The holidays are a season of giving, but generosity is a subjective term.
From cheap gift cards to the “privilege” of being able to listen to your company’s podcast, some decision-makersneed to seriously reconsider what they see as perks.
After all, where livelihood is concerned, it’s not just the thought that counts. Continue scrolling to check out the submissions and don’t miss the chat we had with career expert Heather O’Neill.
This post may includeaffiliate links.
RELATED:
This was in 2004. Our ‘Christmas bonuses’ were hyped up for months. We got a pizza party in the breakroom with a DJ (the guy who ran the mailroom) and they handed out envelopes to everyone.It was a Target gift card with $5 on it. My department was so angry we decided to pool our cards and buy supplies for a chemo care package for one of our people who was fighting breast cancer. That made us feel a bit better.
To gain deeper insight into corporate perks, we contacted Heather O’Neill, a career expert fromResume Now—an online platform that provides useful tools and resources to job seekers.
“When thoughtfully designed, they can significantly boost workplace happiness, motivation, and retention.”
I was a repairs specialist working in quality control, my job was to repair defects for a major automotive manufacturer. The last line of defense before it goes out the door.Quality-was-my-job.We won a JD Power award for quality, a prestigious industry award.The office got thousands in bonuses, and they all got a Rolex.You know what I got? Or my department rather?A waxy piece of chocolate the size of the palm of my hand that said JD Power on it.That’s itThat’s allI told them thanks for fcking nothing and threw it in the garbage and told them I won’t be working there much longer. They actually had the balls to say that I should be grateful. I replied ill be grateful when I leave this shthole and I never have to step foot on this property again.
We will make a donation in your name to our church.I also have to add… he was the pastor of the church.
O’Neill said that, “To make the biggest impact on employees' well-being and morale, perks should align closely with what they value. Employers can think of perks in two key categories: those that meet basic needs and those that cater to aspirational goals.“Basicperks and benefits, like health insurance, flexible schedules, and paid time off, address essential needs,” the career expert explained. “They promote physical and mental well-being, support a healthy work-life balance, and reduce stress. These foundational benefits create a sense of security and stability for employees.“On the other hand, aspirational perks, such as opportunities for professional growth, upskilling, or unique offerings like gym memberships, tuition reimbursement, or financial wellness programs, help employees pursue personal and professional goals. These perks make employees feel valued and invested in, fostering a deeper connection to the organization and its mission,” she said.The best results come when the two categories operate in tandem. “When perks are thoughtfully tailored to meet both basic and aspirational needs, they become powerful tools for creating a more engaged and satisfied workforce.”
O’Neill said that, “To make the biggest impact on employees' well-being and morale, perks should align closely with what they value. Employers can think of perks in two key categories: those that meet basic needs and those that cater to aspirational goals.
“Basicperks and benefits, like health insurance, flexible schedules, and paid time off, address essential needs,” the career expert explained. “They promote physical and mental well-being, support a healthy work-life balance, and reduce stress. These foundational benefits create a sense of security and stability for employees.
“On the other hand, aspirational perks, such as opportunities for professional growth, upskilling, or unique offerings like gym memberships, tuition reimbursement, or financial wellness programs, help employees pursue personal and professional goals. These perks make employees feel valued and invested in, fostering a deeper connection to the organization and its mission,” she said.
The best results come when the two categories operate in tandem. “When perks are thoughtfully tailored to meet both basic and aspirational needs, they become powerful tools for creating a more engaged and satisfied workforce.”
A $15 gift card for 15 years of service as a Nurse in LTC.
I told our HR person we were losing employees because of low pay. I showed examples of similar jobs that were paying 25% more at other firms. She told me that the casual work atmosphere was a huge benefit and should be taken into account. My response was that I could buy a lot of neckties for $10K a year. I resigned a few weeks later and they tried to counter offer. Idiots.
Last year, asurveyof over 1,500 U.S. workers asked respondents to select the five most important non-salary compensation elements. The results were as follows:✦ 65% prioritized workplace flexibility options, such as location and hours;✦ 64% valued bonuses, commissions, or other incentive pay;✦ 60% emphasized the importance of generous paid time off;✦ 59% considered retirement plans with company contributions or matching to 401(k) or 403(b) essential;✦ 53% highlighted the need for flexible and affordable healthcare plans.
