The Great Place to Work Institute and Fortune magazine recently released the 100 best companies to work for list, which also lauds employers that went the extra mile to deliver unusual perks within their benefits programs.
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Listed below are some companies that dig deep into their benefits budgets to sustain programs and perks to make their employees happy and productive. Also noted is
Here are some employers that offer "unusaul" perks.
Zappos.com (life coach)
The online shoe retailer (#6) offers its workers access to a full-time, on-site life coach.
Alston & Bird (fertility benefits)
The law firm (#13) offers a $25,000 fertility benefit into employees' health plans. The allowance includes coverage for treatments from in-vitro fertilization to less traditional options like acupuncture.
Cisco (tune-ups)
The tech giant (#20) brings a car-care company to the office twice a week. Employees can leave their automobiles with mechanics for an oil change while they work.
DPR Construction (wine bars)
The company, which employs 1, 073 workers, provides a wine bar in all 17 of the construction firm's offices (#22).
NuStar (corporate jet)
The energy company (#30) makes the corporate jet available to workers in times of crisis, such as medical emergencies and death in the family.
Chesapeake Energy (botox and tans)
Workers at the natural gas producer (#32) have access to a 72,000 square-foot fitness center and parent/child yoga classes. The center also offers seven tanning beds as well as spray tanning capabilities.
The Oklahoma-based firm also accommodates its employees’ cosmetic health needs as well by providing a full range of dermatology services, including cancer screenings, lesion removal and even Botox injections.
Atlantic Health (childcare for grandchildren)
Onsite childcare is available to employees’ grandchildren (#54).
Hasbro and Mattel (a half-day)
Every Friday, the two toymakers (ranked #59 and #69, respectively) threw a fun and games day for its workers and each company gives employees summer Fridays -- a half-day -- all year round.
SRC/SRCTec (support groups)
The nonprofit defense contractor (#78) holds monthly employee-led support groups. The engineering firm works with its employee assistance provider and about a dozen company volunteers to coordinate support-group meetings and occasionally bring in speakers.
Microsoft (shopping mall)
Microsoft's Redmond campus houses an all-out shopping mal with 23 shops and restaurants, including a spa, bicycle repair shop and a pub (#72).
Intuit (free fitness classes)
Besides a $350 fitness incentive for gym memberships, employees at the financial software company (#94) can also take free onsite classes in a variety of topics, including yoga, Pilates and Zumba, a Latin-style dance exercise.
Morningstar (big sabbaticals)
The investment information company (#95) gives employees six weeks paid leave every four years.
