What Interesting Employee Perks Does Your Employer Offer?

brianki on 12/12/2022 - 14:39
Last edited 12/12/2022 - 15:26 by 1 other user

Hi All,

I recently transferred over to Fitness Passport which is a perk provided through my wife's employer and it got me to thinking about what perks my own company offered.

After digging around a bit on my own Intranet, there are some other benefits available to me that I had not been availing of (and probably still wont), these include:

Corporate rates on: Novated lease, Car Hire Worldwide, Car Dealership Corporate Memberships

Discounts on: Health Insurance, Dell Computer, Apple products & Qantas Membership

Access to: JB Hi-Fi Corporate Purchase Portal

Not too bad but not exactly earth shattering. I really believe that Fitness Passport craps all over my potential perks.

So what perks do you have access to from your employer? Were they made known during the hiring process or are they hidden in a musty corner of an Intranet page somewhere?

Keen to hear on what I am missing out on :)

Education & Work

Comments

    • coffeeinmyveins on 12/12/2022 - 14:58
      +28

      Government? lol

      • Fergy1987 on 12/12/2022 - 14:58
        +28

        how did you know lol

        • coffeeinmyveins on 12/12/2022 - 14:59
          +14

          Partner is the same. Works for government and had to pay for their xmas party, it's a bit of a cop out that we then find out that gov officials are having a super expensive party at our expense anyway lol

          • Fergy1987 on 12/12/2022 - 15:01
            +8

            @coffeeinmyveins: I think its because "what would the public think spending all their money on parties'

            If i was in private enterprise I would think "WHAT! they have to pay for that sh1t themselves? - thats a joke"

            • coffeeinmyveins on 12/12/2022 - 15:02
              +4

              @Fergy1987: I'd be perfectly fine with it to be honest because why not? We know how much politicians are on, and we are paying for that too, and look at the sorts of rubbish people they are.

            • Almost Banned on 12/12/2022 - 19:39
              +1

              @Fergy1987: I suspect it has more to do with the public thinking they do sweet FA all year long, so how do they deserve a paid Christmas party.

              • GandalfTheCheap on 15/12/2022 - 13:01

                @Almost Banned: Yeah as a tax payer I'm not worried about funding a few dollars a week on milk and a few hundred a year for the Christmas party for a small office in a government department.

                I'm worried about a few million wasted on paying a dozen more people than are actually needed, because of incompetence and/or corruption.

    • hawkers89 on 13/12/2022 - 12:54
      +1

      Do we work in the same company?

    • JayM on 13/12/2022 - 19:21

      If you set up a chocolate and chips station and sell your produce for 60c+, watch the money roll in. Problem solved. How do I know, I've been running one since 2013. The most i've raised in one year was about $1100. I must admit, I went all out with the snacks including drinks of all sorts and all sized chocolate bars. If you have a whole fridge to use, offer cheap-ish drinks.

      • 811b11e8 on 13/12/2022 - 23:09
        +2

        My workplace nationalised ours.

        There use to be a fridge club run by 3 people. At the end of the year the club made enough money for them all to go to Bali together.

        The office disapproved of them making money so took over running of the fridge club.

        • JayM on 15/12/2022 - 10:55

          If those people had a conscience, those snacks funds should really be used for Christmas parties, instead of Bali trips.

          They tried taking my money to use for our bigger branch funds a few years ago so I gave them $50 and told them that's all they're getting as the money is for our team only. Probably why i've been able to keep mine. People in my team still think it's fundraising for my mortgage :)

    • imp on 17/12/2022 - 21:52

      Govt - we have to pay for our own. Use to have a couple of hours off to attend, but then they decided that all time away from the office must come out of leave. Then they came out with a rule that there could be no alcohol was allowed to be served. Then another rule that we were not allowed to post anything to our private social media about having a Christmas party.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2022 - 15:01
    +32

    WFH

    • coffeeinmyveins on 12/12/2022 - 15:03
      +36

      Underrated perk to be honest.

      Think of all the money you're saving on:

      • Eating lunch
      • Coffees
      • Transport
      • The occasional after work beer

      That easily adds up to $100+ a week in incidentals PLUS the stress/time to travel.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2022 - 15:07
        +3

        I still buy a coffee each morning from the local cafe but the transport cost + travel time savings are significant.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 12/12/2022 - 15:14
          +7

          I have a manual espresso machine with all the trimmings and I still go out and get coffee every 2nd day.