Last year, asurveyof over 1,500 U.S. workers asked respondents to select the five most important non-salary compensation elements. The results were as follows:
✦ 65% prioritized workplace flexibility options, such as location and hours;
✦ 64% valued bonuses, commissions, or other incentive pay;
✦ 60% emphasized the importance of generous paid time off;
✦ 59% considered retirement plans with company contributions or matching to 401(k) or 403(b) essential;
✦ 53% highlighted the need for flexible and affordable healthcare plans.
“Flexible work hours.“Must be in office between 8 and 5, but you can show up even earlier or stay even later if you want.cyclika:“Of course we support flexible working options! You’re free to work from home nights and weekends.“Said with absolutely no hint of irony nor awareness.
We got an email telling us to click on a link for a holiday appreciation gift from the company. If you clicked on it, you had just fallen for a phishing test to see if you would click on links in emails. Your gift was three hours of mandatory security training.
When I worked at a local mental health facility they had a crazy high turnover issue across the board, but particularly with clinical staff. One of their solutions for the morale issue was to throw an employee appreciation fair. Free food, games, music, the works.The first problem was, they expected the support staff to set up and man everything (maintenance constructing the booths, IT setting up and managing the sound system, kitchen staff doing all the cooking.)So not only did they (we, I was IT) not get to enjoy the event, we ended up a full day behind on our normal tasks as well. The other problem, the BIG problem, though, was that any of the staff that interacted with patients, particularly the clinical staff they were having trouble retaining, couldn’t cancel those appointments to attend.So the event just ended up being administrative staff and the office pool having a big party for themselves while the rest of us either served them, or heard the festivities coming from outside while they were stuck inside doing actual work. As you may imagine, it did not have the intended effect, but the C-Suite liked it so much it became an annual event.
Worked crazy OT for a month to get vital computer security updates done (every computer had to be touched individually). Those of us who were salaried were promised we would be taken care of for the 20+ hours of overtime each week.Hourly people earned time and a half.Salaried people got a company embroidered baseball cap as a ‘thank you’. Oh, and so did the hourly people.
I had a job where we were allowed to pay to wear jeans. You can’t even make that s**t up.
Once worked at a place where the ‘benefit’ was free access to the company gym… which was just a treadmill in a dark, windowless basement room. No thanks, I’ll pass on the dungeon workout.
“When we send you overseas, we book you a ‘discreet’ hotel that doesn’t ask ages.“WHO DAFUQ YOU GOT WORKING HERE?!?!
The coupons on stuff I still cant afford to buy. Oh 10% off a car, or cruise? Thanks, Still no christmas bonus or anything.
“Free water for the employees"Wow thank you!Green_Caterpillar_99:I work as a waitress right now and we are allowed free tap water. Cold or hot.
I worked at a radiology clinic where they would provide a single bread roll for staff for lunch on Wednesdays. No fillings or spreads. Just a plain white bread roll.
I was in my mid-30’s at a large nonprofit and HR made us complete a questionnaire like: What’s your favorite color? What’s your favorite candy? and we were told this would inform the way they would reward us.I just wrote “money” as my favorite everything. Pay me in money, please. What am I, five?
After 2 years of working there, they announced with great fanfare that we were generously being given two paid sick days per year. I later discovered that they were just complying with recently passed legislation here in Quebec, Canada.
A vacation to a lake in Kansas (didn’t know there were lakes there) where I would cook for my bosses friends in a waterski tournament. That guy hated me forever for calling him out and declining the vacation.
Employee of the month got lunch with the CEO. The CEO was a total unlikable k**b, who forced employees to socialize with them. You would never nominate someone you actually liked for this ‘award’.
Staff appreciation BBQ where all the staff was invited, but we still had to cook for all 300 employees. Everyone got to go but the kitchen staff and they never made it up to us.
They got a food truck to come out and park behind the building for us. They didn’t pay for any of the food or consult us on the type of food we wanted. So basically the benefit was “you can pay for your lunch if you happen to like this food” but they hyped it up as some grand gesture.
Costco I work at is low on seasonal workers so for any current employees that can bring in a friend or family member, we get a free hotdog.
I started a bar job and the people who were supposed to take over from my shift quit, so I worked three shifts in a row my first day. After working 23 hours my boss said he’d give me a bottle of liquor as a thank you. He gave me a half bottle.
