Free lunches for catering employees; special parking places for workers at a motorcycle advocacy group; discounted loan rates for credit union staffers. They’re all part of offbeat benefits provided by companies voted “best places to work.”
One of the perks at HR Blunders’ first part-time, high school job at a restaurant was half-price food – and free leftovers when working the closing shift. It didn’t cost the owner much to provide this special benefit, but it went a long way toward keeping employees happy.
Turns out, some of the companies voted 2007 California’s Best Places to Work have similar, but even more creative, employee benefits. Some examples:
• Veterinary Cancer Group offers its employees discounted vet services for pets and pet food at cost.
• The Motorcycle Industry Council provides free motorcycle and ATV rider training, discounts on parts and accessories and an employee-motorcycle-maintenance program completely covering the cost of bike upkeep.
• Altura Credit Union offers discounted loan rates, no/lower fees and increased savings rates for its workers.
• Sun Microsystems promotes work/life balance for its employees with a program called Open Work in which 56% of employees choose not to have an assigned office. Instead they work from anywhere, anytime, using any device.
• PFF Bank & Trust provides interest-free loans to buy computer equipment and attractive mortgage loans for first-time buyers.
• Peartrees Catering offers its employees a free lunch every day.
HRB’s next assignment is to research whether the local Porsche dealership has any special benefits.