          It just hits different from a cafe :D

          • TimOfEastBNE on 13/12/2022 - 01:24
            -1

            @coffeeinmyveins: You've got the wrong coffee machine then. I've got a Bezzera Mitica top pid and have barely bought coffee out since because what I can make at home is better than 90% of cafes.

      • Noppy on 12/12/2022 - 17:16

        I end up drinking more WFH.

        • aragornelessar on 12/12/2022 - 19:04
          +20

          Yeah my alcoho… oh, did you mean coffee?

      • dasher86 on 12/12/2022 - 22:29
        +2

        Coffees and lunch cost more when you have to uber it.

      • cheesusme on 13/12/2022 - 00:46
        +4

        I know being an ozbargainer cheapskate, transport alone is $12 a day + lunch. The transport alone is worth at least 10% of my day pay

      • ddhar on 13/12/2022 - 17:59

        False economy. I ended up spending more online. Those First Choice Liquor and eBay deals didn't help either.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 13/12/2022 - 20:18
          +4

          It's not a false economy. You're choosing to do those things.

          False economy would be if the cost of WFH was on par (eg: electricity, water usage, food), but you not having the (sorry) self control to not spend money on booze doesn't mean WFH is a "false economy".

      • baldur on 13/12/2022 - 19:28
        -3

        Never go out and you'll be saving all your life. Amazing.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 13/12/2022 - 20:19
          +3

          I know what point you're trying to make but I don't count travelling with everyone in sydney during rush out, eating lunches and having coffees as a good life. I'm enjoying saving that money (and time) to spend with my family and on things I want, but you do you.

      • ssfps on 14/12/2022 - 04:55

        Full remote/WFH balances out costs wise. What you save in transport and eating out you spend on heating/cooling, electricity, home office setup - even if company provides an allowance, it doesn't pay for floorspace or all your office setup.

        Oh and since covid tax dept has gutted the WFH tax deductions, last year it was pathetic compared to FY18-19 and 19-20 , and rules for 22-23 are even worse.

    • nedski on 13/12/2022 - 11:15
      +1

      This!

      I think it also helps with less conflicts as you arent in people's personal space. If someone annoys me, I can just disengage from them as you would only be dealing with them digitally.

    • drfuzzy on 15/12/2022 - 18:24

      If WFH can be WF anywhere I'm completely sold.

    • boomramada on 15/12/2022 - 21:24

      WFH from interstate

  • Empharand on 12/12/2022 - 15:11
    +14

    My first employer (8.5 years) - Nescafe (Instant Coffee) + Milk + Sugar + Tea Bags
    My latest employer (2 years) - A Coffee Machine + Nescafe (Instant Coffee) + Milk + Sugar + Tea Bags

    Maybe my next employer will offer an in-house barista hahaha

    • jace88 on 16/12/2022 - 00:24

      My last company (an accounting firm) had an in house barista. Took it away during COVID but brought it back after. The coffee wasn't amazing but still better than the machines on the floors.

  • godofpizza on 12/12/2022 - 15:11
    +3

    i use to work in the hotel industry. Not only did they offer cheap rooms if you stayed at any of their hotels worldwide. But they offered employee a room for the night if you worked a double shift.

  • beagem on 12/12/2022 - 15:14

    3 days of additional leave days between Christmas and New Years.

    Some of my friends in Tech get free private healthcare (gold cover with 90s extras), wish I was in tech!

    • TheMills on 12/12/2022 - 15:25
      +3

      And also in one of the only few companies that provides that!

    • skillet on 13/12/2022 - 10:14
      +2

      Very quickly you will be wishing that your IT employer provides free wig or treatment that promotes hair growth. I work in IT I seen many peers big saving on shampoo year after year. And many males got extended pregnancy but they never go into labour.

    • iChopstick on 13/12/2022 - 16:31

      Local government?

    • 811b11e8 on 13/12/2022 - 23:12
      +4

      Lots of American Tech companies offer or use to offer health care insurance to Australians.

      Its bizzare just a culture thing they bring over from not having functioning public health at home.

      • CowFrogHorse on 14/12/2022 - 08:58

        yeh and lots of american tech companies also think they own you, expecting you to constantly work overtime and weekends for nothing back.

        Just ask Elon, when he demanded loyaty and hardcoreness, he isnt the first, this is a common practice.

        Americans rarely work 40 hours in tech. American corporations are not your friend…

  • samcro on 12/12/2022 - 15:20
    +6

    2/5 of f* all!

  • Muzeeb on 12/12/2022 - 15:26
    +58

    Every fortnight some of their money is transferred to my bank account. Usually about 4am on a Tuesday. It's a pretty cool perk.

