Awesome Work Perks

With people constantly craving work-life balance, companies nowadays are focusing on what it takes to be the kind of place a person wants to be employed at. Here are six perks many companies now offer in one form or another in order to attract (and retain) their number one asset—a hard-working, intelligent employee like you!

The planet-saving employer
Companies are encouraging their employees to “go green” by leaving the car at home and using alternative methods to get to work. Workplaces may offer incentives such as partial reimbursement for monthly transit passes. Employers like The Resort Municipality of Whistler or Vancouver-based Sierra Systems Group Inc. take eco-consciousness a step further by providing secure bicycle lock-up and shower facilities for employees who cycle to work.

Spa-aaaah
Any working gal with a desk job appreciates getting her tense neck and shoulder muscles rubbed. If you happen to work at Research in Motion Ltd. in Waterloo, Ontario, then you’re the lucky beneficiary of on-site massage treatments. Even if on-site massages are not available, many companies offer reimbursement for such treatments. Check your benefits package for specific details, such as the annual amount you’re allotted and if a prescribed doctor’s note is required for reimbursement.

Food, glorious food
They say “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. The same appears to ring true of today’s worker. Many companies reward their employees by providing free snacks and meals on a regular basis. Depending on the company, it could be as frequent as a monthly, company-sponsored pizza luncheon or allowing employee access to an on-site staff cafeteria that serves free gourmet snacks and meals daily, such as Google.

Body business
Being health-conscious is on everyone’s minds these days and employers know this. That’s why many companies offer their employees partial or full reimbursement for their gym memberships. Some workplaces, such as The Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, Ontario and Vivendi Games Canada Ltd. in Vancouver, B.C,. even have an on-site fitness facility.

Office downtime
It’s not uncommon to find a TV in the company lounge so employees can watch their favourite soap operas or music videos during their lunch break. And lounging at some offices is sweeter than others. Take, for instance, computer systems developer bitHeads, inc. where employees get to play as hard as they work. The Ottawa-based company is located in a renovated cinema multiplex that includes a fully-functional movie theatre where staff can play Wii and Xbox games, as well as have access to a 40-foot bar with beer taps.

Bringing up baby
Workers who have a young family, or plan to start one, are being enticed by businesses that offer generous maternity leave top-ups. In response to the growing trend of daddies taking time off to stay home with baby, more companies are providing parental leave benefits, too. For example, Calgary-based Trican Well Service Ltd. offers parental leave top-ups up to 100% of an employee’s salary for up to 36 weeks. And when mommy and daddy head back to work, some workplaces aren’t leaving baby behind. Head offices for companies such as IKEA and L’Oreal Canada have on-site daycare facilities, adding convenience to a parent’s life upon their return to work.

 Whether you love Xbox or are expecting, a good company will have taken its employees’ lifestyles into account when deciding on the perks they offer. So work hard and reap the much-deserved benefits!