For teacher appreciation week, the school gave us a ‘gift card’ to Chik-fil-a, to be redeemed for a free breakfast sandwich. Also, it could only be used at one specific Chik-fil-A near work, and it had an expiration date.A coupon. That’s called a coupon.They also fired me a few weeks later, which was honestly a much better gift… because f**k that school.
Continue reading with Bored Panda PremiumUnlimited contentAd-free browsingDark modeSubscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign In
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited contentAd-free browsingDark mode
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign In
I worked on a team that would force us to have a pizza party like every month or every other month, but nobody wanted to pay for it. It wasn’t covered in the company’s budget, like there was no extraneous “fun” money to treat us, but they kept making us have it. So it usually ended up being “up in the air” as to who would pay for it.Our team lead, who I’m assuming was responsible for mandating the party, made no attempts to hide his irritation at covering it the few times he did. I don’t know who paid the other times, or why we kept having them if it was such a sore spot. It wasn’t the type of company where the president would’ve given enough of a s**t to force him to do it.I was the lowest paid (and the only PT team member with no benefits) and recognized all of the resentment around it, so I didn’t even eat anything. I didn’t feel comfortable eating.This same team insisted we go out to lunch to welcome me as a new employee, but when the check came it sat awkwardly on the table for a few minutes before my manager made a big reluctant show of standing up to retrieve it. It was extremely awkward and uncomfortable.I have no clue why employers force these things if there isn’t “team-building fun money” allotted in the budget. It just makes managers/directors resentful and the atmosphere strained, so nobody has any fun.
I worked for a big Chinese corporation that offered ramen noodles packet if you stayed till 9 pm.
They promised to get us a coffee maker. They got it one day.Reader, it was a coffee vending machine. Pretty s****y one too.Corporate then kept asking everyone why don’t we use the machine and go to the coffee shop instead, and then made a big drama about how they had to remove the machine because it wasn’t profitable enough.
I get free gym access at a local gym, but it’s not walking distance from the office and the free access is only up til 3pm weekdays… during which time I am working.
An escalator. The store had an escalator. They put that in the benefits section.
See Also on Bored Panda
One half day friday in the summer.one.half day.
We were allowed to “buy out a day”. Meaning, we had 2wks of PTO, and if we wanted more days, we could buy a PTO day from the company. So I’d be paying $180 to not go to work for a day.
I was working at a shop and was actively pursuing a job as a teacher, which was not a surprise to anybody. I got the job with the understanding that when I finished my degree I’d be pursuing a teaching job.I needed to come in late one day due to an interview. Literally just needed to be an hour late. Boss said “go ahead and take an extra 15.” I thought he was being nice. Turns out, dipping below 7 hours was what he needed to deny me a lunch break that day.
Direct deposit.. Like wow, do yall provide a free sh**ter also?
Company Christmas party I would need to buy tickets to attend.
For Employee Appreciation Day, they offered free shipping on items purchased from the company store website. We are a software development company.
Two GMs started a podcast they expected us to all listen to.
Paying me on time. It’s not f…ing optional. You have to pay your staff on time, they have bills to pay for goddamn sake.
So, i work at a nursing home. we aren’t allowed to accept gifts from the residents (which im completely fine with) but they have it practically posted everywhere for the residents to donate to the workers for our holiday bonus..which gets taxed..and most higher ups don’t interact with the residents let alone the employees actually working.
We got fake company “dollar” bills for good work or going above and beyond that we could save and spend for one time use “perks” like an extra break, some a company shirt or hat, or a vending machine snack maybe. The highest one was a pizza, and if you and your work crew put all yours together it could be a “pizza party”. Well me and my guys pooled ours together and ordered 3 of the most expensive pizzas we could every time we had enough bucks. They changed the rule after that to a $20 lunch that you needed a receipt and they would reimburse your lunch.
We could wear jeans on Friday! So fun!
A few years ago I interviewed with a nonprofit and when asked my salary expetation, I said about a 10k raise from where I was at the time (which was also within their listed range so I thought it was reasonable). I was working for the state at the time, and since salaries are open, the hiring manager was able to find out what I make. She offered me a salary 1k more than what I was making, and on top of that I’d lose the state pension and have to pay for Healthcare out of pocket. She told me in our last meeting that she knew how much i made, and I should just be grateful for getting a raise at all.In the same time frame, I got a 30% pay cut (everyone did across the board). I interviewed with another company, who I’d done projects with prior and knew pretty well. The manager offered me exactly what I’d been making before the cut. I’d told him about it, in confidence, because I knew and trusted him. He told me “with the paycut, this should feel like a raise.” I’ve happily been with another company that made me a great offer, and has consistently shown up with great raises and promotions, for 3 years.
