5 most unusual benefits and perks
November 21, 2011 2:24 PM
Housekeeping services
Concierge benefits are not uncommon; an employer may have a dry-cleaning service or employees may have access to a travel agent for personal vacations. However, some employers take these services to a new level. For example, Akraya, an IT staffing company in California, sends professional cleaners to employees' homes every two weeks for free.
Life coaching
At Zappos, positive company culture infuses the productivity and wellbeing of its employees. To demonstrate this philosophy full force, the company trained and hired a full-time, onsite life coach to guide employees in balancing their work and home lives as well as helping them realize their goals. Read more about how Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh created the effervescent company culture the online retail giant is known for here.
Medispa benefits
In some workplaces, smoothing employee relations with great perks seems to go hand-in-hand with smoothing wrinkles. Chesapeake Energy offers its employees access to a 72,000 square-foot fitness center (complete with seven tanning beds and spray-tanning capabilities). It also features onsite medical center that gives employees a full range of dermatology services including cancer screenings, lesion removal and even Botox injections.
Across the pond, London-based ad agency Fox Kalomaski gives employees an additional paid day off for beauty treatments during the stressful holiday season in December. Company executives refer to the day as Botox leave.
Dream vacations
LoadSpring Solutions, an enterprise software company, gives employees who travel abroad for vacation up to $5,000 and an extra week off.
Clean commuting benefits
Although these usually entail discounts on subway fares or gas cards, other organizations have sought incentives to encourage clean commutes. Clif Bar & Company gives employees who pledge to bike to work two days a month $500 to buy or improve a commuter bike.
Also, in the San Francisco Bay area, the Marin County government provides $4 a day to regular and extra hire employees who get to work by walking, bicycling, car or vanpooling, or riding transit.