    • Fergy1987 on 12/12/2022 - 16:25
      +11

      Pssst…..did you know they also put a little bit of their money (about 10.5%) into a piggy bank just for you that you cant touch until you are basically near death.

      The perks keep coming.

      • Muzeeb on 12/12/2022 - 16:30
        +5

        Well sort of. I'm on a defined benefit scheme.

        • Fergy1987 on 12/12/2022 - 16:39
          +14

          The ultimate of perks

      • Assburg on 12/12/2022 - 23:12

        Whilst I fundamentally disagree with super as a concept…I hope you're not planning to be close to the point of death at 65!

        I have a couple of acquaintances in their 60s who are still fit and healthy. One actually did a career change at 50ish from boxing coach to web developer, and since 'retiring' at 60 has started training horses.

        • NaRaSaRang on 13/12/2022 - 12:23
          +1

          That is wild

    • aragornelessar on 12/12/2022 - 19:07

      Every fortnight some of their money is transferred to my bank account

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceijkZQI1HM Genius plan!

  • Raven1366 on 12/12/2022 - 16:27
    +8

    One of the biggest food manufacturers in SA, with a turnaround of +300 Mil last year, we get Nescafe Blend 43 and the cheapest milk. This is for the head-office, production, and warehouse crew.

  • StalkingIbis on 12/12/2022 - 16:37
    +5

    My work charges me $20 every quarter to pay for coffee, hand soap, paper towels and the water cooler.

    • CheapskateQueen on 12/12/2022 - 21:16
      +10

      i don't know if that is legal haha gotta be kidding right

      • Dotaguy on 12/12/2022 - 22:01
        +2

        Would probably need a signed agreement from the employees to make this sort of deduction.

    • superuser on 13/12/2022 - 05:18
      +1

      Your company should pay better right?

    • BuDWiZe on 13/12/2022 - 08:13
      +4

      wow thats pretty damn harsh

    • us3rnam3tak3n on 13/12/2022 - 20:15
      +5

      In this low unemployment environment it's time you shopped around.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 13/12/2022 - 20:20
      +2

      hand soap, paper towels and the water cooler.

      pretty sure that's illegal. There is a minimum expectation of access to things like toilets, water, soap etc that your employer provides.

    • Windows7forever on 13/12/2022 - 21:17
      +4

      Charging for basic amenities? That's a low act

      • StalkingIbis on 14/12/2022 - 08:36
        +1

        Yeah, check this out. Got a shakedown after dodging it for a few months.

        All staff have to pay a minimum for supplies, extra for tea and coffee, and extra again if they want fortnightly morning tea (which is basic nibbles provided during the faculty meetings). Also, compulsory contribution to gift fund.

        "Hi there

        Just a quick email to remind you that the end of term is fast approaching and I am unfortunately asking for money for gift and morning tea for both Term 1 and term 2.

        Money for morning tea of miscellaneous is as follows

        $10 – basics and pays for all the things you wouldn’t think of – paper towel/paper plates/washing up liquid/toilet spray/all those things – wear and tear on the fridge/microwave/cordial etc

        $15 – add to that either morning tea or tea and coffee

        $20 – everything – tea/coffee/milk/morning teas and miscellaneous

        Likewise, as a subschool we collect gift money to purchase baby, wedding, sympathy and other end of year gifts and leaving gifts and it is an annual amount of $10

        If you could please place your money in an envelope and put on XXXXXXXXXX desk by the end of the week that would be much appreciated. Also if you could indicate what you are paying for too that would be much appreciated

        Thanks in anticipation"

    • StalkingIbis on 14/12/2022 - 08:13
      +1

      im serious… even got repeatedly hassled as a new/temporary employee for it.

      I looked up the qld law and it states that those basic things need to be provided by employers (cool drinking water (under 27 deg, soap, toilets etc).

      Considered kicking up a stink but needed a job.

      Still there, still paying it .

      I'll let you guys guess my field (No cheating by looking up my past comments).

      • dtc on 14/12/2022 - 10:24
        +2

        If you dont pay and wander around without washing your hands or cleaning your plates, what happens?

      • mattkenny on 16/12/2022 - 21:10

        Gotta be a school.

  • pharkurnell on 12/12/2022 - 16:55
    +7

    Tiny deposit into my account fortnightly….