Free pizza parties if everyone chips in 5 bucks.
Employee discounts for products. They’re always out of stock and most are only available to ship to the USA. We live in Poland.
I look at job offers with clients regularly and some keep saying “free drinks” and “regular meetings with bosses”.
My org gave out benchmark service awards. Usually they’re trophy glass with a name and length of service. When I hit 5 years, they gave me an org branded plastic travel mug - the same mugs we give out as promos to people at events.It was presented to me in a paper bag. All dolled up with decorative paper. The bag was worth more than my award.There were clear plastic garbage bins outside the venue the party took place at. I threw my mug in there. Everyone who attended, including the CEO who presented it to me, had to look at it on the way out of the venue. .
My job just sent me a congratulatory pdf for my 5-year anniversary.
All of our Staff got Vouchers for local Supermarkets, the sum was 40€, well it was Christmas, and I am not complaining, it was a present after all. Problem was that the Vouchers were empty, someone forgot to charge them…I found out, while beeing at the cash register, with a lot of people behind me.
A former boss gave us all small buckets of peanuts 🥜 in the shell…. being born outside of the country in the former USSR, he never heard of the phrase “working for peanuts 🥜. " He was educated real effen quick. It never happened again.
I once worked grueling nights at an airport freight hub. The company had started an ‘incentive pay’ yearly bonus the previous year. But this year the numbers were down, so the bonus was reduced. I got seventeen cents.
I worked at a McDonald’s in high school. We were allowed to buy food on our breaks for 50% discount, but only food for you (so no bringing dinner home for the family or whatever at 50%). If there was anything leftover at the end of breakfast/the end of the night we had to write it down in the logbook and throw it in the trash. If someone wanted to take it home or save it for their break they had to pay for it.
I went into HR and told them I’d found another job that was hybrid remote from home (2days in the office a week) and that I was going to take it to benefit my studies from home, but said I don’t want to switch companies if it can be avoided.They’re counter offer was giving me contractual benefit of 1 uninterrupted hour per week to study & they were proud to offer me that.I handed in my notice immediately.
Company I worked for made a big song and dance about how we were being given health insurance, we only had to pay about £20 a month in taxes (or contribution I forget how it worked) for the benefit. You may have noticed the flaw in their logic based on the currency symbol I used. Yep, this was in the UK, I am already paying for my nationalised healthcare through tax, private healthcare does not intrest me in any way and actually having to pay for it would be a f*****g joke (especially considering it was more than my contribution in tax for healthcare!). They were shocked when I signed out of it and didn’t blindly accept it and pay for it like all the other employees.
Chaplain services. Once a week two knock off priests came in and asked if you wanted to pray with them.
Branded pens that don’t write.
I interviewed with a place earlier in the year that walked me around the facility, including their employee dining room, and the guy said (enthusiastically) “we’re right next to the employee dining room so there’s never any reason to leave the office for lunch!“The office and dining room were in the basement. Zero sun or windows, all day every day. What a bonus that I can grab my lunch and bring it right back to my desk for more work!
Free parking. And it was 1km away from the place of work.
I was in a division and one of the units in the division had reached a milestone in a big project.It had been a lot of work and there was lots of congratulations given. The top bosses decided to have a little thank you party and cakes were purchased but we were advised that we had to bring our own coffee.
I got a 5lbs block of cheese for thanks giving and travelers insurance for a job that started most out at 15-18 dollars an hour.
Modal closeAdd Your Answer!Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Modal close
Add Your Answer!Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Not your original work?Add source
Modal closeModal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Modal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
Upload
UploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
Error occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.
TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermark
InstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermark
FacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
ChangeSourceTitle
You May LikeGuy Works 50+ Hours/Week Only For His Successor To Automate Everything And Have Nothing To DoIndrė Lukošiūtė50 World’s Weirdest Jobs That Pay Out Quite WellAivaras Kaziukonis45 Insane Workplace Moments That Got Legendary StatusJustinas Keturka
Indrė Lukošiūtė
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Justinas Keturka
Work & Money
