morale. The day I can stop carrying tea bags around with me in my purse will be a good day.