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27Jul2009

Share Your Unofficial Work Perks

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What's your favorite "silent" work perk? I'm talking about that quiet little extra that you most likely are taking for granted. For example, at my office, we always have milk.

Every kind. Ice cold. Always fresh.

For years I have enjoyed this privilege without ever thanking the cow...my employer...or the maintenance worker who neatly restocks the fridge on a daily basis. Yet everyday at 11 when I absentmindedly pour my bowl of cereal (Crispix, if you must know), there is always liquid dairy dutifully waiting on standby to compliment my third breakfast of the day (more on my multiple work meals in the coming weeks; subscribe now).

Last week, with the dim light of the refrigerator glowing, it finally occurred to me after three years as a milk mooch, that I have my employer to thank for my daily calcium fix.

Our employee handbooks list of all of the benefits the company provides - days off, health plans, flex-time, and so on - but nowhere in mine will you find "free milk."

So take a brief time out and give it some thought: What is your favorite unofficial work perk? I guarantee there's one right in front of your face, you just need the clarity to see it.

AuthorAndrew G.R. | Comment13 Comments | DateMonday, July 27, 2009 at 11:00AM
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Reader Comments (13)

Do Band-Aids count?
July 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMike Tenor
My favorite silent perk used to be that we always had someone to go get lunch. (I usually do not "stop" for lunch, but eat @ my desk, as it interrupts my most productive part of the day.) Since the office staff is no longer with us, I now have to stop my day to run the lunch requests (because the tummy has gotten trained to be hungry.... and i'm the only one left besides the company officers)
July 27, 2009 | Unregistered Commentertlcolson
The old job had an ice maker that I used quite often. I miss it now. I can't think of a perk of my current position other than having an office as opposed to a cube. :-D
July 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterBen Eubanks
We have a "runner" that will take care of small errands so that we are able to stay focused on work and not sweat the small stuff. It's a very useful perk to have. I can have my dry cleaning picked up and the oil changed in my truck, all with never leaving the office.
July 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterClay
Band-Aids definitely count...they are expensive! Of course we hope you're not lining your pockets with them. At a previous job, they would always have a huge stock of AA batteries - that was until someone got greedy and ruined it for everyone!
July 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterAndrew G.R.
I really liked the places I have worked that supplied coffee / tea and coffee / tea supplies for all of the employees.
July 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKarrie C.
If only they provided free Oreos with your fresh milk, Andrew -- THAT would be a great perk! :-)

I work at a treatment plant that's on several acres. We have some nice walking/running trails on the empty acreage (fields) of the plant site -- no traffic to worry about, lots of birds to watch. This is a nice perk no one finds out about until they're working here.
July 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterBonnie
My best unofficial perk is FREE books. When I started writing http://www.jtanddale.com for the Hearst Corp several years ago, this big packages started showing up almost daily at my office. Inside were books that publishers were hoping I'd read and review/include in the column. I was like a kid on Christmas! I've been an obsessive reader of books like this my whole life, and now people were sending them to me for free!?!

My office library is filled now. I often invite friends/family to come over and choose anyone they want. (Because I hide the ones I really love!)
July 28, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJ.T. O'Donnell
@J.T.-I'm not that far along yet, but I still have more than I can keep up with in the reading department. :-) I have to be discerning in what I agree to review!
July 28, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterBen Eubanks
This may sound cheesy, but the greatest perks of my job are during Christmas time, these children would want to adopt an animal extremely badly but their parents couldn't afford the adoption fee, so a friend or school teacher would adopt for them. Its a pretty neat experience, definitely heart-felt. For those of you wondering, I work at a Humane Society, best...job...ever.
July 31, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterDavid Leeders
Easily the best silent work perk I have ever had was when I worked at a hotel off of a long strip of restaurants. The local businesses were always in the process of encouraging us to recommend their food to the guests by giving us free dinners to try out their facilities. These weren't sandwich shops, either. I would eat at five star steak houses, churrascarias, fancy Italian places and local fish restaurants free of charge.

Considering that I was scraping to pay bills at the time and couldn't afford to treat myself to any sort of luxury, it was an amazing perk.
August 12, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJeff
We have a gym at work and get paid 30min per workday to workout.
August 12, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterVal
When I was consulting at this non-profit organization they used to buy bagels and all the fixings for us every Friday. These weren't your Costco or store brand bagels but rather high quality bagels from nationally established chains. There were plenty and you could get your bagel and CC fix all day on Fridays.
August 13, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterBobby

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