topic Re: An Interesting Company Benefit! in Community Chat

An Interesting Company Benefit!

terrier3 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 13:58:16 GMT

I just read about a company that gives each employee $3,000 a year to pay for their vacations. They HAVE to use the money for vacations...no excuses.

I worked at a health company that had a gym, private trainers, subsidized healthy food, bikes to rent, lots of perks. Company morale is sky high!

Anyone else work somewhere with a great company benefit?

“Our biggest (and in my opinion, best) perk is our paid vacation?policy,” one Mozemployee told me. “To encourage the staff to use their vacation?time (21 days is standard for all employees), the company gives us a bonus?$3,000 in vacation reimbursements for food, lodging, entertainment, and?transportation. Our team has gone everywhere from Iceland to India using?that bonus!” The CEO believes these perks are essential to keeping amazing people on his team.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

Lila Belle — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:05:21 GMT

That is really cool !

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

occasionalrain — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:39:04 GMT

The cost of these perks are passed along to the consumer, no wonder health care is unaffordable for so many.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

terrier3 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:41:55 GMT

On 3/19/2015 occasional rain said: The cost of these perks are passed along to the consumer, no wonder health care is unaffordable for so many.

The company where I worked believed that a healthy staff SAVED them money - fewer sick days, hospitalizations, etc. They believed that being active is important - even before doctors started saying that sitting all day was as bad as smoking. Workers all had company insurance - so keeping workers healthy SAVED the company a lot of money and helped keep them competitive.

It's similar to the Silver Sneakers program - it costs the insurance company money to provide it for their members, but active seniors have better health overall and SAVE the carrier in the long run.

The company is a non-profit, BTW.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

Blahblahvampemer — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:43:26 GMT

Some companies/fields have a harder time retaining employees so they do this to prevent turnover. In the rest of the real world, it wouldn't be economically feasible, and we all pay for this largesse in the end.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

HollyDays — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:44:14 GMT

I'd rather see them invest that money for retirement or to pay of loans and bills. Nobody should be forced to take a vacation. What good is a vacay if you're laying on the beach worrying if your car's transmission needs to be replaced.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

Blahblahvampemer — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:44:41 GMT

On 3/19/2015 terrier3 said:
On 3/19/2015 occasional rain said: The cost of these perks are passed along to the consumer, no wonder health care is unaffordable for so many.

The company where I worked believed that a healthy staff SAVED them money - fewer sick days, hospitalizations, etc. They believed that being active is important - even before doctors started saying that sitting all day was as bad as smoking. Workers all had company insurance - so keeping workers healthy SAVED the company a lot of money and helped keep them competitive.

It's similar to the Silver Sneakers program - it costs the insurance company money to provide it for their members, but active seniors have better health overall and SAVE the carrier in the long run.

The company is a non-profit, BTW.

The type of business doesn't matter as it still has to be paid for.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

Blahblahvampemer — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:45:55 GMT

On 3/19/2015 HollyDays said:
I'd rather see them invest that money for retirement or to pay of loans and bills. Nobody should be forced to take a vacation. What good is a vacay if you're laying on the beach worrying if your car's transmission needs to be replaced.

Good point, and it does take away someone's choices.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

terrier3 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:46:38 GMT

On 3/19/2015 blahblahvampemerblah said: Some companies/fields have a harder time retaining employees so they do this to prevent turnover. In the rest of the real world, it wouldn't be economically feasible, and we all pay for this largesse in the end.

With the job market tightening, more companies will be providing perks to hire and retain good employees.

Ex.: Wegmans is privately owned, but they have an extensive college scholarship program and affordable insurance for their employees. Wegmans people STICK with Wegmans. It's less money for the Wegman family bottom line - but it pays off for them with happy, healthy employees who are proud of their company and love their product.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

sidsmom — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:47:02 GMT

Had a friend that worked for an Internet company back in the heyday, so I have a little experience with this.

Her company didn't offer paid vacation, but had the other bells-whistles companies like this offer...catered hot lunches/dinners, free gym membership, free transportation, Segways, arcade room, free this, free that.

