Some job benefits are common enough that professionals have come to expect them. Health, dental, maybe even a 401k. It’s definitely always a good idea to double check that a potential employer offers these kinds of benefits but for the most part, you can be confident they will.
Yet what about the benefits that make a company a truly great place to work for? Take Starbucks, for example. Their college tuition program for baristas has elevated them from good employer to a great one. I’ve actually heard on-the-job baristas brag about it to their customers; they’re that excited about their employer.
Here’s a list of some workplace benefits that you may not realize are super important to your overall happiness.
Freedom to Work From Home
Some jobs simply can’t be done from home, (like Starbucks barista, for example). But if you’re a programmer or an SEO or a recruiter, or any other career that can feasibly be done remotely, having the option to work from home can be an awesome benefit.
Sunlight
Windows to the outside, rooftop patios, tables outside for having lunch… All of these can make a work environment feel alive, rather than static or lonely or boring. If you’re one of many people for whom sunlight is important, ask to see where your desk would be and see if you’d get any natural light.
Alcohol OK
Drinking on the job can improve performance for those in creative roles. It can also foster camaraderie between coworkers. Now, this doesn’t mean that every company should think of themselves like the advertising agencies in Mad Men, but having beer on tap for Friday afternoons can go a long way towards increasing employee contentedness.
Dogs at Work
Imagine working all day with your best friend! For pet lovers, this can be a critical workplace benefit. Most of the companies that share the co-working spaces Battery621 and Industry building with us have dogs they bring in, and it really makes work feel like home.
What other uncommon benefits deserve to be on this list?