  • mskeggs on 12/12/2022 - 17:19

    Past jobs at food retail included lunch and taking home left overs like pastries at the end of the day, and some other nearby small businesses gave you a discount in a bit of an informal reciprocal deal.
    Another had a discounted employee cafeteria, used to be reasonably common in manufacturing/industrial type businesses with a lot of staff in one place (and probably unions).
    Free Internet and mobile at one.
    A job in the UK was on the edge of town and they organised a bus into the centre once a week to do errands. They ended up going broke…

  • foxmulder on 12/12/2022 - 17:26
    +1

    I went to Amazon office in the city before for seller training, boy their staff room was very nice. Nespresso with any pods you wants, fridge full of soda and water, and a lot of finger foods

  • PumpkinHater on 12/12/2022 - 17:33
    +7

    Lowered taxation bracket and sponsorship for university courses.

    • Muzeeb on 12/12/2022 - 19:22

      Lowered taxation bracket

      WTF? How? Salary sacrifice?

      • coffeeinmyveins on 12/12/2022 - 20:16
        +26

        I'm thinking it might be a joke implying that they are underpaid

        • Muzeeb on 12/12/2022 - 20:20

          That makes sense. Cheers

      • PumpkinHater on 13/12/2022 - 00:00
        +5

        Salary packaging actually. They also give me a meal card with $250 each month to spend at restaurants.

        • OZKap on 13/12/2022 - 09:04

          "meals and entertainment" packaging can also be spent on accommodation

          • PumpkinHater on 13/12/2022 - 10:20

            @OZKap: Yes. Had forgotten about that. Thanks for reminding me.

            Cheers.

        • eek on 16/12/2022 - 14:30

          Is there a FBT component to this somewhere?

      • ConsumerAffairs on 13/12/2022 - 13:00

        Woosh

  • ozbargainsam on 12/12/2022 - 17:36
    +3

    I work in IT consulting so there's good perks.

    • the office I never go to is stocked with beer
    • can expense public transport to/from client
    • top PHI and extras
    • income protection
    • phone expensed
    • well-being stuff so I get a pair of decent sneakers every year
    • salary sacrifice for phone and laptop
    • ozbargainsam on 22/12/2022 - 19:44

      Four Fridays a year are company-wide days off. Doesn't count towards AL. Not quite flexible like a day of AL but a paid day off either way.

  • bobbified on 12/12/2022 - 17:42
    +1

    Fruit in the kitchen and 20% off travel insurance.

    The other benefits like JBHiFi Corporate and a few percent off Apple stuff, etc.. .anyone can get those pretty easily so I don't really classify them as "benefits".

  • Slinky0111 on 12/12/2022 - 17:43
    +2

    I work in transport and don't have scheduled smoko/tea breaks and so because of this we get paid an extra 20 mins after we clock out. There is still pleanty of time to go to the bathroom, have a smoke, have some food or a coffee on all the duties but because it's not scheduled we get to go home 20 mins early.

    Small perk but it's something

  • Donaldhump on 12/12/2022 - 17:49
    +23

    triple ply toilet paper

    • localhost on 12/12/2022 - 18:32

      Damn, we have 2ply…

    • PumpkinHater on 13/12/2022 - 00:02

      Lol! Incredible benefit.

    • Indiana1501 on 13/12/2022 - 10:11

      You win. Best.Perk.Ever.

    • JayM on 13/12/2022 - 19:23
      +1

      My workplace provides some grade of sandpaper disguised as TP

  • solidussnake on 12/12/2022 - 17:59

    A weekly pay check

  • skoorb on 12/12/2022 - 18:38
    +1

    Standby staff travel, massive discounts on hotels, rental cars and travel insurance. Standard corp discounts on the usual shit - gyms, Apple, etc plus salary sacrificing for electronics and novated leasing for cars. The perks are substantial but the pay is 20-30% below market rates.

  • th123 on 12/12/2022 - 18:38

    4% off coles/woolies cards

  • KaTst3R on 12/12/2022 - 18:57
    +2

    Free aircon in the office.

  • FocusRider on 12/12/2022 - 18:59

    Work van.

  • parisienne on 12/12/2022 - 19:37
    +7

    I have only just changed careers (previous one gave us free oxygen and access to running water…that you had little time to actually utilise.That was it),so now i get a really,really good discount on everything instore,product gratis,paid team meetings,free access to some amazing online education,a rate of pay that easily rivals what i was being paid (for a much,much more stressful and dangerous job),and what looked like (i didn't go) an amazing Christmas party at a pretty darn fancy bar in the city.I cannot believe that this actually exists,but i am loving my new career right now…and have no regrets about leaving the old one behind (unless you count wishing i had left so much earlier).

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join