What I discovered, from my friend, it's not these companies are so awesome....it's because they work 24/7/365. The creative industry encourages this type of spontaneity. She was an admin & was expected to be on call ALL the time. She had a blast working there...the energy was GREAT....but she drew the line when her manager called her @ 2AM to go get breakfast @ Denny's for the creative team. =:0

It's much like deciphering real estate codes..."cozy" means small, "charming" means old, "conveniently located" means next to noisy retail/buses. Reading company benefits is much the same...free this, free that means you'll never have a personal life 'cuz you're working 24/7/365. $3,000 is a small price to pay for sanity! =:0. No thanks.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

terrier3 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:47:30 GMT

On 3/19/2015 blahblahvampemerblah said:
On 3/19/2015 terrier3 said:
On 3/19/2015 occasional rain said: The cost of these perks are passed along to the consumer, no wonder health care is unaffordable for so many.

The company where I worked believed that a healthy staff SAVED them money - fewer sick days, hospitalizations, etc. They believed that being active is important - even before doctors started saying that sitting all day was as bad as smoking. Workers all had company insurance - so keeping workers healthy SAVED the company a lot of money and helped keep them competitive.

It's similar to the Silver Sneakers program - it costs the insurance company money to provide it for their members, but active seniors have better health overall and SAVE the carrier in the long run.

The company is a non-profit, BTW.

The type of business doesn't matter as it still has to be paid for.

An investment in healthy, happy, content employees HELPS the bottom line.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

HollyDays — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:54:10 GMT

Giving people smoking breaks, water cooler gossip breaks, hour lunches that turn into hour and 1/2 lunches, letting them stroll in 5 minutes late here, leave early 10 minutes there, eats into the bottom line.

If someone is miserable they will be miserable and unhappy regardless of a vacation.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

Buck-i-Nana — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:59:38 GMT

Companies still have to maintain competitive pricing in the marketplace regardless of what perks they provide their employees.

Do you really think they would sell cheaper to you if they don't invest in their employees?

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

YorkieonmyPillow — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:02:58 GMT

What planet are you posting from, Terrier3? Paid vacations that you "have to take," most people don't get any type of benefits AT ALL anymore.

Much less a paid vacation that you have to take.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

terrier3 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:05:52 GMT

On 3/19/2015 HollyDays said:
I'd rather see them invest that money for retirement or to pay of loans and bills. Nobody should be forced to take a vacation. What good is a vacay if you're laying on the beach worrying if your car's transmission needs to be replaced.

This is an internet company that pays well too and has LOTS of good benefits - this is just a new one.

They want people to be able to relax and unwind for at least 3 weeks a year, because it's a fast paced company when you ARE working!

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

ROMARY — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:07:28 GMT

Sidsmom: Wow, working 24/7. I'm guessing that many employees sleep at their place of employment? Take naps, etc. Very interesting. I guess they are exempt from their state employment laws, or whatever-whatever. I learn something (here) every day. Thanks for the info.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

terrier3 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:08:13 GMT

On 3/19/2015 YorkieonmyPillow said:
What planet are you posting from, Terrier3? Paid vacations that you "have to take," most people don't get any type of benefits AT ALL anymore.

Much less a paid vacation that you have to take.

The WSJ, Bloomberg and other business journals have ALL been reporting an uptick in benefits and pay for employees.

Not everyone works p/t at a big box store...haven't you noticed that unemployment is way down...and it's getting easier to find a job (if you have an education and some get up and go). These are high tech companies that offer extended benefits - NOT the local supermarket!

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

Mj12 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:08:20 GMT

On 3/19/2015 Buck-i-Nana said:
Companies still have to maintain competitive pricing in the marketplace regardless of what perks they provide their employees.

Do you really think they would sell cheaper to you if they don't invest in their employees?

Of course not but don't be logical, not this early.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

occasionalrain — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:08:33 GMT

Companies would do better to pay their employees well and leave it up to the employees to manage their own lives. Not everyone is happy to spend time in a gym with sweaty, stinky co-workers but if the company is paying then they are also aware of who partakes and who doesn't. I don't want my employer into my personal business, if I vacation, exercise, or what I have for lunch.

Re: An Interesting Company Benefit!

sunshine45 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:09:12 GMT

i wonder if they pay for ""staycations""?

not sure a forced 3 week vacation is such a good idea.....and what happens if you have a large family and that $3000 isnt enough for a vacation for everyone? i guess you have to lose it then.